A Saudi War of Ideas--Not Really

In an article in the NY Times Magazine, Katherine Zoepf writes about the Saudi Arabian effort to deprogram jihadists--in what they describe as a war of ideas. If you look at what they are doing, however, they are really only focussing on delegitimizing the Takfiri ideology--that ideology that justifies the identification of other Muslims as apostate, and thus worthy of death. The Saudis have a clear self-interest in attacking the Takfiri ideology as its extension allows al-Qa'ida to call for the death of Muslim leaders such as the Saudi royal family. Yet there is nothing that I can see that is being done to address the idea that murder of innocents is in itself wrong or to redefine the concept of jihad in a way consistent with basic principles of human rights. We should not misinterpret the Saudi's intentions--this is not about the global war on terror--it is about stability in the Kingdom. See the article here:And here is the rest of it.

Deprogramming Jihadists By KATHERINE ZOEPF http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/magazine/09jihadis-t.html?ref=magazine&pagewanted;=all