Juan Carlos Zarate, deputy assistant to the U.S. president and deputy national security adviser for combating terrorism, has claimed the U.S. has made some progress in persuading the Muslim world that it is Al Qaeda, not the West, that is waging war on Islam and on Muslims. Even senior Muslim clerics are making the point:: "In October 2007, Zarate said, the Saudi grand mufti, Abdulaziz Al-Sheik, warned Saudis against unauthorized jihadist activities and lectured wealthy Saudis against "funding causes that 'harm Muslims.'"
