Bolton calls on Obama to launch ‘meaningful efforts at regime change’ in Iran.
Bolton calls on Obama to launch ‘meaningful efforts at regime change’ in Iran.
Earlier this week famed war hawk John Bolton said that the recent crisis in Gaza presents the perfect opportunity for the U.S. and Israel to bomb Iran. Today, Bolton took to the Wall Street Journal op-ed pages to re-emphasize his desire for war with Iran. Bolton said he fears the new Obama administration’s Iran and North Korea policies would center on diplomacy, which he says will not end “proliferation threats from Pyongyang and Tehran.” While part of his solution oddly calls for more diplomacy with North Korea (in this case it would be the Chinese conducting it), Bolton then urges Obama to start the process of “regime change” in Iran:
Iran and North Korea achieved their objectives through diplomacy. Mr. Bush failed to achieve his. How can Mr. Obama do better? For starters, he could increase the pressure on China, which has real leverage over North Korea, to press Kim Jong Il’s regime in ways that the six-party talks never approached. Options on Iran are more limited, but meaningful efforts at regime change and assisting Israel should it decide to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities would be good first steps.
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It is time for the incorrigible Mr. Bolton to sit down and shut up.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:06 amBolton seems to have a hard on for destroying the world. He could be considered an existential threat to humanity.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:08 amI’ll be happy when the only place I see this fool is starring with Bugs Bunny.
Go home Yosemite Sam, you just aren’t needed.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:10 ambolton needs to either shut up or sign up for combat duty in Iraq of Afghanistan.
Until one of HIS FAMILY is supporting his war efforts by fighting, he needs to go the hell away!
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:10 amHe should enlist his mustache to help with the invasion.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:12 amThe Wall Street Journal used to be a good newspaper. Now that Rupert Murdoch has taken over, it’s nothing more than a soapbox for his views and the venom of his fellow believers.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:17 amAnd I call for John Bolton to stick his fascist phucking face in a lawn-mower…
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:18 amDo it with your own children Bolton, not mine..
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:19 amIt seems that only Think Progress cares what John Bolton thinks. I certainly do not….
Why do you continue to validate this guy by giving him press time????
Get Real and move on…..
J.W. Miller
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:20 amJ.W. Miller Says:
It seems that only Think Progress cares what John Bolton thinks. I certainly do not….
Why do you continue to validate this guy by giving him press time????
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:20 am
____________
I’m pretty sure the Wall Street Journal cares as well, since they’re the ones who printed the editorial. As long as the mainstream media keeps paying attention to what these war criminals say, we should, too.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:28 amJ.W. Miller,
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:32 amIf you would be so kind as to look to your right, and you’ll see “What We’re About” which is then divided into 2 sections “What We’re Fighting for” and “What We’re Fighting Against”. The latter is subdivided into 4 groups, the last which is “Radical Right Wing Agenda”.
I hope this helps answer your question.
The WSJ gives this lunatic space in their paper – they have nothing better submitted to them except war-mongering belligerency from a has-been politico from Bush&CO?
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:36 amI call on Bolton to make a meaningful effort to STFU and slink away.
Bolton’s WSJ piece doesn’t say where “regime change” in Iran should start. Does he want the U.S. to take out Ayatollah Khamenei, elected President Ahmadinejad, or their legislature?
The U.S. is most concerned about Russia’s delivery of a missile defense system to Iran. Israel or the U.S. will need to conduct any attack prior to that system going live. Bush has 18 days.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:37 amCan anyone explain to me why Bolton has such a raging hard on for war with Iran?
And his eyebrow are just plain creepy.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:37 amDamian, p’haps?
Don’t bother with JW, rest assured that if TP only talked about liberal causes and avoided talking about conservative follies, JW would complain that we’re nothing but leftist chearleaders. We should take JW’s advice and apply it to JW: the only person who cares what it says, is JW so we should get real and move on.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:37 am“meaningful efforts at regime change and assisting Israel should it decide to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities would be good first steps”
Which would instantly turn all the pro-democracy Iranians (and there are many) into hardcore nationalists. Perfect for Iranian theocrats.
