atrick J. Buchanan told students at Boston University yesterday that the United States should drop its economic sanctions against Iran and Iraq in order to promote oil production and reduce gasoline prices.
Buchanan, the third-party presidential candidate who is also campaigning in Maine and New Hampshire this weekend, said that when it comes to fuel, the United States is vulnerable to foreign nations and to the ''greed and avarice and animosity of regimes that, for whatever reason, resent or despise the United States.''
During a brief interview, Buchanan expressed skepticism about Texas Governor George W. Bush's intellectual abilities and said he fears that Bush will be pushed around by his policy advisers and the Republican Party when it comes to foreign affairs.
''I'm not sure Mr. Bush has the independent thought and determination to stand up to some of these folks,'' Buchanan said. ''And I'm not sure what he genuinely believes in his heart. Am I concerned about George Bush as president? Yeah.''
During Buchanan's address, which was sponsored by the Center for International Relations, he said the United States should begin tapping its own energy reserves, starting with the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which is currently off-limits to drilling. Buchanan said he would clear the way for exploration on the Outer Continental Shelf, where drilling is also prohibited, and he would tap oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, as well as suspend for six months the 18 cents-a-gallon federal tax.
Buchanan also said that after lifting sanctions on Iran and Iraq, he would sell both countries all the oil-drilling equipment they want and let them sell all the oil they want. ''None of these Gulf regimes is worth another war,'' he said.
