The Saudi ruling family is forever walking the line between keeping relations with US and trying to quell the Wahhabi extremists. This forces them to say things like this:

Those who want to establish churches ''are, unfortunately, fanatics,'' Sultan said.

''There are no churches--not in the past, the present or future. . . . Whoever said this must shut up and be ashamed.''

Islam's founding prophet, Mohammed, allowed Arabia's Christian churches to continue operating, and many Muslim nations follow his example.

Once we overthrow Saddam and have a friendly regime in Iraq, the Saudis become way less important to us. Perhaps things would change if the peninsulas rightful rulers returned.