John Bolton Unleashed
[guest post by Dana]
Clearly, he’s got nothing to lose:
John Bolton…harshly criticized Trump’s foreign policy on Wednesday at a private lunch, saying that inviting the Taliban to Camp David sent a “terrible signal” and that it was “disrespectful” to the victims of 9/11 because the Taliban had harbored al Qaeda.
Bolton also said that any negotiations with North Korea and Iran were “doomed to failure,” according to two attendees.
All the North Koreans and Iranians want to do is negotiate for relief from sanctions to support their economies, said Bolton, who was speaking before guests invited by the Gatestone Institute, a conservative think tank.
“He ripped Trump, without using his name, several times,” said one attendee. Bolton didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Bolton also said more than once that Trump’s failure to respond to the Iranian attack on an American drone earlier this summer set the stage for the Islamic Republic’s aggression in recent months.
At one point, Bolton, a previous chairman of Gatestone, suggested that had the U.S. retaliated for the drone shootdown, Iran might not have damaged the Saudi oil fields.
Coincidentally, Bolton’s comments came on the same day that Trump announced Bolton’s replacement would be Robert C. O’Brien, with whom he had “good chemistry”.
Trump pushed back on Bolton’s comments concerning a “high authority, at the very last minute” choosing not to go through with planned retaliatory strikes against the Iranians because Tucker Carlson, among others, warned that it was not a good idea:
“Well, I was critical of John Bolton for getting us involved with a lot of other people in the Middle East,” he told reporters during a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border south of San Diego. “We’ve spent $7.5 trillion in the Middle East and you ought to ask a lot of people about that.“
“John was not able to work with anybody, and a lot of people disagreed with his ideas,” Trump added. “A lot of people were very critical that I brought him on in the first place because of the fact that he was so in favor of going into the Middle East, and he got stuck in quicksand and we became policemen for the Middle East. It’s ridiculous.“
(Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.)
–Dana
I was going to look up Trump quotes on what a fabulous addition Bolton would be to his staff but eh, why bother. Been there…
Dana (05f22b) — 9/20/2019 @ 9:31 amanother anonymously sourced piece, (politico has been so supportive of gatestone, right) but it’s probably accurate view, what’s the alternative,
narciso (d1f714) — 9/20/2019 @ 9:58 amBolton has always been a rock-solid advisor – and I think he was right about the Taliban in Camp David issue – but I do also think he was wrong on the war in Iraq.
Colonel Haiku (f0e797) — 9/20/2019 @ 10:04 amI like Bolton. He fights.
nk (dbc370) — 9/20/2019 @ 10:07 amthey call gatestone as anti moslem, even though they have toameh a Palestinian, taheri, an Iranian, and at least one other, it’s also been a mouthpiece for Iranian regime fronts like niac,
narciso (d1f714) — 9/20/2019 @ 10:17 amyou think gatestone, would note remarks by one of it’s leading lights, sounds like Stephen glass redux,
narciso (d1f714) — 9/20/2019 @ 10:23 amBolton had little to do with the planning of the Iraq war, he was critical of treaties that would treat American military facilities with the same broad brush of outlaw regimes like Iraq and Syria,
narciso (d1f714) — 9/20/2019 @ 10:27 amsomeone on the record, would have said something, but it’s very convenient to invent anonymous sources, (I don’t disagree that’s his likely view, but why the pretense)
narciso (d1f714) — 9/20/2019 @ 10:31 amWell, if you’d been either alive, or American, 18 years ago, you’d know that you’re wrong. But that’s very “on brand”.
Colonel Klink (Ret) (6e7a1c) — 9/20/2019 @ 10:36 amthat would be Afghanistan, he was upposed to the un which was protecting saddam through their sinecure s for palaces, much the same parties, doing the same for the Iranian regime today,
narciso (d1f714) — 9/20/2019 @ 10:43 amWhat’s Robert O’Brien’s background that makes him a great pick for NSA? I wasn’t a big Bolton fan…never liked his music…..and probably a bit more hawkish than nuanced….but he at least had some gravitas….I fear O’Brien might be too much the “yes” man…without much experience in international strategy….or planning. I guess I can read his book….but I’m not sure if he is worth $23.99. Anyone know anything about this lawyer?
AJ_Liberty (ec7f74) — 9/20/2019 @ 11:19 ambriefly,
https://saraacarter.com/who-is-robert-obrien-trumps-pick-for-national-security-advisor-five-quick-factswho-is-robert-obrien-trumps-pick-for-national-security-advisor-five-quick-facts-five-quick-facts-who-is-robert-obri/
narciso (d1f714) — 9/20/2019 @ 11:27 amWalrus Gumbo usually gets thrown out; doesn’t keep long.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 9/20/2019 @ 11:38 amSo, Bolton says that Trump is an ignoramus, and Trump says that Bolton is a prima donna. They might both be right.
Kevin M (19357e) — 9/20/2019 @ 12:06 pmBolton has – in the main – been a promoter of America’s best interests… despite his many detractors. An objective review of his record would leave many of these people
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 9/20/2019 @ 12:52 pmbrown… er, red-faced… holdin’ theirs in their BarcaLoungers, feelin’ their disease.… so to speak.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 9/20/2019 @ 12:52 pmAn outlet that never gives bolton, the time of day says this.
