Blueprint of How Islamic Caliphate Will Be Implemented by 2020

Back in 2005, Jordanian journalist Fouad Hussein published al-Qaida's manifesto. In his book, he outlined al-Qaida's seven-point plan over a 20-year period: "An Islamic Caliphate in Seven Easy Steps." Ten years later, we can see how al-Qaida and other Islamic jihad groups have followed this plan to the letter – with remarkable success, thanks to the weakness, fecklessness and willful ignorance of Western leaders.

Journalist Yassin Musharbash wrote about Hussein and his book in the German publication Der Spiegel on Aug. 12, 2005, in an article entitled, "The Future of Terrorism: What al-Qaida Really Wants." Musharbash wrote, "[W]hat this small, slim man has to report is nothing less than the world's most dangerous terrorist network's plan of action: al-Qaida's strategy for the next two decades. It is both frightening and absurd, a lunatic plan conceived by fanatics who live in their own world."

Der Spiegel appears to be laughing at the plan in this article. But read it now – 10 years on. Who's laughing now? From Sept. 11 to "the awakening," the focus on Syria, the overthrow of secular Arab regimes, the declaration of the Caliphate – it's all there. The article declares it "unworkable" at the time – as well as "both frightening and absurd, a lunatic plan."

Musharbash wrote: "And not to mention the terrorist agenda is simply unworkable: The idea that al-Qaida could set up a caliphate in the entire Islamic world is absurd. The 20-year plan is based mainly on religious ideas. It hardly has anything to do with reality."

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