Bush aims to strengthen U.S.-Saudi relationship

WASHINGTON -- President Bush is trying to shore up U.S.-Saudi relations, shaken by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and questions about the kingdom's reliability in the war against terrorism.

In a conciliatory gesture, Bush will play host at his Texas ranch Tuesday to Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar bin Sultan.

"Relations are strong," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said in Crawford. Other officials brushed aside repeated suggestions that Saudi Arabia has been complicit with Islamic militants.

Earlier this month, 700 relatives of Sept. 11 victims filed suit against the Saudi and Sudanese governments and some institutions claiming that they helped finance Osama bin Laden's network and the terror attacks in New York and Washington.

The lawsuit was filed a week after Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said the United States would not have access to Saudi facilities for an attack on Iraq. He also affirmed the kingdom's opposition to an incursion.

Visits by foreign leaders to Crawford are considered diplomatic plums and are usually reserved for officials of the most senior level. Bandar's invitation has less to do with his rank than with the personal relationship he has had with the Bush family, including the former president, during his nearly 19 years as ambassador. He is by far the longest-serving ambassador in Washington.

Bandar will bring his family to Crawford and have lunch there with Bush after discussions in the morning.

Because of the long history of personal friendship, the meeting will be heavy on spontaneity and light on carefully prepared diplomatic presentations, an administration official said.

"The president enjoys his time with Prince Bandar," Fleischer said. "He's a very affable fellow, very good humor, speaks English better than most Americans."

Fifteen of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers were Saudis but the administration has never held the Saudi government responsible.

The administration clearly has a more benign view of the monarchy than a Pentagon briefer who said last month that Saudis "are active at every level of the terror chain, from planners to financiers, from cadre to foot-soldier, from ideologist to cheerleader."

All top administration officials said the comments did not reflect U.S. government thinking.

A seven-member House delegation will leave for Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to seek clarification of the monarchy's terrorism policies.

The administration insists that Saudi Arabia is a valuable ally in the war on terrorism. It also is playing a lead role in efforts to achieve an Israeli-Palestinian settlement and is assisting Washington with promoting reform in the Palestinian Authority, officials say.