Saudi prince loses credibility with Bush

WASHINGTON, April 29 (UPI) -- Bush administration officials wonder whether the U.S. president can continue his deep reliance on a key Saudi prince, it was reported Sunday.

Prince Bandar bin Sultan of Saudi Arabia is close to President George W. Bush. But recent events show that Prince Bandar may no longer serve as a beacon of Saudi intent, the New York Times reported.

In February, Bandar's uncle, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, effectively killed plans by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for a summit between Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Then, threes week ago, Bush was caught off guard, and infuriated, when King Abdullah condemned the U.S. invasion of Iraq as an "an illegal foreign occupation," the Times reported. Since then, the administration has found Prince Bandar hard to reach since, the Times said.

Bandar had been pursuing policy that was "music to the ears of the Bush administration, but was not what King Abdullah had in mind at all," said Martin S. Indyk, a former United States ambassador to Israel.

Gordon D. Johndroe, a White House spokesman, said none of the current issues threaten the relationship between Bush, Bandar and Abdullah.

"We may have differences on issues now and then," Johndroe said, "but we remain close allies."