Future Jihad: Terrorist Strategies Against America

by Walid Phares

From MSNBC terrorism expert Walid Phares, this is a frightening look into the future of jihad. Though an alarming new picture of what we can expect from terrorists in the future, Walid Phares reveals how the United States can win the war. Phares, who served as an expert with the Justice Department, briefed the Defense and State Departments, and testifies to Congress, shows that there has been a fundamental misunderstanding about al Qaeda's ultimate goal in the West and what victory means to jihadists. He answers such critical questions How long will this war last? Is the United States secure on the inside? Future Jihad shows how our defenses have been infiltrated; identifies the future generation of homegrown terrorists; and points the way for America to win the ideological war at the heart of jihad.

Genres: Islam, Politics, Nonfiction, History, Terrorism, Religion

288 pages, Hardcover

First published November 17, 2005

Reviews

[Clay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book written by a brilliant author has done a first rate job on explaining the jihadi threat. A little bit of the book is dated now, some of the illustrations are not the best quality and the book cover is not very interesting but still is one of the best books on this topic.

[Michael Connolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Walid Phares is a Lebanese Christian who emigrated to the United States. In this book he explains that since the Arab oil embargo of 1973, the Saudis have used their petrodollars to push a disinformation campaign in American universites. The Saudi Wahabists tell us that jihad is just a form of self-improvement, when they know that it is actually a war against the infidel. The jihadists say one thing in English to a Western audience, and something different in Arabic to a Muslim audience. The goal of the Wahabis, salafis and jihadists is to force the entire world to submit to an Islamic theocracy. The Saudi-funded Wahabi clerics push moderate Muslims living in the West in the direction of Islamist fundamentalism. We let them, because we believe in freedom of religion.
My personal belief is that freedom of religion should be a two-way street. Religions that do not believe in the separation of church and state, or which advocate the violent overthrow of democratically elected governments, should not be given religious freedom in the West.
Our college trained leaders focus on only the terrorist aspect of the threat, and ignore its ideological foundation. Our intelligentsia is afraid of being accused of Islamophobia if it speaks out against the jihadists, just as an earlier generation was afraid of charges of red-baiting and McCarthyism if it opposed Communism.

[Roger DeBlanck · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a leading expert on terrorism, Phares has been consulted by the U.S. government to provide analysis about the mindset of terrorists and the ideologies that fuel them. In Future Jihad, he offers a clear and comprehensive study of those who strategize to carry out terrorism. He examines the historical origin of jihad (literally, a call to action) with the founding Muslim communities under the Prophet Mohammed. He explains how the ideology of jihadism has a historical development with the extremist values of Islamic fundamentalism as now advocated by modern day Salafists (adherents of the founders of Islam), Wahabis (radical Islamic visionaries out of the Saudi Republic), and Khumeinists (Shiia extremists of the Iranian regime). Whatever their affiliation, the jihadist vision joins them in a mobilization for the purpose of fatah (the conquest of nonnegotiable Muslim land) against the infidels (all secular and free nations). Phares forecasts a frightening scenario of potential jihadist infiltration into moderate countries to the point of carrying out a nuclear holocaust against the declared infidel enemies of the West. Phares sees the U.S. declaration of war on terrorism as a long overdue response to a conflict al Qaeda ignited nearly a decade earlier—a clash that has been festering since the fall of the Ottoman sultanate, or the last caliphate in the eyes of Muslims, in 1923. In extremist vision, the restoration of Islamic government under a supreme Islamic successor (the caliph) to Mohammed is the ultimate agenda of jihadists. Every strategy they adopt is in accordance with this vision of establishing Islam as global law. With great command of his subject, Phares’s knowledge is vast and insightful. In exposing the misguided ideology of jihadism, which fuels the terrorists’ actions, Phares becomes a leading voice of reason against the madness of modern day terror.

[Devin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening, important book. I've read a number of books on Islamic fundamentalism, Osama Bin Laden etc, but this is by far the best overall. Connects the dots and clarifies the movement: It's origins, strategies, ultimate goal and even it's goal's for individual countries. The author knows what he is talking about as evidenced by the fact that the book was first published in 2005 and some of his predictions have already come true. Can not recommend it highly enough.

[Noelle M · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son suggested the characters in my Somalia story should be more familiar with the language and ideas of holy war, so I set about educating myself on the topic. All I can say about this book is "Wow!" I read and took notes, then re-read and took notes again, then I read and began to comprehend. The information in the book enabled me to flesh out my Somali characters emotionally because of the context in which they are forced to live. Very readable, very informative, and very helpful.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for understanding origins and meanings of various terms and concepts associated with Jihadist ideology. Not so great in its right-wing slant and prescriptions near the end. Very useful book to read overall though. One of the most helpful I've come across in making the complexities of Jihadist ideology accessible to the average reader.

[Lee Peck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tremendous expose of jihad's plans - especially for America

[Steven]

Very good read. The author provide a true Middle Eastern perspective. Good stuff.

[John Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read from a Middle Eastern perspective.