Barbara Ferguson, Arab News

WASHINGTON, 21 April 2004 — Veteran journalist Bob Woodward has alleged that President Bush made a secret pact with Saudi Arabia to lower oil prices to help him in the November presidential election. The White House and the Saudi ambassador to the United States have denied these charges.

In his book, “Plan of Attack,” Woodward reports that prior to the invasion of Iraq, Prince Bandar ibn Sultan, Saudi ambassador in Washington, was briefed on top-secret US war plans in order to enlist Saudi support during meetings with Bush at the White House.

White House Communications Director Dan Bartlett told CNN’s “Inside Politics” Monday that Bush and Bandar discussed the possibility that military conflict in Iraq would lead to “a major disruption of oil supplies across the globe, particularly hurting Americans here at home.”

“What we were reassured by was the fact that Saudi Arabia was not going to allow that to happen, was going to work with other OPEC members to make sure there was not an emergency spike in prices,” he said.

Asked whether Woodward’s reporting was wrong, Bartlett said, “I’m saying what Prince Bandar said was the long-term oil strategy for Saudi Arabia is the same that they’ve been publicly stating. There would be an oil price per barrel of $22 to $28. There was no secret deal.”

Prince Bandar, who appeared Monday on CNN with Woodward, said his characterization of Saudi policy was “accurate.”

“We hoped that the oil prices will stay low, because that’s good for America’s economy, but more important, it’s good for our economy and the international economy,” he said. “This is nothing unusual. President Clinton asked us to keep the prices down in 2000. In fact, I can go back to 1979. President Carter asked us to keep the prices down to avoid the malaise.

“So yes, it’s in our interests and in America’s interests to keep the prices down. But that was not a deal.

“Saudi Arabia does not live on the moon. When the world economy gets hurt, we get hurt,” Bandar said.

Meanwhile, Adel Al-Jubeir, a Saudi spokesman, made a statement in Riyadh yesterday to counter suggestions in Woodward’s book that the Kingdom reached an agreement with the White House to increase oil production.

“The allegation that the Kingdom is manipulating the price of oil for political purposes or to affect elections is erroneous and has no basis,” Al-Jubeir said.