Oh, I agree that it would be naive to think that the force behind IS is merely some form or interpretation of Salafism, and I&#x27;m aware that there is a strong voice against IS among Salafis around the world (not just in Saudi Arabia).   My point was that Saudi clerics denounciation of IS has little to do with them being the &quot;good guys&quot; or with religious reasons.  Islam, in whatever form, here is being used by all nominally Islamic sides as an ideological gift wrap for various political and economic power struggles in the region the way that suits them the most.