Saudi Chief Mufti: Terrorism Is A Germ

MEMRI reports that in a speech marking the beginning of the Hajj,

Saudi Arabia's chief mufti and head of the country's senior ulamaa organization Sheikh 'Abd Al-'Aziz bin 'Abdallah Aal Al-Sheikh called terrorism a germ that aspires to anarchy and destruction, and stated that it must be acted against.

During the speech, he told Muslims to be wary of extremists and specifically stated,

"Arm yourselves with knowledge, with awe of heaven, with faith, and with good deeds, and beware lest you be exploited by certain elements, as they wish."

While many folks believe Saudi Arabi should be doing more for the War on Terror, the fact that the Chief Mufti opened the Hajj to Mecca in this way is highly significant and shows their committment to the War on Terror. While Saudi Arabian Wahhabism may have fathered the Salafist Al Qaeda movement, the country now sees how extemists are attempting to tear apart their own country and have made significant efforts to reverse this extremist Salafist nature of Wahhabism.

In fact, Saudi Arabia just arrested 28 extremist who were planning a terrorist attack during the Hagg. Three weeks earlier, Saudi Arabia also arrested 208 suspected terrorists suspected of imminent attacks on Saudi oil facilities.

Many folks state the Bush administration is not using in diplomacy correctly as part of it elements of power. Arrests and statement like those stated above show otherwise. Prior to 9/11, such arrests and speeches in Saudi Arabia would have been unheard of if not for US diplomacy in the region.

A few years ago, Saudi Sheikhs were preaching anti-American rhetoric and saying terrorism was the only way to fight America. A few months ago, Sheikhs were preaching anti-Salafist sermons. Today, they are preaching terrorism is a germ.

Between all the good news in Iraq as a result of The Surge, a non-eventful Hajj, and a statement from the Saudi's Chief Mufti like that above, I believe Al Qaeda has is losing or has lost its popular support and appeal. Even devout conservative Muslims are seeing Al Qaeda for what it truly is, a despicable, cruel, and evil organization that the entire world must fight against or live under.