August 17, 2007
THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS WINNING THE WAR OF IDEAS...:
Saudis nip extremism in the bud (Christopher Boucek , 8/18/07, Asia Times)
It is from this background that the re-education program has emerged. Only three years old, the program was initially kept a secret to encourage its success away from media attention. Thus far, it has generated some noteworthy results, and it is now discussed openly and frequently in the Saudi media. The program's structure, process and relative successes, however, are all but unknown in the United States.The counseling program to re-educate and rehabilitate terrorist sympathizers is part of a self-described "war of ideas" against extremism in the kingdom. This quiet struggle has been ongoing for some time, and the program represents a very distinctive Saudi solution to a Saudi problem. It incorporates many traditional Saudi methods of conflict resolution and conflict management. The fact that the program was started in secret, and not in response to outside pressures, is telling; its origins arose out of recognition in the kingdom that something had to be done to address extremist sympathies and is a tacit acknowledgment of the threat that the "war of ideas" posed.
The centerpiece of the Saudi strategy is dubbed the "counseling program", which is intended to assist those individuals who have espoused takfiri beliefs to "repent and abandon terrorist ideologies". The program seeks to de-radicalize extremist sympathizers by engaging them in intensive religious debates and psychological counseling. It is important to stress that participants in the counseling program are only terrorist sympathizers, and at the most individuals caught with jihadist propaganda. They are not individuals who have been active in terrorist violence in the kingdom; people "with blood on their hands" are barred from participating.
...will be tossing the heresy of Wahhabism on the asheap of history, which is a step the Sa'uds, who created it, can readily undertake. Posted by Orrin Judd at August 17, 2007 9:18 AM
I know that's what has to be done; but how likely are they to do it. It's a heresy that is nearly
three centuries old. It is part of the Saudi education system, which means it's part of their
military, the culture, the intelligence services;
corporate structures et al
The Saudi's may well take that step, but they won't survive it.
Posted by: Brandon at August 17, 2007 10:54 AMThe Roman Empire survived numerous changes in organizing ideology.
Posted by: oj at August 17, 2007 1:09 PMBut the ruling dynasties didn't.
Posted by: Brandon at August 17, 2007 1:37 PM