These neocons just don’t get it. Ever, apparently.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:43 amjeesh! who IS this guy???
or rather, who does he THINK he is???
sadly, he cannot be disregarded and/or ignored…
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:54 amand that’s his livelihood, i’d guess…
i call on john bolton to bite my hairy ass.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:54 amAmazing this guy still gets ink.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:58 amCould it be the criminals still control the buttons? They only lost control of the government?
Or do they still own the media and have to provide the worthless content?
Or both?
Agreed.
If he wants a stable middle east, he’ll sure get it. Once we piss off all the different factions bad enough that they ally against the US, sure….
This guy scares me.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:00 amMeanwhile, Israel has bombed civilian homes and a mosque.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:04 amBolton, your rapture eagerness is already here.
Mucking foron!
Ugh. I don’t think people are going to be listening to him any more, if anybody was.
Bizarrely, he ends the piece with:
This seems to happen a lot in WSJ editorials. After pushing their wingnut crazy, they decide confidently that Obama’s term is going to be exactly like Bush’s anyway, so they might not as well have even bothered.
An extremely glaring issue that Bolton makes no mention of whatsoever is that nuclear proliferation has been Obama’s pet issue during his Senate tenure, and he probably knows more about that subject than Bolton does.
As I understand it, waging war has never been an effective method of preventing nuclear proliferation. There are a great number of effective methods, but that’s not one of them. Bolton doesn’t seem to be aware of them; Obama is.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:10 amJohnsnottoodistracted Says:
Amazing this guy still gets ink.
Could it be the criminals still control the buttons? They only lost control of the government?
Or do they still own the media and have to provide the worthless content?
Or both?
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:58 am
All of the above. The corporate criminals still have control of the buttons and the government and the media.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:10 amDoes this guy ever talk about or think about anything else? War blah, bomb blah, more war blah. Gross visual but it seems war is a sexual stimulant for Bolton. Who pissed in his lunch box when he was in grade school?
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:16 amIn NeoCon dictionary:
‘Meaningful Effort’ means War…
and that’s when ‘war’ means ‘peace’ ..and visa vera
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:22 amAs long as Murdoch’s media empire gives this guy a soapbox, we’ll have to put up with the sound of his braying, but we don’t have to listen. And if Obama’s the intelligent guy we voted for, he won’t either.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:23 amSomebody give Bolton a musket and a parachute and drop him into Teheran.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:29 amThough Bolton supported the Vietnam War, he enlisted in the Maryland Army National Guard rather than fight in Vietnam. He wrote in his Yale 25th reunion book “I confess I had no desire to die in a Southeast Asian rice paddy. I considered the war in Vietnam already lost.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_R._Bolton
Bolton is just like Bush, Cheney, Rove and the other chickenhawks who chose not to serve in the war of their generation and are now playing out their military fantasies with the lives of others.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:31 amHe needs to STFU – now.
pablito Says:
Somebody give Bolton a musket and a parachute and drop him into Teheran.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:29 am
__________
Do we really need the parachute?
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:38 amBolton’s got no standing to call on anyone, except maybe the garbage man if his pickup is late.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:40 amToasty and Pablito, I’d vote for a 1,000 foot rappell on a 500 foot line.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:40 amha! you missed the best part:
In an interview, Bolton discussed his comment in the reunion book, explaining that he decided to avoid service in Vietnam because “by the time I was about to graduate in 1970, it was clear to me that opponents of the Vietnam war had made it certain we could not prevail, and that I had no great interest in going there to have Teddy Kennedy give it back to the people I might die to take it away from.”
“it’s the war protesters’ fault!”
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:43 amFrosty Cupcake is exactly right…
Such Hostile Bluster only increases the Mullahs power, and criples the nascent forces of democracy in Iran.
Here’s what these neocons don’t get….
When they talk about “Regime Change” they think about Poland and the Solidarity Movement…or the Czech Republic and Vasclav Havel.
When the Iranian people hear the words “Regime Change”, they think about Mossadegh and the Shah.
