Woodward, on national television, accused the Saudi ambassador to the US, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, of promising Bush the Saudi government would cut oil prices before November to aid the President’s re-election campaign.
Speaking on CNN, Bandar stated, “[I] made no such pledge. Any conversations [I] had about oil prices with Bush [are] similar to discussions [I have] had with past U.S. presidents.”
“Oil prices and Saudi Arabia and American politics are intertwined. I wish we can influence the oil price situation, but we can not,” added Bandar.
Bandar’s rebuttal was strong supported by Adel Al-Jubeir, foreign affairs adviser to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. According to Adel, “We do not use oil for political purposes; it is too important a commodity, and its impact on the global economy is tremendous,” he said.
“Saudi Arabia also does not interfere in elections,” added Adel.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan declined to comment on Woodward’s remarks but Democratic presidential challenger Senator John Kerry was very vocal.
According to Kerry, “It would be outrageous and unacceptable if the Bush administration and the Saudis reached a deal to tie the price of gasoline and fuel supplies to the election.”
