Saudi Arabia: Both the Arsonists and the Firefighters?

[davidbfpo]

A superb NYT review 'Saudis and Extremism: ‘Both the Arsonists and the Firefighters' that presents both sides of the argument:http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/26/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-islam.html? (http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/26/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-islam.html?emc=edit_ee_20160826&nl=todaysheadlines-europe&nlid=67232673&_r=0)

This global issue has appeared here before in a couple of threads, notably on US policy and KSA (started 2007):http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/showthread.php?t=2119

This passage reminded me of a Monty Python sketch:
..there is a gulf between Indonesian jihadists and Indonesian Salafis who look to Saudi or Yemeni scholars for guidance. The jihadists accuse the Salafis of failing to act on their convictions; the Salafis scorn the jihadists as extremists.

[davidbfpo]

A NYT opinion by Mohammed Alyahya, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council; his slim bio:http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/about/experts/list/mohammed-khalid-alyahya

Near the start he writes:
..blaming Wahhabism and Saudi Arabia for Islamist radicalism is a dangerous red herring. This single-cause explanation distracts from the complex political, economic and psychological reasons people join terrorist groups. In doing so, it impedes our ability to effectively fight terrorism.
Link:http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/20/opinion/dont-blame-wahhabism-for-terrorism.html?

[SWJ Blog]

U.K. Terrorism Report on Saudi Arabia May Be Kept Secret (http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/uk-terrorism-report-on-saudi-arabia-may-be-kept-secret)

Entry Excerpt:



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[SWJ Blog]

Saudi Arabia Has 'Clear Link' to UK Extremism, Report Says (http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/saudi-arabia-has-clear-link-to-uk-extremism-report-says)

Entry Excerpt:



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This forum is a feed only and is closed to user comments.

[davidbfpo]

A somewhat strange article by RUSI staff, the actual title and sub-title being:
The blame game; Holding Saudi Arabia responsible for Islamist terrorism lets Western governments off the hookLink:http://www.ips-journal.eu/regions/middle-east/article/show/the-blame-game-2221/

Two short passages:
Conflating dangers of "radical" ideas with the causes of violent extremism risks ignoring the constellation of structural, individual and environmental factors that include, but are not dictated by, ideology, which are part of the radicalisation process. This has serious implications for counterterrorism efforts.
Scapegoating Saudi Arabia, and Islamic extremism more generally, as the preeminent drivers of terrorism allows Western nations to externalise the problem and avoid any form of societal introspection. That is not to say that Saudi Arabia cannot do more.

On a quick read it is remarkably similar to the previous article.

[davidbfpo]

I have reopened this thread to accommodate this Soufan Group commentary and here is one passage:
The investigations into the attacks are still ongoing, and hundreds of people have been detained for alleged involvement. At the center of the inquiry are concerns over Saudi-funded institutions and possible connections to Salafi jihadist ideology. In May, police arrested the founder of the Saudi-supported Centre for Islamic Guidance, Mohamed Aliyar, on charges related to the financing of terrorism. Aliyar had links to Zahran Hashim, a radical preacher who mentored many of the Easter-attack bombers. Locals have claimed that they relayed concerns to security officials about Hashim’s extremism, although these leads were never acted upon. Other prominent Sri Lankan Muslim leaders have also come under scrutiny as authorities review financial transactions between Saudi Arabia and religious leaders in the South Asian island nation. Several of these leaders have been forced to step down due to pressure from politically influential Buddhist monks.
Link:https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-sri-lanka-reconsiders-the-nature-of-its-relationship-with-saudi-arabia/

This post will be copied to the Sri Lanka thread.