Okay, I’m beginning to see what you were referencing.
Interesting take, and I’m inclined to agree with it.
I want folks to understand that the leadership doesn’t always control what the Islamic Imams are teaching. They have to appear to get along, but that may not always be the case.
If it were the case that the leadership was very in tune with Wahhabiist beliefs and goals, the comments from the leadership would be much more strident and confrontational.
I suggest the leadership is much more moderate than a lot of people wish to believe.
I believe they too cringe at times at what some of these sect members do in the name of Islam.
If a strict Wahhabi adherent were to gain control of the nation, we would be seeing something looking like Iran on steroids.
Yes, it does seem that the Saudi leadership want control or at least secular goals, but the imams and their hangers-on want war. And the imams are too important to contradict.
I’m just glad that it’s the President threading this maze and not me!
In my view, the saner segment of the Moslem world, especially leaders in Jordan, Saudi and Egypt, want to stop the crazies (ie devout Moslems). But they cannot without getting dragged out of their palaces and governement buildings and slaughtered.
Pres. Al Sisi of Egypt has twice given big speeches about how Islam needs to reform and stop trying to control and conquer the world, stop the jihad, stop the killing others who aren’t Moslem, and so on. Stick to the prayers, haj, give charity, etc.
But these saner ones have no power to change their countries without the muscle and support of the US. Now that Trump has their back, change will come to the Middle East, I am sure of it.
And how many regular citizens in these countries would like freedom from sharia law, the freedom to think and believe what they choose? I am sure many would. But in a world controlled by “radical” it traditional imams and their followers, regular people have no choice. They like having their heads and hands attached.
This will, IMHO, change.
Then the sane Moslem countries can help take care of the ones who refuse to change - such as Iran and Pakistan.