"Woodward, White House, Saudis: No election deal on oil"
From CNN.
Yet another artificially constructed anti-Bush issue hits the wall. This may be a new record for shortest time between floating the trial balloon and having it fall to the ground in flames.
The Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, who appeared on the program 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 the year 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."
