Fouad Hussein
Encyclopedia
Fouad Hussein is a Jordan
ian journalist and author of the 2005 Arabic language
book Al-Zarqawi: The Second Generation of Al Qaeda. It is based on interviews with senior Islamic militants, including Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
, the late leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq
, and Saif al-Adel
, a high ranking member of al-Qaeda
and Islamic Jihad. Hussein first met Zarqawi and Zarqawi's mentor Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi in 1996 in a Jordanian jail. At the time Hussein was being held as a political prisoner. Since its release Hussein's book has garnered heavy press coverage and analysis in Iran
.
In the book Hussein describes what he says is al-Qaeda's grand strategy, a sequence of events that spreads over nearly 20 years. The first phase, "The Awakening", began with the September 11th attacks, which were meant to lure the United States
into military conflict in the Middle East
. This stage, Hussein says, ended with the American capture of Baghdad
in early April 2003. In the second phase, "Eye-Opening", al-Qaeda will become more than just an organization but a popular trend fueled by the American occupation of Iraq and the Arab media through mediums like the internet. This will last through 2006. During the third stage, which he calls "Arising and Standing Up", al-Qaeda will begin focusing its energies on attacking the secular governments in Syria
and Turkey
and also against Israel
. When this ends in 2010, the fourth stage will work to continue weakening American strength in the Middle East while also causing the capitulation of governments across the Arab world
. From 2013 to 2016, Hussein says the Islamic movement will have shifted the balance of power in the Middle East away from the West and Israel, and the Islamists will be supported by new allies such as China
. In this environment a new caliphate
will be established. The sixth phase, lasting until 2020, is that of "Total Confrontation", when an Islamic army and newly formed caliphate will defeat the non-believers in a global conflict. Following this, a final phase will be that of the caliphate's "definitive victory".
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
ian journalist and author of the 2005 Arabic language
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
book Al-Zarqawi: The Second Generation of Al Qaeda. It is based on interviews with senior Islamic militants, including Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi ; October 30, 1966 – June 7, 2006), born Ahmad Fadeel al-Nazal al-Khalayleh was a Jordanian militant Islamist who ran a paramilitary training camp in Afghanistan...
, the late leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq
Al-Qaeda in Iraq
Al-Qaeda in Iraq is a popular name for the Iraqi division of the international Salafi jihadi militant organization al-Qaeda. It is recognized as a part of the greater Iraqi insurgency....
, and Saif al-Adel
Saif al-Adel
Saif al-Adel is an Egyptian explosives expert and a high-ranking member of al-Qaeda.Adel is under indictment for his part in the 1998 United States embassy bombings in Africa...
, a high ranking member of al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
and Islamic Jihad. Hussein first met Zarqawi and Zarqawi's mentor Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi in 1996 in a Jordanian jail. At the time Hussein was being held as a political prisoner. Since its release Hussein's book has garnered heavy press coverage and analysis in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
In the book Hussein describes what he says is al-Qaeda's grand strategy, a sequence of events that spreads over nearly 20 years. The first phase, "The Awakening", began with the September 11th attacks, which were meant to lure the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
into military conflict in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. This stage, Hussein says, ended with the American capture of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
in early April 2003. In the second phase, "Eye-Opening", al-Qaeda will become more than just an organization but a popular trend fueled by the American occupation of Iraq and the Arab media through mediums like the internet. This will last through 2006. During the third stage, which he calls "Arising and Standing Up", al-Qaeda will begin focusing its energies on attacking the secular governments in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and also against Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. When this ends in 2010, the fourth stage will work to continue weakening American strength in the Middle East while also causing the capitulation of governments across the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
. From 2013 to 2016, Hussein says the Islamic movement will have shifted the balance of power in the Middle East away from the West and Israel, and the Islamists will be supported by new allies such as China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. In this environment a new caliphate
Caliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
will be established. The sixth phase, lasting until 2020, is that of "Total Confrontation", when an Islamic army and newly formed caliphate will defeat the non-believers in a global conflict. Following this, a final phase will be that of the caliphate's "definitive victory".