“The Saudis have planted so many seeds of terrorism in so many countries, backing away from this now is pointless.”
True that many seeds will continue to sprout, but cutting off the funds will cause many professional indoctrinators to seek other employment, and slow the production base of jihadis.
If they change their State Religious doctrine, all the mosques, they sponsor, Imams that they train and pay, and books that they print, will start promoting the new version. Not only will they slow the production of new extremists, many of the existing or borderline extremists will follow their lead.
It would be a huge help. Without the Saudis doing this, we would really be fighting a difficult ideological battle. They are about the best lead we could possibly have in countering the ideology - if they are sincere about it.
6 very important words.
And I'd add one more: taqiyya.
You’re right.