The Future of Terrorism: What al-Qaida Really Wants

SPIEGEL Online ^ | August 12, 2005 | SPIEGELnet

[wolf78]

THE FUTURE OF TERRORISM

What al-Qaida Really Wants

If there is anyone who might possibly have an inkling as to what al-Qaida are up to, it is the Jordanian journalist Fouad Hussein. He has not only spent time in prison with al-Zarqawi, but has also managed to get into contact with many of the network's leaders. Based on correspondence with these sources, he has now brought out a book detailing the organization's master plan.

There must be something particularly trustworthy about the Jordanian journalist Fouad Hussein. After all, he has managed to get the most sought after terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi to open up to him. Maybe it helped that they spent time together in prison many years ago -- when Hussein was a political prisoner he successfully negotiated for al-Zarqawi to be released from solitary confinement. Or is it because of the honest and direct way in which he puts his ideas onto paper? Whatever the reason, the result is that a film which Hussein made about al-Zarqawi has even been shown on al-Qaida affiliated Web sites. "That showed me that they at least felt understood," the journalist says.

Even for an Arab journalist it is no easy matter getting in touch with al-Qaida's inner circle. But, nevertheless, Hussein, who is based in Amman, Jordan, has succeeded in turning his correspondence with the terrorist into a remarkable book "al-Zarqawi - al-Qaida's Second Generation."

...

[wolf78]

An interesting read, definitely worth your time!

[2banana]

What he then describes between pages 202 and 213 is a scenario, proof both of the terrorists' blindness as well as their brutal single-mindedness. In seven phases the terror network hopes to establish an Islamic caliphate which the West will then be too weak to fight.

For those of you who think we are not at war with islam...

[SubMareener]

Here is what al-Qaida Really Wants:
An Islamic Caliphate in Seven Easy Steps

In the introduction, the Jordanian journalist writes, "I interviewed a whole range of al-Qaida members with different ideologies to get an idea of how the war between the terrorists and Washington would develop in the future." What he then describes between pages 202 and 213 is a scenario, proof both of the terrorists' blindness as well as their brutal single-mindedness. In seven phases the terror network hopes to establish an Islamic caliphate which the West will then be too weak to fight.

• The First Phase Known as "the awakening" -- this has already been carried out and was supposed to have lasted from 2000 to 2003, or more precisely from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in New York and Washington to the fall of Baghdad in 2003. The aim of the attacks of 9/11 was to provoke the US into declaring war on the Islamic world and thereby "awakening" Muslims. "The first phase was judged by the strategists and masterminds behind al-Qaida as very successful," writes Hussein. "The battle field was opened up and the Americans and their allies became a closer and easier target." The terrorist network is also reported as being satisfied that its message can now be heard "everywhere."
  
  
• The Second Phase "Opening Eyes" is, according to Hussein's definition, the period we are now in and should last until 2006. Hussein says the terrorists hope to make the western conspiracy aware of the "Islamic community." Hussein believes this is a phase in which al-Qaida wants an organization to develop into a movement. The network is banking on recruiting young men during this period. Iraq should become the center for all global operations, with an "army" set up there and bases established in other Arabic states.
  
  
• The Third Phase This is described as "Arising and Standing Up" and should last from 2007 to 2010. "There will be a focus on Syria," prophesies Hussein, based on what his sources told him. The fighting cadres are supposedly already prepared and some are in Iraq. Attacks on Turkey and -- even more explosive -- in Israel are predicted. Al-Qaida's masterminds hope that attacks on Israel will help the terrorist group become a recognized organization. The author also believes that countries neighboring Iraq, such as Jordan, are also in danger.
  
  
• The Fourth Phase Between 2010 and 2013, Hussein writes that al-Qaida will aim to bring about the collapse of the hated Arabic governments. The estimate is that "the creeping loss of the regimes' power will lead to a steady growth in strength within al-Qaida." At the same time attacks will be carried out against oil suppliers and the US economy will be targeted using cyber terrorism.
  
  
• The Fifth Phase This will be the point at which an Islamic state, or caliphate, can be declared. The plan is that by this time, between 2013 and 2016, Western influence in the Islamic world will be so reduced and Israel weakened so much, that resistance will not be feared. Al-Qaida hopes that by then the Islamic state will be able to bring about a new world order.
  
  
• The Sixth Phase Hussein believes that from 2016 onwards there will a period of "total confrontation." As soon as the caliphate has been declared the "Islamic army" it will instigate the "fight between the believers and the non-believers" which has so often been predicted by Osama bin Laden.
  
  
• The Seventh Phase This final stage is described as "definitive victory." Hussein writes that in the terrorists' eyes, because the rest of the world will be so beaten down by the "one-and-a-half million Muslims," the caliphate will undoubtedly succeed. This phase should be completed by 2020, although the war shouldn't last longer than two years.
  
