By Joel Richardson

WND: In 2005, the National Intelligence Council, or NIC, produced a report called, “Mapping the Global Future: Project 2020.” According to this report, within the next several years, we may expect to see the emergence of a fledgling caliphate, or revived Islamic empire.

For those unfamiliar with the NIC, below is a self-description from its website:

What is interesting about the NIC’s “over the horizon” assessment is that the coming caliphate would not be built on acts of terrorism, but instead would be established through peaceful means. By claiming to provide the Middle East with stability, peace and security, the emergence of the coming caliphate will be viewed positively by much of the world. Yet the conclusion of the 2020 report states that even a limited and moderate Islamic caliphate would pose problems for the United States and her global interests of immense proportions.

The truth is, even if al-Qaida succeeded in its dream of reviving a caliphate, it would only give the U.S. military a clearly defined target. But how would the U.S. to respond if Turkey, one of our historically greatest allies in the region, emerges as an Islamist superpower? What will our relationship be with a neo-Ottoman caliphate? Now, it is doubtful of course that such a historically loaded term would ever be used. Far more likely, we will see the use of a far less threatening term, such as the title championed by Adnan Oktar, a Turkish Muslim intellectual who has been calling for a “Turkish-led Islamic Union.” Oktar, although a controversial figure, is highly respected in many circles and is the most published author in the Islamic world, with over 65 million of his works in circulation. I recently travelled to Istanbul to speak with Mr. Oktar about his vision for a Turkish-led Islamic Union. According to Oktar, the revival of a Turkish led-Islamic empire will be the defining development that will bring peace not only to the Middle East, but to the world:

Adnan Oktar’s Vision of a Turkish-led Islamic Union

We should not take Mr. Oktar’s vision lightly. For the past several years, I have been highlighting the merging of two very significant developments in the nation of Turkey ֠the first issue being the rapid Islamization of the nation. Much has been written concerning this development in recent months. But the second issue, perhaps of even greater significance, is Turkey’s re-emergence as leader of the region. For over 500 years, the Turkish Ottomans ruled the Middle East, and in the years to come, they will arise once again as a regional superpower. And much of the world will welcome this as a positive development.

I also believe that a Turkish-led Islamic empire is clearly prophesied in the Bible. In my book “The Islamic Antichrist” (which was originally written in 2004), I walk through the biblical basis for such a claim. Five years later, despite Turkey’s rapid ascension in the region and in the world, some still look with skepticism on such claims. Of course, time will either confirm or put to rest this idea. But for now, I want to bring to light some important voices that are confirming my predictions.

George Friedman is the CEO and founder of STRATFOR, the world’s leading private intelligence and forecasting company. In his recent book, “The Next 100 Years,” Friedman agrees in no uncertain terms that Turkey will soon emerge as a regional superpower: “[Turkey will] soon re-emerge in its old role, as the dominant force in the region.” Speaking specifically of Turkey’s coming leadership of a revived caliphate, Friedman makes the following very powerful observation and prediction:

The Islamic World is incapable of uniting voluntarily. It is, however, capable of being dominated by a Muslim power. Throughout history, Turkey has been the Muslim power most often able to create an empire out of Šthe Islamic world. ż/blockquote>

According to Friedman, the past 80 or so years that Turkey has only controlled Asia Minor has been an anomaly. Soon we will see “Turkish power ֠the Ottoman Empire Šbegin to re-emerge.”

In recent times, the world has been shocked to see Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reveal his true feelings toward Israel. In a fit of rage, in Davos, Switzerland, Erdogan shouted at the Israeli president: “You are old and your voice is loud out of a guilty conscience. When it comes to killing, you know very well how to kill! I know well how you hit and kill children on beaches!” This is the same Erdogan who actually spent time in jail for the writing the following overtly radical poem:

[The] Mosques are our barracks, [the] domes our helmets, [the] minarets our bayonets, [the] believers our soldiers. This holy army guards my religion. Almighty our journey is our destiny, the end is martyrdom.

This was not written by Osama bin Laden. It was written by a man who is being taken seriously by much the world as one of the co-founders of the United Nations “Alliance of Civilizations,” an intercultural dialogue, the purpose of which is to “overcome Šprejudice, misperceptions and polarization that militate against [unity between the East and the West]. ŠThe Alliance seeks to Šestablish a paradigm of mutual respect between civilizations and cultures.”

Despite Erdogan’s obvious bias, as well as his anti-Semitic streak and history of radicalism, many, including our own president, still view him as an honest broker and mediator between Israel and the Middle East. And Obama is not alone. In February of this year, the famous Orthodox Rabbi Menachem Fromen made the following statements in the Turkish Press:

It is an irrefutable fact that Turkey is the most natural mediator between Israel and Palestinian society. Turkish President Abdullah G