Synopses & Reviews
Combating Terrorism describes the efforts made by the government of Saudi Arabia to combat terrorism with specific reference to the innovative three-pronged Saudi strategy that has been successfully implemented in the Saudi Arabia Kingdom. Asseri traces the problems around defining terrorism, highlighting the difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter, and goes on to a functional definition. He also discusses terrorism in practice and highlights its purposes and goals, defines it in its historical perspective, and concludes with terrorism practiced in the name of religion.
The Islamic perspective on terrorism is examined, and Combating Terrorism outlines the abhorrence that Islam has for terrorist practices, the real meaning of jihad and the Islamic tradition of peaceful co-existence. Asseri elaborates on the root causes of terrorism with specific stress on the grievances of Muslims throughout the world. He then explains how the three-pronged Saudi strategy is practiced within its domestic, regional, and international dimensions.
Combating Terrorism also offers some case studies on the Saudi strategy and contains some concluding remarks with regard to pursuit of a world free of terror.
About the Author
Ali Saeed Awadh Asseri is the Saudi Ambassador in Lebanon. After passing his advanced course in goverment administration from the Royal Institute of Public Administration, London, he undertook various training courses in the US and UK in the fields of combating terrorism, hijacking, hostage negotiations, physical security, ambassadorial security, and high crisis management. He has a Master's in International Relations.
Assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1982, he served as Director Genderal of the Diplomatic Security Department and headed senior diplomatic delegations to the Central Asian countries and to Bosnia, Albania, and Hungary to open new embassies. He was also a part of the investigation team looking into the assasination of Saudi diplomats by terrorists in various parts of the world.
Ali Asseri was appointed Ambassador to Pakistan in 2001 where he served till 2009, from which he became the Saudi Ambassador in Lebanon. His previous publications include Post September 11: The Efforts to Combat the Negative Fallout.
Table of Contents
1. Terrorism in Theory
Problem of Defining Terrorism
Terrorism and Warfare
Terrorist versus Freedom Fighter
Towards a Functional Definition
2. Terrorism in Practice
Purposes and Goals of Terrorism
Terrorism in the Historical Perspective
Terrorism in the Name of Religion
3. The Islamic Perspective on Terrorism
Islam Forbids Terrorism
The Real Meaning of Jihad
Islamic Tradition of Peaceful Co-existance
4. Root Causes of Terrorism
Problem with Generalizations
Diversity of Reasons
Muslim Grievances
-The Palestinian Problem
-The Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
-Islamophobia
5. Saudi Strategy against Terrorism: Domestic Dimensions
Policy Guidelines
Three-Pronged Strategy
-The Strategy of Prevention
-The Strategy of Cure
-The Strategy of Care
Main Domestic Measures
-Steps against Terrorist Financing
-Security and Legal Steps
-Social Sector Reforms
-The Religious Police
-The Media
-Reform Programme in Prisons
-The Battle of the Internet
-Manifestations of Success
6. Saudi Strategy against Terrorism: International Initiatives
Policy Guidelines
Bilateral Cooperation
Multilateral Cooperation
Conference on Countering Terrorism
The OIC Initiative
The Interfaith Dialogue
-The Interfaith Dialogue in Makkah
-The Interfaith Dialogue in Madrid
-The Interfaith Dialogue in New York
7. Emulating Saudi Strategy: Some Examples
The Case of Indonesia
-Making the 'War on Terror' as Indonesia's Own
-Enlisting Former Terrorists to Campaign against Terrorism
-Letting the Elite Police Lead the Fight against Terrorism
-Prosecuting Terrorists Judiciously and Transparently
Other Cases in the Muslim World
Pakistan and Saudi Anti-Terrorism Model
The 'War on Terror' in Afghanistan
8. Conclusion: Rethinking Counter-Terrorism
A Contemporary Perspective
The Strategy for Global Action against Terrorism
In Pursuit of a World Free of Terror
Index