Since Iran was the first country our newly formed CIA Overthrew in 1953, we should watch our language.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:44 amMore tough talk from another rightwing, nutso chickenhawk. He probably had the crap beaten out of him every day in the eighth grade for his lunch money and is trying to get even with the whole country. If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there does it make noise? If this inconsequential a$$h_le wouldn’t be quoted in the papers saying this stupid bullsh_t, nobody would be in the forest. Thank our lucky stars people like him will be able to put their stupidity on display as critics of Obama. If they are criticizing, Obama will be doing the right thing. 18 days.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:46 amWhen you reminisce about the Bush days, think about the appointment of Bolton to the UN. Bush sent this especially stupid neocon to the UN. Even though it was only for a short recess appointment it serves to clarify the Bush attitude toward the public. If you ever harbor a sympathetic thought about Bush, remember back on the plague of idealogical incompetents he wished upon the nation.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:49 amI realize that John Bolton is a Jew and that he hates Arabs but that’s no reason for the United States of America to launch an attack on Iran and murder thousands maybe millions of men, women, and children.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:01 amYou know, somehow I have a feeling that neither Barack nor Hillary are exactly hanging on this guy’s every word… “Wow, the Middle East is sure messed up. Before we make any moves there, we’d better check in with Michael Bolton and maybe Bill Kristol to see what we should do. I’m sure they’re just chock full of great ideas we can implement.”
.
Badger Says:
Since Iran was the first country our newly formed CIA Overthrew in 1953, we should watch our language.
You’re presuming that a neocon would actually know something about world history.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:01 amThe only way I’d support the aerial bombing of Iran is if Bolton puts on a 10 gallon cowboy hat and rides the bomb down, ala Major Kong.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:03 amIn an interview, Bolton discussed his comment in the reunion book, explaining that he decided to avoid service in Vietnam because “by the time I was about to graduate in 1970, it was clear to me that opponents of the Vietnam war had made it certain we could not prevail, and that I had no great interest in going there to have Teddy Kennedy give it back to the people I might die to take it away from.”
Shorter Bolton:
Who would be the last soldier to die in a failed war?
You can bet your ass it wasn’t going to be me!
——————————————————–
tokin librul Says:
And I call for John Bolton to stick his fascist phucking face in a lawn-mower…
What, no claims that Obama will be following Bolton’s lead, now that he’s in power?
What the matter? Batteries go dead on your Obamawhacker?
——————————————————
ElBruce:
“Wow, the Middle East is sure messed up. Before we make any moves there, we’d better check in with Michael Bolton and maybe Bill Kristol to see what we should do.
Yeah. They can sing, “The Way We Were,” and “Nobody Loves You, When You’re Down and Out.”
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:09 amfound at C&L comments:
johnmcintire
They are taking surveys of soldiers to see if they like Barack?
WTF?
http://www.MacYapper.blogspot.com
good question…
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:11 amI think that John Bolton is a horrible, arrogant person who is criminally delusional about the international system and the US’ role within it – but it’s perfectly appropriate for the WSJ to give him column space.
He’s the US Ambassador to the United Nations.
The persons we should really be getting upset at are those who nominated him, and the schmucks who allowed him to be confirmed to the post in the first place.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:21 am75% of America’s time, money, energy, and focus is on Israel, all because of a small tribe of fanatical, greedy, self-centered, manipulative, deceitful, Zionist Jews who won’t be satisfied until every square inch of the Middle East belongs to them.
Instead of murdering millions of civilians in Arab countries for Israel, why don’t we relocate the Jews to a safer area of the world?
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:22 amAnd we call on Obama to prosecute Bolton and the rest of the Bush war criminals.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:26 amElBruce Says:
Before we make any moves there, we’d better check in with Michael Bolton and maybe Bill Kristol to see what we should do.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:01 am
___________
Michael Bolton? You mean the singer, or the guy who ripped $300,000 off of Initech?
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:30 amAnonymouse Says:
He’s the US Ambassador to the United Nations.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:21 am
Zalmay Khalilzad would be very surprised to hear that.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:32 amGo to hell deathclock.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:36 amyou all saw this, correct? via C&L, twice now:
GEORGE W. BUSH, WAR CRIMINAL?
http://www.uswarcrimes.com/
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:38 am@hussein toasterhead
My humblest apologies, you are most certainly correct.
