ISLAMIC STATE (IS) MANIFESTO REVEALS 100-YEAR PLAN FOR A WORLD CALIPHATE

Islamic State Caliph

How Documents Were Obtained

In March 2014, the home of an Islamic State (IS) commander was raided by Iraqi Special Forces. Among the items found in the residence was a manifesto written by an Islamic State Cabinet Member, Abdullah Ahmed al-Mashhadani, aka Abu Kassem.

Reportedly the director of foreign fighter and suicide bomber transport, little is known about al-Mashhadani's present life. Based on these documents, however, TRAC analysts have garnered a rare glimpse into not only his vision for the Islamic State but also the Islamic State's current and future plans.

Strategy Both Practical and Grandiose

As much mystery that surrounds the Islamic State, there is equally as much complexity that surrounds this manifesto. Signed off on the final page by what is believed to be Abu Kassem's alias "al-Mashhadani al-Iraqi," the document reads like a hybrid between Islamic State goals and ex-Baathist and Republican Guard concepts left over from Saddam Hussein's era. The documents are extremely well written with a high command of Arabic often reserved for and used by accomplished scholars. The writings are not necessarily religious but show a mastery of military knowledge and Arab nationalism.

Distributed

The document is at least 40 pages long; TRAC's truncated copy begins on Page 19; some pages are missing altogether, some are illegible. These extant pages are part of a spiral-bound copy that was typed, sub-headed, chaptered, and most likely distributed to high ranking members of IS.

The Vision: A United Sunni States

The manifesto has three distinct topics, intertwining to create an unprecedented insight into the Islamic State's policy, economics and goals. What is particularly of note is the manner in which the Islamic State views itself both in the near and long term. The term "United Sunni States" is a reference to the objective of regional unity, spanning a hundred years into the future and includes seventy (70) objectives.

Drafting A Roadmap

In incredible detail, this Islamic State manifesto roadmaps its objectives, including international treaties, plans for economic expansion, governmental structure, and justification for ethic cleansing of the Shia worldwide. The lengthy and complex program includes psychological operations, governmental protocols, public service, and the judgment of guilt of the Shia populous. With chilling references to "purification" of Shia in Sunni Lands, the manifesto is markedly different from and, in some respects, contradicts the usual IS propaganda machine (which up until now was the only publicly available self-styling of the Islamic State.)

CHAPTERS WITHIN THE MANIFESTO

The General Leadership and the Nature of the Relationship Between the Military and Political Wings

The Ideological Leadership of the Movement, Its Relationship with the General Leadership and Society

Economic Institutions – Resources and Industries

The Economic Assets of the Sunni Entity

We are the Campaign of the Banners and We are the New Umayyads

The Great Safavid Enterprise - The Challenges of War and the Tools of Arab Defence (The 100 Year Plan)

How We Will Establish Our War Against the Great Safavid Enterprise

The Obstacles of Establishing the Project

First Publication of Translation

Though the discovery of the manifesto has been widely reported, TRAC is publishing the first translation of the document, along with exclusive TRAC analysis. With the author being a senior commander within the Islamic State's leadership structure, the manifesto provides direct access into the clandestine aspirations of the Islamic State leadership. Unlike reading ISIS propaganda, the manifesto is not blurred by interpretation, deductions, or what the leadership is intending; it is truly a rare glimpse into the Caliphate.

Source:
TRAC Terrorism