The Master Plan

ISIS, al-Qaeda, and the Jihadi Strategy for Final Victory

By: Brian Fishman

Narrated by: Stephen R. Thorne

Given how quickly its operations have achieved global impact, it may seem that the Islamic State materialized suddenly. In fact, al-Qaeda's operations chief, Sayf al-Adl, devised a seven-stage plan for jihadis to conquer the world by 2020 that included reestablishing the Caliphate in Syria between 2013 and 2016. Despite a massive schism between the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, al-Adl's plan has proved remarkably prescient. In summer 2014, ISIS declared itself the Caliphate after capturing Mosul, Iraq - part of stage five in al-Adl's plan. Drawing on large troves of recently declassified documents captured from the Islamic State and its predecessors, counterterrorism expert Brian Fishman tells the story of this organization's complex and largely hidden past - and what the master plan suggests about its future. Only by understanding the Islamic State's full history - and the strategy that drove it - can we understand the contradictions that may ultimately tear it apart.

©2016 Brian H. Fishman (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

educating and enlightening

For so many different reasons this book was as the title of my review describes it: VERY EDUCATING AND VERY ENLIGHTENING.

extremist infighting

great book. always wondered why there were so may different groups and what the differences are.

Fantastic, thorough overview

Terrorism is scary. It's also impenetrable to those who don't adopt its nihilistic ideology. Fishman has lifted the "scales" from this listener's eyes (or is that ears?) with his well-paced and fascinating look at the history of al-Qaeda, ISI, ISIL, and other major players in the current global jihadi movement. His dispassionate prose illuminates and informs and his analysis of the "Master Plan" is among the most deft and accurate I've read. Westerners would do well to read and learn from Mr. Fishman and Western leaders should pay particular attention to the closing 20 minutes of the narration. Discrimination against Muslims only fuels ISIL's recruitment. Through respect and understanding, we can defeat the wretched enemy of civilization.

In depth analysis

The book offers an in depth analysis of the roots, development and decline of the ISIS. It's written in an academic style and supported with ample support and evidence.