Striking Back: The Saudi War Against Terrorism: What We Can Learn from It

This work is intended to show how the Saudi Kingdom views and treats terrorists and terrorism; how it became the target of terrorism due largely to anti Islamic literature endemic in the West and to Western colonialism and imperialism; how these dynamics triggered violence latent in Saudi culture.

Dr. John S. Habib has a long record of diplomatic service for the US in the Middle East that includes assignments to embassies and other US installations in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Morocco, and France. He has taught extensively since retiring, at the University if Maryland, overseas division, the University of Washington, Michigan State University, where he held a joint appointment with the College of Social Science and James Madison College, and at Al-Akhawayn University (Ifrane, Morocco). and Mohammed V University (Sale, Morocco) as Fulbright Distinguished Scholar where he established a center for American Studies. Dr. Habib also worked as a private Management Consultant in Paris, Geneva, Monte Carlo, and Brussels. His extensive writings on Saudi Arabia include: The Transfer Plan Rebuffed＂ (Al-Dara, Riyadh 2001, ＂Wahhabi Origins of the Contemporary Saudi State＂, Lynne-Reiner Publishers, 2009 and two other books. ＂Ibn Saud’s Warriors of Islam: The Ikhwan of Najd and their role in the Creation of the Saudi Kingdom. 1910-1930＂ (Leiden 1978), ＂Saudi Arabia and the American National Interest: An Interpretive Study of a Special Relationship＂, Universal Press, Florida 2003. Dr. Habib gave the opening address at the 22nd annual Frank Church Conference on Public Affairs on November 3. 2003 at Boise State University In Idaho. The conference ＂Global Flash Points: Clash of Cultures＂ focused on the question ＂How does the U.S. engage a world where many mistrust and even hate America, and how should the U. S. rebuild global institutions and contain extremism.＂