Saudi officials and newspapers responded in kind today over a briefing to a Pentagon advisory board that portrayed the kingdom as an enemy of the United States active at every level of terrorism.
Although the Washington administration was quick to distance itself from the briefing, the press blasted a "growing current" in the United States aimed at damaging the 60-year-old US-Saudi relationship.
"A current has been growing recently in Washington to undermine the historical relations between the kingdom and the United States, at the instigation of certain quarters who are enemies to Saudi Arabia," Arabic daily Okazsaid in a front page editorial.
"The danger of this group lies in its great penetration of the institutions that decide US foreign policy," the paper said.
The Arabic paper, which reflects official thinking like all Saudi media, said the anti-Riyadh campaign in the aftermath of September 11th had influenced the decision-makers in Washington "who have opened the way for this fierce attack which makes our most friendly country the most dangerous to our interests and security."
Okazadvised the US administration that Saudi Arabia can never be a US enemy and that threatening Saudi interests would also endanger US interests.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal described the briefing as "pure fiction" and said US-Saudi relations were "excellent in all fields."
"The two countries have been friends and allies for over 60 years," Prince Saud said after speaking over the phone with US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell.
"It is unfortunate that there are people in some quarters who are trying to cast doubt and undermine the solid and historic ties between our two countries. I am confident that they will not succeed," he said.
Al-Watannewspaper blamed the Jewish and Zionist lobby for being behind a smear campaign against Saudi Arabia.
"The Jewish-Zionist lobby is employing US political and media institutions to distort the image of Saudi Arabia (in a bid) to discredit its peace initiative," in the Middle East, the paper said.
AFP