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US President Not to Lift Sanctions Against Libya, Iran
US President George W. Bush said Thursday he had no plan to ease sanctions on Iran and Libya despite his interest in reviewing the effectiveness of all US economic sanctions.
"In our energy review we're looking at all opportunities to create more energy supply to take the pressure off price," Bush told reporters when asked whether he was considering lifting sanctions against Iraq, Iran and Libya in order to increase US oil supplies..
"At the same time I think it's important for the country to review all sanction policies to make sure they are effective. But I have no intention as of this moment for taking sanctions off countries like Iran or Libya," Bush said.
The Washington Post reported Thursday an influential energy task force headed by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney has broached the possibility of lifting some economic sanctions against Iran, Libya and Iraq as part of a plan to increase America's oil supply.
According to a draft of the task force report, the United States should review the sanctions against the three countries because of the importance of their oil production to meet in domestic and global energy needs.
The April 10 draft acknowledges that sanctions can "advance" important national security and diplomatic goals. But it adds that United Nations sanctions on Iraq and U.S. restrictions on energy investments in Libya and Iran "affect some of the most important existing and prospective petroleum producing countries in the world."
"The administration will initiate a comprehensive sanctions review and seek to engage the Congress in a partnership for sanctions reform," the draft said.
U.S. energy security should be one of the priorities of its domestic and foreign policy, according to a portion of the draft.
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