Narciso (181de5) — 9/20/2019 @ 12:58 pmhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-defends-conversation-with-ukraine-leader-11568993176?mod=e2tw
Narciso (181de5) — 9/20/2019 @ 1:06 pmHe still thinks he’s a CEO talking to another CEO.
harkin (dc1411) — 9/20/2019 @ 1:10 pmWarmongers ALWAYS say the same thing over and over. We need to attack someone or get tough, otherwise its APPEASEMENT and ITS MUNICH ALL OVER AGAIN. Here’s a history lesson. “Munich” didn’t cause WW2. Britain and France caused WW2 by declaring war on Germany. Further, they almost LOST WW2 by refusing to ally themselves with the USSR in August 1939. Not attacking Iran didn’t cause the missile strike. Attacking Iran may have resulted in Iran retaliating by hitting S.A. months ago.
Guys like Bolten never fight wars – they just love starting them. Lets give John an M-16 and put him in the front lines. Maybe then he’ll stop loving wars so much.
rcocean (1a839e) — 9/20/2019 @ 1:14 pmFiring john bolton the vietnam war draft dodging chicken hawk who never saw a war he didn’t like except if he had to go fight in it. was the best move trump has made.
lany (29f26b) — 9/20/2019 @ 1:16 pmWell the generals were ready to revolt around munich, and germany wasnt building up an army to play pinochle.
Narciso (181de5) — 9/20/2019 @ 1:34 pm“Well the generals were ready to revolt around munich, and germany wasnt building up an army to play pinochle.”
I wrote a sarcastic response that included the term ‘Jew bankers’ but deleted it. I mean what’s the point?
harkin (dc1411) — 9/20/2019 @ 2:01 pmGreat, we got white Russ Ewing for a new NSA chief.
urbanleftbehind (b573f5) — 9/20/2019 @ 2:01 pmBolton would be fine back at the UN. Or as one of many advisors.
But he reminds me too much of guys who were gung ho on the Vietnam war till they weren’t. Meanwhile lots of kids from Iowa died.
Harcourt Fenton Mudd (0c349e) — 9/20/2019 @ 2:07 pmClearly he’s got nothing to lose…
That’s a certainty; his credibility was cancelled long ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQDRHqTD6WQ
DCSCA (797bc0) — 9/20/2019 @ 2:19 pm25… I think I read Bolton had said if the UN building lost 10 floors/stories, it would not be noticed.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 9/20/2019 @ 2:22 pmBolton’s replacement for un ambassador was fannie mae flack bob zoellick, the oligarchs were happy with that choice,
narciso (d1f714) — 9/20/2019 @ 2:30 pmWhy did john bolton cross the road? Because that was the side of the street the army enlistment office for vietnam war was. Even better mitt romneyheld a support the draft rally at yale ( there are picturs ) knowing as a mormon missionary was excempt from the draft like his father was in world war II. In iowa a vietnam war veteran asked mitt romney if he and his sons supported the iraq war so much how come none of his sons had enlisted in the military. Mitt told the are helping america more by helping me get elected president!
lany (29f26b) — 9/20/2019 @ 2:39 pmThat’s obvious.
I think the point is, they are not willing to give up any of their ambitions to do that.
Sammy Finkelman (102c75) — 9/20/2019 @ 2:42 pmYeah, those german generals were always going to revolt, except the UK/France were always letting them down. They never got round to it, till July 1944, when Germany had lost the war. And the USSR wasn’t building up THEIR army to play pinochle and neither was the UK.
rcocean (1a839e) — 9/20/2019 @ 3:28 pmGood man. If you don’t care about history, don’t comment.
rcocean (1a839e) — 9/20/2019 @ 3:30 pmBTW, that first sentence in post #31 is sarcastic. Just for the sarcastic challenged.
rcocean (1a839e) — 9/20/2019 @ 3:31 pmIt’d be nice to have an intelligent discussion about UK/France foreign policy in the 1903’s on the internet, but every time its tried, you get Dumbo’s shrieking “Nazi Lover” at the top of their voices. Or idiots who can’t understand that just because historian X says Y, that doesn’t mean its true. But Patterico isn’t the place for it, in any case.
rcocean (1a839e) — 9/20/2019 @ 3:37 pmRC, ever check out Dan Carlin’s “hardcore history”. His podcasts on Ww1 are fantastic.
Time123 (d54166) — 9/20/2019 @ 3:50 pmThe ussr trained the german army, success earns loyalty among the german officen
Narciso (181de5) — 9/20/2019 @ 3:53 pmOh, boy… US troops deploying to SA.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 9/20/2019 @ 4:01 pm#35 thanks. i will check it out.
rcocean (1a839e) — 9/20/2019 @ 4:11 pm#36 did you know that USSR tanks were the best in the world 1935-37? Surprised to learn that USSR T-26 tanks were much better than german tanks sent to fight in Spanish Civil war. German Panzer-I tank had no gun just machine gun and was 5 tons. T-26 had 45mm gun and weighed 10 tons. And USSR built first single wing fighter in large quantities. I-16 superior to any other fighter in Spanish Civil war till German ME-109 appeared in April 1937. Not just that, but USSR produced these planes/tanks by the thousands. so, not surprised that USSR instructors were “Helping” Germans during Weirmar Republic.
rcocean (1a839e) — 9/20/2019 @ 4:18 pmHistory is a fable agreed upon.
Similar to John Bolton, who overnight became a nun pro tunc son of a b!tch to the Orange-squeezers.
nk (dbc370) — 9/20/2019 @ 4:39 pmBolten was a warmongering dummy before, during, and after he worked for Trump. But Mittens and Yeb! still love him.
rcocean (1a839e) — 9/20/2019 @ 5:28 pm@14 I think you would be correct in your assessment.
Nic (896fdf) — 9/20/2019 @ 6:14 pmBolton was right on North Korea, Iran, and the Taliban. No wonder he got fired.
Ripmurdock (9622fb) — 9/21/2019 @ 10:16 am