Classic weaseling from oleaginous Saudi Foreign Affairs Advisor Adel Al-Jubeir, confronted (for a change) by Wolf Blitzer about Crown Prince Abdullah’s claim that “Zionists” were behind the recent terror attacks on the House of Saud: No Apology Necessary.

On May 13, 2004, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer questioned Saudi foreign Affairs Advisor Adel Al-Jubeir about Crown Prince Abdallah’s statements:

Blitzer: “Your Crown Prince Abdallah, he made a very controversial statement, as you well know… He was accusing Zionists of that most recent terror attack in Riyadh. On the basis of what?”

Al-Jubeir: “I believe, Wolf, if you look at the context of it, the point that he was trying to make is that there are people in the United States who have been very harsh when it comes to Saudi Arabia, have called for regime change in Saudi Arabia, have called for the dismemberment of Saudi Arabia, and whose - the objectives that they have called for are the same objectives as those shared by the terrorists.

“Osama bin Laden wants to destroy the Saudi state. Osama bin Laden wants to destroy the Saudi government. And so you should understand these comments in that context, that those who are most critical of Saudi Arabia in a very hostile way in the United States, as well as in Israel, share the same objective as Osama bin Laden and those who committed these acts…”

Blitzer: “Is the crown prince, who’s the effective leader of Saudi Arabia, equating Al-Qa’ida with Zionists?”

Al-Jubeir: “That’s not what he was trying to say here. What he was trying to say is that the objectives of those people who have been most harsh toward Saudi Arabia are the same as the objectives of Osama bin Laden. It doesn’t mean that they committed this crime.”

Blitzer: “Because we listened closely to that tape and we had several Arab linguists listen precisely. And what he clearly said was that he believes 95% - not 100%, but 95% - that the people who undertook this most recent terror attack in Saudi Arabia was not Al-Qa’ida, but were Zionists.”

Al-Jubeir: “… When you say behind them, it means supporting them intellectually. That doesn’t mean financially. It doesn’t mean that they put them up to it. It just means that they share the same objective…”

Blitzer: “… Do you want to issue any sort of apology for the comments of your boss, the Crown Prince Abdallah?”

Al-Jubeir: “Why apology? I was explaining it to you. There’s no apology necessary.”

Blitzer: “Because of the impression that he left that for that most recent terror attack he was blaming Zionists.”

Al-Jubeir: “Because, Wolf, what happens with Saudi Arabia, unfortunately, after 9/11 is anything that Saudi Arabia does or says is perceived with a lot of criticism.

“It’s sort of, we are guilty until proven innocent. It should be the other way around. And so nobody cuts us any slack. And every little thing is exaggerated. Every little thing is inflated. I can look at statements by American officials. I can look at statements by officials of other countries that are outrageous and that have not solicited apologies from them or from anyone else. But when it comes to us, we’re always the ones who have to apologize. I don’t see a reason to do this here.”