The rulers of Islamic countries, especially the oil producing ones have become rich and jealous of their wealth. They push the Wahhabist sect because it is one of fatalism and submission so that they don't fight against their miserable lot in life; they only fight against the 'infidel'. The imams preach 'Jihad' to keep their young men occupied with visions of holy war on the West to deflect the fact that they've been ignored by their own rulers, and that their rulers have not shared the wealth of the oil with their own people. They don't want to give them any ideas of internal rebellion.
You're right. It's a technique used throughout the middle east...