President Bush is expected to make his first state visit to Saudi Arabia Jan. 14. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to its holiest places. It is also the home country of Osama bin Laden and 15 of the 19 Sept 11 terrorists. What Bush will find in Saudi Arabia would surprise most Americans - indeed, most Muslims around the world, who look to Saudi Arabia as their spiritual home.

For in this country most sacred to Muslims, bin Laden’s countrymen have dramatically turned against him, Al Qaeda, Saudi fighters in Iraq, and terrorism itself. And they have also equally dramatically turned in favour of bin Laden’s chief enemy: the United States. The people of Saudi Arabia are now among the most pro-American and anti-terrorist of any in the entire Muslim world.

These are just some of the startling findings of a rare opinion survey conducted in Saudi Arabia last month by the non-profit polling group I lead, Terror Free Tomorrow, and by D3 Systems. Fewer than 1 in 10 Saudis has a favourable opinion of Al Qaeda, and 88 per cent approve the Saudi military and police pursuing Al Qaeda fighters. Only 15 per cent of Saudis have a favourable opinion of bin Laden himself. Even for Saudis with a favourable view of bin Laden and Al Qaeda, addressing the problem of terrorism is one of their most important priorities, as it is to all Saudis, chosen by close to 90 per cent.

In fact, compared with the most populous Muslim countries, Saudis are among the most favourable to the US. While only 40 per cent currently have a favourable opinion, that’s twice or more the percentage of those in Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Indonesia. For Saudis, this is a profound turnaround from just a year and a half ago, when, in a limited Terror Free Tomorrow survey, only 11 per cent had a favourable opinion of the US.

Two factors help explain this major shift: US policies are perceived to be less hostile; and Saudi King Abdullah has promoted moderation. While Saudi citizens have been reported by the US military to make up almost half of the foreign suicide bombers in Iraq, the Saudi public itself is strongly opposed to any Saudis fighting in Iraq. Sixty-three per cent of Saudis oppose their fellow citizens fighting against Shiite militias in Iraq. An even higher percentage — 69 — favours Saudi Arabia working with the US to resolve the Iraq conflict.

Yet to the question many in the West have repeatedly asked — “Where is the voice of the moderate Muslim majority who stand against Al Qaeda, bin Laden, and terrorism?” — the people of Saudi Arabia have delivered a definitive answer. The people of Islam’s spiritual home clearly and unequivocally reject Al Qaeda, bin Laden, Iraqi insurgents, and terrorism. They also forcefully look forward to the day when the US and Saudi Arabia can have closer and stronger relations. This gives Bush a unique opportunity to forge a deeper alliance not just with King Abdullah, but the people of Saudi Arabia themselves - and Muslims everywhere. — The Christian Science Monitor