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CNN Live Today

Bush, Saudi Prince to Talk

Aired August 27, 2002 - 12:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Back at the ranch, a Saudi prince, described as the "dean of ambassadors in Washington," is lunching with President Bush. The two are hanging out and talking about issues, ranging from Iraq to al Qaeda to PR.
We'll get the latest now from CNN's Kelly Wallace in Crawford.

I think everybody is wondering how much of that discussion will be on Iraq -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, definitely a good deal of discussion on Iraq. This will be an opportunity, Kyra, for President Bush to plead the case to the Saudi government, which so far, has been very opposed to any military action against Iraq.

Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia arriving at the president's ranch a little bit earlier. He and his family are at the ranch. The president and the prince lunching together, as you said, spending some time.

The Saudis are very concerned, though. They have said that the United States will not be allowed to use Saudi soil to launch any invasion against Iraq, and we have seen this administration, Vice President Cheney saying yesterday, that the United States and the world cannot afford to wait for Saddam Hussein to obtain nuclear weapons.

Well, when asked about that argument, an adviser to the Saudi government said today, the administration still needs to answer many more questions before Saudi Arabia can support any military strike.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ADEL AL-JUBEIR, FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER TO SAUDI CROWN PRINCE: We are saying, what is going to happen? What are the steps?

For example, there are a number of countries in the world that are threats or could be threats that are acquiring nuclear -- or trying to acquire nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction. Are we going to go and attack every single one of them?

And what we are saying is, while we can agree that Saddam is a threat, what exactly would it take to deal with it?

(END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: And the Saudis very much want this administration to pursue diplomatic means first. And, Kyra, you know that the Saudis supported the Persian Gulf War. That was during the president's father's administration. So they want to see this president cobble together any coalition and international support before any military campaign -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And, Kelly, there's been a lot of bad press surrounding the Saudi-U.S. relationship. How do they expect to mend fences here?

WALLACE: Well, you know, the Saudis are really mounting a PR campaign. They have issued a multi-page report, saying that the Saudi Arabian government has done a great deal in this war on terror.

The foreign policy adviser, Adel Al-Jubeir, saying today that there are -- quote -- "rantings and ravings" coming, not from the administration, but from others in the United States, very critical of the Saudi Arabian government.

So part of this is an opportunity to mount a PR campaign by the Saudis.

And as for mending fences, you know, both the United States and the Saudis are saying, there's no problem here; that there's a strong relationship.

In fact, Kyra, the president called Crown Prince Abdullah yesterday on the eve of his visit with Prince Bandar to reinforce the strong friendship between the two countries -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Kelly, when you talk about this lawsuit filed on behalf of more than 600 relatives of those killed on September 11, that's been another big talking point here in the U.S.

WALLACE: Another big talking point, not expected, though, to come up in this meeting. But the Saudis are very concerned about that. They have really called this lawsuit "very undignified." They think it's out of the question, not necessary at all.

And the one key point raised by this lawsuit, Kyra, that the Saudi royal family could have possibly paid money to al Qaeda to prevent al Qaeda from attacking sites in Saudi Arabia. The Saudis saying that is nonsense, absolutely not true.

But again, not expected to be raised during this meeting at the ranch -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Our Kelly Wallace there in Crawford, Texas -- thanks, Kelly.

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