Are the Saudis finally getting serious about combatting terrorism? The jury is still out. But it seems increasingly likely that they are choosing their economic over their religious interests — which also means, for the House of Saud, that they are attempting to choose survival. From [1] AP:

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Police cars and armored vehicles flooded the al-Malaz neighborhood in the Saudi capital Sunday as security forces surrounded a house where suspected militants were believed to have taken refuge after a shootout with police.

The massive operation was under way in the same district that was the focus of a huge security sweep against militants sought in the beheading of American hostage Paul M. Johnson Jr., whose body has still not been found.