A short history of Wahahbism published in 1995 in Istambul and reproduced at usaprayercenter.org says that Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab was taught and inspired by a British spy, one Mr. Hempher, to found a new religion in order to gain worldly power. To this end he teamed up with Muhammad Ibn Saud, and eventually these 2 families founded Saudi Arabia.
Tied up with the rise of the Saud family and the formation of Saudi Arabia is the rise of Arab nationalism. Arabs were beginning to recognize themselves as a nation. The article says "Britain unwittingly supported the Wahhabi Arabs in their revolt against the Ottoman Turks." (Unwittingly? Really?)
The article warns that 80% of the mosques in the US are Wahabi and points out that majority of Muslims in the world despise the Wahhabi cult, but will stand with them because they are Muslims.