I guess I’ve been ignoring the man, as well.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:40 ambarfly Says:
Yeah. They can sing, “The Way We Were,” and “Nobody Loves You, When You’re Down and Out.”
For some reason, I keep getting his name mixed up with that other guy. Maybe because they both scare me, each in their own way.
You know, I remember when Bush named a guy who hates the U.N. to be ambassador to the U.N. my jaw hit the floor. Bush’s history of appointments pretty much read like a wrecking crew for the jobs they were presumably supposed to do. It’d be like putting Ralph Nader in charge of the Chamber of Commerce.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:41 amMichael Bolton? You mean the singer, or the guy who ripped $300,000 off of Initech?
“You’re not related to THE Michael Bolton are you?
I pretty much celebrate his entire catalog.”
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:43 amThere is a reason why Presiden-ELECT Obama didn’t offer this jackoff a cabinet position.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:45 amDNFP Says:
“You’re not related to THE Michael Bolton are you?
I pretty much celebrate his entire catalog.”
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:43 am
PC Load Letter?!?!?
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:45 amPC Load Letter?!?!?
Sounds like somebody’s got a case of “the Mondays”.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:47 amwhy is anyone still talking to John Bolton?
Inquiring minds need to know.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:49 amElBruce Says:
You know, I remember when Bush named a guy who hates the U.N. to be ambassador to the U.N. my jaw hit the floor. Bush’s history of appointments pretty much read like a wrecking crew for the jobs they were presumably supposed to do. It’d be like putting Ralph Nader in charge of the Chamber of Commerce.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:41 am
______________
Well, of course – that was the strategy. How better to prove the theory that “government doesn’t work” than by appointing incompetent nincompoops to run it?
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:53 amHere’s an idea to appease Bolton:
1) Get him off the wanker circuit.
2) If he wants a war with Iran, let him go in – alone..next!!
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:57 amAs a retired warrior, I suggest that belligerent chickenhawk Bolton and his friends take up arms if they wish to effectuate regime change in Iran via use of military force.
As for me, I’ll stick to diplomacy. I think people will be surprised at how Iran acts if is approached in a non-threatening manner.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:59 amAnd Obama’s reply…
Don’t call us, we’ll call you.
Geez, get this nashing maniac away from all avenues of foreign policy.
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:01 pmTP – Why do you continually post Bolton’s drivel? Who cares what he thinks. He is a failure as a politician and he is a failure as a human being. Please ignore him and not give him a platform.
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:18 pmActivate the cones of silence.
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:21 pmBolton is the closest bush had to a Wermacht officer who would blindly follow any order without thought. He belongs in prison.
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:23 pmBolton was never confirmed as ambassador to the UN. In fact, his nomination barely made it out of the Foreign Relations Committe by a strictly partisan vote. Bolton became UN ambassador through a recess appointment by Bush on 1 Aug 2005. This appointment expired on 3 Jan 2007.
Bush again nominated Bolton for the position in 2006, but the nomination never made it out of the Foreign Relations Committee before being withdrawn after the Democrats took (nominal) control of the Senate in the 2006 mid-terms.
Bush could have reappointed Bolton as a recess appointment, but by federal law that would have meant that Bolton would have to serve without pay. That much of an altruist he ain’t. Besides after Reid became Majority Leader he refused to let the Senate recess, having a local Senator gavel the body into session every other day while the rest of the Senators were away over holidays. This move was a counter to Bush’s abuse of recess appointments as exemplified by the Bolton appointment.
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:36 pmIf there was a God and that God were just, them Bolton would have died in a rice paddy. Seems like as good a place as any. You could blow up the top 100 inches of Bolton and the only thing missing would be that stupid mustache.
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:39 pmThe WAR CRIMINAL Bolton should be arrested imediatly, together with the entire incompetent immoral and criminal Bush/Chenney adiministration and taken to the Hague!
