Nasser was effective in combating conservative and reactionary Islam when he stood for the liberation of Palestine and for the confrontation with western colonial powers and their clients in the region. Once his credentials on those issues were undermined in 1967, Saudi Arabia was able to successfully sponsor and promote conservative and reactionary Islam. Today, allies of the US think that they can combat fanatical fundamentalist groups while maintaining their lousy credentials on Palestine and on democracy and human rights. That formula will not work.