Speaking in a TV interview to promote his new book on the war in Iraq Plan of Attack, Woodard said, “Bandar wanted Bush to know that the Saudis hope to fine-tune oil prices to prime the economy in 2004. What was key, Bandar understood, were the economic conditions before a presidential election.”

“A drop in the oil price would strengthen the US economy ahead of the election in which Bush will face Democratic Senator John Kerry,” added Woodward.