Obama, the World is watching! If you are serious about restoring, healing and moving foward the USA, you MUST hold these WAR CRIMINALS Accountable. If you don’t do it, there will be no moving foward, there will be no CHANGE and you will be regarded as just one more of them…
HAGUE 2009!
I hope Bolton gets CANCER and suffers with it!
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:50 pmWe’ll have “regime change” on January 20, 2009, you walrus warmonger!! Arf, arf, arf!
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:51 pmYou know, sometimes glaring idiocy is so blatant you don’t even notice it hiding in a big pile of stupid:
“Striking Iran’s nuclear facilities” is counterproductive to “meaningful efforts at regime change.” A limited attack of any kind would only cement the political positions of the people in charge of Iran and increase their local popularity.
So not only are his prescriptions the exact opposite of what clearly needs to be done, they’re self-contradictory to boot.
I think he just wants the U.S. to kill lots of people for him.
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:52 pmSend Bolton unarmed to Afegahnistan! They will love him there!!!
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:54 pmI find it highly satisfying that Bolton is making these calls for Obama to act like a neocon, fully aware that it’s a waste of breath.
Much like our calls for Bush to act like a responsible leader these past eight years.
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:54 pmFor Bolton, the sun rising in the morning is a sign we need to nuke someone.
I’m sure Obama’s team knows to place his suggestions in the circular file.
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:08 pmJohn “I belong in a padded cell” Bolton a.k.a. one of “the crazies” and part of the PNAC crowd wants to repeat former mistakes like Operation Ajax of 1953 which backfired in 1979 and still feel the consequences of. Imperial hubris.
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:08 pmDid Bolton ever serve in the military? I am sure he would have met the age requirements for Vietnam. If he hasn’t fulfilled his duty requirements, ship him to Afghanistan to help with the wars he loves so much.
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:08 pmFrankly_my_dear says:
Besides after Reid became Majority Leader he refused to let the Senate recess, having a local Senator gavel the body into session every other day while the rest of the Senators were away over holidays. This move was a counter to Bush’s abuse of recess appointments as exemplified by the Bolton appointment.
That was worth tuning into CSPAN last year during the holidays. Nice little FU to Commander Codpiece.
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:10 pmWe need to get rid of this ‘chicken hawk’ asap.
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:34 pmHe is truly a threat to America and the world. All he has wanted to do for the last 6 months is go to war with Iran.
OT – Someone with military knowledge please inform me
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:37 pmAre our military now under the command of Iraqi generals in Iraq? If so, is that an historical first?
Six months?
Try four years. He’s had Iran in his sights since their little Iraq misadventure started to fall apart.
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:50 pmEarlier..
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:12 pm“In February 2003, US Undersecretary of State John Bolton will say in meetings with Israeli officials that he has no doubt America will attack Iraq, and that it will be necessary to deal with threats from Syria, Iran, and North Korea afterward. This is largely unreported in the US media”
http://www.historycommons.org/timeline.jsp?geopolitics_and_9/11=centralAsia&timeline=complete_911_timeline
What is it with these types of people anyway?
ElBruce Says:
… It’d be like putting Ralph Nader in charge of the Chamber of Commerce.
now THAT’s something i’d like to see!
.
marie - i’m no military anything, but i doubt our military is under iraqi command… we just moved a mile up/down the road to the NEW EMBASSY… left another mess to be cleaned up…
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:28 pmGoo-goo-gaa-joob.
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:35 pmWe got regime change here on our own. Iran can do the same thing. Actually, the Iranian elections may be scheduled for sometime in 2009. I’ll have to check on that.
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:47 pmI was told that the most thoughtful people in America were here, at thinkprogress.org. All I’ve seen is hatred, hatred and more hatred. I don’t really know John Bolton, but his opinions of the United Nations are dead on. None of us may want to hear it, I don’t, but maybe Iran IS a real problem. It’s not inconceivable. Jimmy Carter might have a thing or two to tell us about Iran’s ability to cause America problems. In the new millenium, the ability to transfer information, men and materiel are greatly enhanced. Could Iran be planning another “Hostage Crisis”? Who knows? One thing is for certain, and yes, even above all of your protestations, NONE OF US DO!
