Have You Read ISIS's Statement of Responsibility for the Paris Terror Attacks? If Not, Then You Should

In order to defeat an enemy, one must first understand the enemy.

I wonder, how many people have actually read ISIS's statement of responsibility for last Friday's Paris terror attacks? I would wager that the number of Americans (and Westerners, more generally) who have done so is rather low. 

Emotions blind our reason. Fear sabotages critical thinking. We also live a politically polarized environment that is awash--even in these troubling times that should expose the lie--in American Exceptionalism. Of course, any corporate media personality or analyst who would dare to treat ISIS's statement in a serious way would be condemned as giving aid and comfort to terrorists.

One of the most important documents of the second half of the 20th century is Osama bin Laden's letter explaining the September 11, 2001 attacks and how they relate to Al Qaeda's broader struggle against America and the West. History will decide if ISIS's statement of purpose on the Paris attacks will be as equally significant. And like the latter, Osama bin Laden's letter has also not been read by most of the American people. 

I have no use for religion. I believe that it damages the mind and imperils critical thinking. Religion as too often practiced by too many people is mumbo jumbo foolishness. Religion, is however, one of the most powerful forms of human livestock management ever invented. 

We have some smart folks with a range of expertise who frequent the site. Some questions for them/us. 

How would you analyze ISIS's statement of purpose? What are their long, medium, and short term tactical and strategic goals? This type of writing is part of a specific genre. As such, it will use certain conventions of style and writing to communicate its connotative and denotative meaning(s). I wonder how those who are "plugged into" violent political Islam will read the statement as opposed to those who are not part of that cult? Are there any directives in this statement that ISIS operatives could perhaps be looking for?

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In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Beneficent

Allah (ta'ala) said, They thought that their fortresses would protect them from Allah but Allah came upon them from where they had not expected, and He cast terror into their hearts so they destroyed their houses by their own hands and the hands of the believers. So take warning, O people of vision [Al-Hashr:2].

In a blessed battle whose causes of success were enabled by Allah, a group of believers from the soldiers of the Caliphate (may Allah strengthen and support it) set out targeting the capital of prostitution and vice, the lead carrier of the cross in Europe — Paris. This group of believers were youth who divorced the worldly life and advanced towards their enemy hoping to be killed for Allah's sake, doing so in support of His religion, His Prophet (blessing and peace be upon him), and His allies. They did so in spite of His enemies. Thus, they were truthful with Allah — we consider them so — and Allah granted victory upon their hands and cast terror into the hearts of the crusaders in their very own homeland.

And so eight brothers equipped with explosive belts and assault rifles attacked precisely chosen targets in the center of the capital of France. These targets included the Stade de France stadium during a soccer match — between the teams of Germany and France, both of which are crusader nations — attended by the imbecile of France (Francois Hollande). The targets included the Bataclan theatre for exhibitions, where hundreds of pagans gathered for a concert of prostitution and vice. There were also simultaneous attacks on other targets in the tenth, eleventh, and eighteenth districts, and elsewhere. Paris was thereby shaken beneath the crusaders' feet, who were constricted by its streets. The result of the attacks was the deaths of no less than two hundred crusaders and the wounding of even more. All praise, grace, and favor belong to Allah.

Allah blessed our brothers and granted them what they desired. They detonated their explosive belts in the masses of the disbelievers after finishing all their ammunition. We ask Allah to accept them amongst the martyrs and to allow us to follow them.

Let France and all nations following its path know that they will continue to be at the top of the target list for the Islamic State and that the scent of death will not leave their nostrils as long as they partake in the crusader campaign, as long as they dare to curse our Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him), and as long as they boast about their war against Islam in France and their strikes against Muslims in the lands of the Caliphate with their jets, which were of no avail to them in the filthy streets and alleys of Paris. Indeed, this is just the beginning. It is also a warning for any who wish to take heed.

Allah is the greatest.

(And to Allah belongs all honor, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know) [Al-Munafiqun: 8].