  

[Uncle George]

These murderers are exactly like the evil enemy in a James Bond movie except these vultures "ARE FOR REAL".

[Scythian]

How stupid, what an idiotic plan, the world changes so rapidly, 2013 will look nothing like this world, what a bunch of dopes they are.

[goldstategop]

Al Qaeda is NOT joking. They really do want to rule the world, like the Bond villains.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[wolf78]

"How stupid, what an idiotic plan, the world changes so rapidly, 2013 will look nothing like this world, what a bunch of dopes they are."

That is true. However, Hitler also counted on German world domination by 1955 and although he wasn't able to fulfill his plans, he still managed to wreak havoc big time.

So at least it's good having an idea what our enemy is up to.

[Boundless]

> For those of you who think we are not at war with islam...

More precisely: we are at war with radical/fundamentalist
islam, and we need to assume that the silent majority of
supposed "moderate" muslims either support the fundies or
will do nothing to stop or even protest against them.

[drpix]

"... the attacks of 9/11 was to provoke the US into declaring war on the Islamic world... The battle field was opened up and the Americans and their allies became a closer and easier target."

Can someone explain to me why... if al-Qaida wanted the armies of the west to fight them in Iraq, why do they conduct terrorist attacks on western civilians to demand western armies withdraw from Iraq. The logic seems a little inconsistent... shouldn't the terrorist be demanding/goating the west into sending more soldiers?

[Restorer]

There is a big difference between Hitler and these nutballs. Hitler had a realistic chance of pulling off world conquest. It is possible to point out numerous points in time where changes in his policies could have credibly resulted in his winning the war.

Nobody has yet pointed out to me any realistic scenario under which Osama and his morons conquer the world. Ain't gonna happen.

The only question at issue is how much damage we allow them to do before we destroy them. My personal opinion is that we will have to lose a city before we get serious. Very unfortunately.

[2banana]

Nobody has yet pointed out to me any realistic scenario under which Osama and his morons conquer the world. Ain't gonna happen.

Have you seen the appeasement lefties in the USA and Europe recently. They would surrender in a heartbeat...

[hershey]

Roadmap for doom.

[wolf78]

"There is a big difference between Hitler and these nutballs. Hitler had a realistic chance of pulling off world conquest.
[...]
Nobody has yet pointed out to me any realistic scenario under which Osama and his morons conquer the world. Ain't gonna happen."

Well, I completely agree that Al-Qaeda doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell to actually pull this through.

I just wanted to point out that a small clique of lunatics can cause huge damage, if they play their cards well. After all, they managed to topple the Afghan government in the 1990s. In the long run I am absolutely sure that the west will prevail and islamic fundamentalism will fail the same way communism failed: Because freedom is stronger than ideologic hatred.

[Sergio]

You make a very good point, but crazy people (terrorists) aren't known for their use of logic.

Best Regards

Sergio

[Owl558]

"Because freedom is stronger than ideologic hatred."

This is what Bush keeps telling us and the Iraqi elections demonstrate. However, the left will surrender in a heartbeat and would have no problem betraying the west for short-term political gain. This is where the true danger of us losing lies, not in military defeat.

[Restorer]

Not really. Even a rat will fight back when cornered. The problem is that these idiots think that our attackers would stop attacking if we just weren't so mean to them.

Luckily, those same attackers are trying really hard to change people's minds on that topic. Never forget that the incredible heroics of the British during WWII were performed by eactly the same people who were so wildly in favor of appeasement during the 1930s.

[badbass]

The Sixth Phase Hussein believes that from 2016 onwards there will a period of "total confrontation." As soon as the caliphate has been declared the "Islamic army" it will instigate the "fight between the believers and the non-believers" which has so often been predicted by Osama bin Laden.

Maybe at this stage, we'll have become serious about solving this little problem, instead of playing tiddly winks with them. An Islamic Caliphate, with defined borders, would make a nice target.

[AZLiberty]

And here's our seven phases:

• Kick butt in Afghanistan.
• Kick butt in Iraq.
• Kick butt everywhere it sticks up.
• Keep kicking butt until it stops sticking up. And, if all else fails:
• Invade their countries,
• Kill their leaders, and
• Convert them to Christianity

[AZLiberty]

The "realistic scenario" for Islamic domination is demographics. As long as "they" keep having more babies than "we" do, in our countries, and as long as they believe their interests supersede ours, there's a risk that we lose big-time.

[AmericanChef]

They'd have a much better chance of Islamacizing the world if they simply follow the rules of their respective "adopted" countries while reproducing like rabbits. Um...look at Michigan.

By force - ain't gonna happen. They can damage us and create a bit of chaos, but when it comes down to it we can wipe them out in no time at all. If it gets desperate for us, we will do it.