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:03 pmThanks for your perspective, drew. I wonder… who told you that “the most thoughtful people in America were here, at thinkprogress.org”?
And when you say “all i’ve seen is hatred, hatred, hatred” you must be referring to reader’s comments, right? And if so, surely there must have been SOME comments here that didn’t reflect this hatred you see everywhere, no?
Your thoughts on John Bolton lead one to conclude that you lean right, and so might not be counted on for a fair and accurate assessment of the character of a progressive website.
Just sayin’.
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:12 pmJohn Bolton = raw sewage. Why are Zionists such repugnant, treacherous rats? The psychotic, war-mongering thugs of the earth. People the world over are wise to you, you superior snots.
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:15 pmThese people like Bolton would fade into well deserved obscurity if anyone would stop interviewing them.
This idiot will always have something inane to say. So why does any news organization give him a platform to prove how stupid he is. Enough already, we know.
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:27 pmsounds like drew is lacking any kind of understanding of the history between the usa and iran, the history that provokes a group of radical students to such extremes as overtaking an embassy and holding hostages… so much history, so little time…
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:30 pmThey’re drawing up a new DSM. Bolton should be the poster boy for a martial disorder.
January 2nd, 2009 at 5:33 pmWhat else would one expect from “Colonel Mustard”!
January 2nd, 2009 at 6:44 pmLike Cheney, Bolton deseves a dose of his own medicine. The two of them should go hunting, maybe neither would return.
January 2nd, 2009 at 6:46 pmIf you took the top 6 inches off his head, I doubt anybody would notice the difference.
January 2nd, 2009 at 7:37 pmdrew3rd Says:
I was told that the most thoughtful people in America were here, at thinkprogress.org. All I’ve seen is hatred, hatred and more hatred.
You were told correctly. You should try taking off those hatred blinders if you want to see anything else.
The reason many people are insulting Mr. Bolton in this thread is that we are justifiably angry at those who have willfully acted to destroy this nation’s moral and diplomatic standing in the world. If you were a thoughtful person as well, you’d agree that anger is the only correct response to such a crime.
.
drew3rd Says:
I don’t really know John Bolton, but his opinions of the United Nations are dead on.
Actually, his opinions on the U.N. are the opposite of either useful or correct, so much so that appointing him to be its ambassador is roughly the equivalent of appointing an Animal Liberation Front member to be your local butcher – they would just refuse to do their job because they considered it a bad thing.
His U.N. opinions amount to nothing more or less than pure nationalist/isolationist raving. The U.N. might not be terribly effective, but that’s a good thing, seeing as how there’s an inevitable inverse relationship between its efficiency and the sovereignty of its member states. Sovereignty is a good thing, yes? On the other hand, international negotiation and cooperation is a good thing too, and the U.N. is the most legitimate and established body for that purpose. Subverting it amounts to subverting and undermining the very concept of foreign relations in general, which he has done.
The reason that neocons hate the U.N. is pretty much the same reason that serial rapists hate the police.
.
drew3rd Says:
None of us may want to hear it, I don’t, but maybe Iran IS a real problem.
Of course it’s a real problem. It’s a big, glaringly huge problem, and everybody knows it. The question is, how would the problem most effectively be solved? Your ilk always reach for a gun instead of actually thinking about how to answer that question.
January 2nd, 2009 at 8:09 pmNo. Iran is not a “big, glaringly huge problem”. Iran is enriching uranium for nuclear power. Period. Unlike Israel, Iran is signatory to the NPT and is being monitored. The Iranian threat is warmongering propaganda to keep people scared and hating “Arabs” (even though Iranians aren’t Arab). Iran isn’t any more of an existential threat to Israel and the U.S. than Iraq was, unless you count the ability to defend oneself as a “threat”. On that account, Iran does have an air force and navy.
The president of the U.S. has actually said in a press conference that Iran is a threat if they get the knowledge to build nuclear weapons. This kind of irrational, out-to-lunch, and totally unreal fear mongering is making fools of most people and making the world far more dangerous.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:00 pmwiley Says:
No. Iran is not a “big, glaringly huge problem”. Iran is enriching uranium for nuclear power. Period. Unlike Israel, Iran is signatory to the NPT and is being monitored.
