How Saudi petrodollars fuel rise of Salafism

[FarCenter]

Since the 2011 Arab revolts, a loose network of underground zealots has evolved into a potent and highly vocal force. Behind the remarkable rise of Salafism lies the world’s leading producer of oil – and extremist Islam: Saudi Arabia.

When protesters incensed by an anti-Muslim video scaled the walls of the US embassy in Cairo on September 11, tearing down the Stars and Stripes, a black flag could be seen floating above the battered compound. From Sanaa, in Yemen, to Libya’s Benghazi, the same black banner, emblem of the Salafists, soon became a ubiquitous sight as anti-US protests spread like wildfire across the Arab world. The 2011 Arab uprisings have served the Salafists well. With the old dictators gone, a once subterranean network of hardliners has sprung into prominence – funded by a wealthy Gulf patron locked in a post-Arab Spring rivalry with a fellow Gulf monarchy.

http://www.france24.com/en/20120929-how-saudi-arabia-petrodollars-finance-salafist-winter-islamism-wahhabism-egypt

[riderinthestorm]

1. This. ^^^^ This is a really important post.

There was another post by a DUer who just returned from almost a decade in the UAE that dropped like a stone during the recent protests against that movie.

A snip from his OP....
"Why are we arguing about freedom of speech and not the Clerics and Ideology that caused the deaths?
What about the radical, Saudi-supported clerics and mosques that blanket the Muslim world and the fundamentalist message that is poisoning the waters of Islam? That is the real threat and it is growing. "

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021348526

[jsr]

2. This is a must read.

[MadHound]

3. Sorry, but this seems like a French propaganda piece.

The definition of what is or isn't Salafism is still very much in debate. As far as Saudi Arabia goes, they are doing everything to repress all forms of fundamentalist Islam, since it is a direct threat to their rule. Yes, individuals are funding various fundamental sects, but not the government.

There are a lot of nuances and shades of grey involved in this issue, and this article seems to be poor on discerning them.

[FarCenter]

4. Possibly, but the only chance for objectivity is to read sites from around the world

Clearly, it is not an American propaganda piece.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_24 for more about the source.

The story was the lead story on their site.

[Major Hogwash]

5. Good thing Dubya Bush invaded Iraq back in 2003, huh?

Man, we wouldn't have had peace in Iraq within 6 short months like Rumsfeld testified before Congress if Dubya Bush wouldn't have had his "shock and aw shucks" attitude about invading a sovereign country like Iraq.

The real reason Romney won't release his income tax returns is probably because he invested heavily in the corporations that make up the military industrial complex in this country before Bush invaded Iraq.
He probably had corporate insiders feeding him information about which companies were getting their big, new expensive projects approved by the DOD and Rumsfeld before the Iraq War even started.