The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia performs a key role in the war on Islamic extremism and terrorism. The Kingdom maintains the distinction of being the birthplace of Islam and its government is the epitome of Islamic rule in the region. The Kingdom's response to Islamic terrorists attacks in their country, as well as the United States before and after 9/11, require exploration in order to comprehend the origins and possible solutions in dealing with the Islamic extremist/terrorist through cultural, religious economic and/or military means. The Kingdom defines Islamic extremism and terrorism as separate entities and categorizes those who participate in either as deviants or deviators from the true path of Islam. This concept is further explored, in conjunction with identifying the successful initiatives employed by the Kingdom which can aid the United States and its allies in developing further deterrence options in matters with regard to Islamic extremism/terrorism. The government of the Kingdom feels it has done a great deal to counter the effects of Islamic deviants since 9/11 and are adopting many methods in countering extremism and terrorism on the Arabian Peninsula. However, detractors against the Kingdom say this is not the case and that the Saudi government has not done enough to counter these threats. It is for this reason that the purpose of this monograph is to examine the methods and strategies executed by the Kingdom in countering these threats. The question this research will answer is: What policies, practices and strategies employed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are successful in countering the current Islamic extremist/terrorist threat? To answer this question this research will utilize literature written on and in the Kingdom by scholars and authorities in Middle Eastern affairs. This research will develop background on the historical, cultural and religious methods utilized by the Kingdom in dealing with the current extremist/terrorist threats and how these methods have succeeded in thwarting their definition of extremist/terrorist activity. It is not the intent of this research to disapprove or approve of Kingdom strategies or tactics as much as inform readers about the methods and approaches utilized by the United States' premier Arab/Islamic ally in combating these threats. It is significant that one comprehend the methods developed for countering these threats are unique to the Kingdom. In order to appreciate why the Saudis have chosen these approaches one must first be familiar with Saudi history and their socio-cultural dynamic. This will aid in identifying what the populace believes and how this dynamic affects Kingdom approaches to the problem. Saudis' religion is an integral component of their culture and thus one must gain an appreciation of Islam from the Saudi perspective to truly grasp their rationale and reasoning on the approaches they have decided are best in countering Islamic threats to the Kingdom and the global community.

Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)