The root of terrorist evil....

....is in Saudi Arabian Wahhabism, the extremist version of Islam that teaches that the only acceptable courses of action for a believer are to convert the "infidel" or kill the "infidel". No other course of action is acceptable. Now evidence has been adduced by the Center for Religious Freedom proving that Saudi Arabia is spreading hatred with the borders of the United States.

The propagation of hate ideology by Saudi Arabia is known to be worldwide, but its occurrence within the United States has received scant attention until now. Within worldwide Sunni Islam, followers of Saudi Arabia's extremist Wahhabi ideology are a distinct minority, as is evident by the millions of Muslims who have chosen to make America their home and are upstanding, law-abiding citizens and neighbors.

The report concludes that the Saudi government propaganda examined reflects a "totalitarian ideology of hatred that can incite to violence," and the fact that it is "being mainstreamed within our borders through the efforts of a foreign government, namely Saudi Arabia, demands our urgent attention." The report finds: "Not only does the government of Saudi Arabia not have a right — under the First Amendment or any other legal document — to spread hate ideology within U.S. borders, it is committing a human rights violation by doing so."

Sooner or later the Bush administration is going to have to face the reality that the Saudis must be dealt with. I haven't seen any indication that the people of Saudi Arabia desire a change in government, so pressure will have to be exerted externally to stimulate change.

Once Iraq is stablized and Iran has been dealt with (however that plays out), the root of the problem must be tackled.

One insidious aspect of the Saudi propaganda examined is its aim to replace traditional and moderate interpretations of Islam with extremist Wahhabism, the officially-established religion of Saudi Arabia. In these documents, other Muslims, especially those who advocate tolerance, are condemned as infidels. The opening fatwa in one Saudi embassy-distributed book, published by the Saudi Air Force, responds to a question about a Muslim preacher in a European mosque who taught that it is not right to condemn Jews and Christians as infidels. The Saudi state cleric's reply rebukes the Muslim cleric: "He who casts doubts about their infidelity leaves no doubt about his." Since, under Saudi law, "apostates" from Islam can be sentenced to death, this is an implied death threat against the tolerant Muslim imam, as well as an incitement to vigilante violence;

Wahhabism is so extreme that even Muslims are at risk.

Sufi and Shiite Muslims are viciously condemned;

For a Muslim who fails to uphold the Saudi Wahhabi sect's sexual mores (i.e. through homosexual activity or heterosexual activity outside of marriage), the edicts published by the Saudi government's Ministry of Islamic Affairs, and found in American mosques advise, "it would be lawful for Muslims to spill his blood and to take his money;"

Regarding those who convert out of Islam, the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs explicitly asserts, they "should be killed;"

This isn't some extremist sect. This is the official religion (and government) of Saudi Arabia! Is it any wonder that most of the 9/11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia? That bin Laden is from there? That many Saudis have flocked to Iraq to join the jihad? (Hat tip to the Counterterrorism Blog.)

UPDATE: Wretchard has an interesting discussion about Saudi Wahhabism spreading through Africa and its effect on the indigenous people's culture.