The big, glaringly huge problem I was referring to is that we don’t have diplomatic relations with Iran. They’re far too important not to, and as long as that’s the case there will continue to be misunderestimations on both sides.
I know we’re so used to neocon-speak that whenever somebody says there’s a problem with another country, one immediately assumes that means they want to bomb it. But that’s not what I meant at all.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:25 pmdrew3rd Says:
And all I have seen from you is stupid, stupid, and more stupid. Boltons opinion of the UN is not dead on its ignorant which is why you agree with it. Bolton, the mustache of evil, is a souless warmonger without a shred of decency. If you are missing that then I suggest you seek the help of a mental health professional immediatly
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:11 pmGo for it, John Rambolton.
Army of one
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:19 pmWho cares what that captain crunch reject thinks.
January 3rd, 2009 at 12:37 amI think we should bomb that mustache right off his face.
January 3rd, 2009 at 12:46 amPoint taken, Bruce. Oops. I do get reactive with nuclear issues, and have developed a short-fuse with the tendency for otherwise intelligent liberals/progressives to fall for the Iran-is-the-real-threat or Afghanistan is the good war ruse. All lies. All totally unnecessary conflict.
Yes, it’s stupid and bad policy not to have diplomatic relations with Iran.
January 3rd, 2009 at 12:54 amElBruce, once again you and I disagree. I do lean right. I am a right wing, Christian, Southern democrat. Bolton’s opinion that the U.N. cannot be counted on to support it’s own resolutions are right on. The U.N. is not a serious body.
Anger and hate are two different things. “I disagree with Bolton because…” is productive. “Fu@##$g repubtard is destroying our country” is hate. Bolton hasn’t the power to destroy our country, he’s just another opinion that some agree with.
I don’t even know what to do with the “serial rapists” line other than to say, not only would the U.N. not stop me, they would join in (see Bosnia). The U.N. is broken, at present.
Finally, I agree that Iran could be a huge problem. I don’t know what the answer is, I’m not sure Bolton is correct, but he is the only one keeping it on the front burner. The rest of the country seems to be taking the “if I ignore it” tact.
January 3rd, 2009 at 8:23 amElBruce, President elect Obama has stated that Iran is a “tiny country” that cannot do us serious harm. I feel that is incorrect. A “nucular” Iran could do us much more harm than Bin Laden did on 9/11. Iran cannot be allowed to possess “nucular” capability.
January 3rd, 2009 at 8:30 amdrew3rd,
January 3rd, 2009 at 9:41 amWhy do you think Iran wants a nuclear capability? It seems ludicrious to think it is anything but defensive.
Obama should call on Bolton to get an attorney because we are going to investigate his a$$ into Federal Prison.
January 3rd, 2009 at 8:51 pmdrew3rd Says:
Yeah go hide under your mommys bed again. First they have said repeatedly they only want nuclear ENERGY not weapons. Second the grand Iatolla Khameini has put a Fatwa on nuclear weapons and said no country has a right to have them which would make it politically almost impossible for them to proceed WITH a nuclear weapons program. Third IF they had them what would they do? Use their only one or two against us and see their entire country disappear into a cloud of nuclear annihilation? You cowardly, reactionary people will be the death of us. Iran neednt be our enemy except for you bedwetters and the Rightwing sceechmonkeys that do your thinking for you. They need to be kept an eye on. They need to be dealt with and diplomacy would most likely take care of ALL our Iran problems. Stop shivering in fear of every bogeyman the right parades in front of you like the shiny objects they hypnotize birds with and try for once in your life to think for yourself.
January 4th, 2009 at 12:48 amThe UN is NOT broken. The only gripe the rightwing morons have against the UN is they dont act as an arm of US foriegn policy. Which is what YOU want them to do. You are brainwashed more is the pity Drew. One of these days you MAY find the sweet release of thinking for yourself. That day is as yet FAR OFF.
January 4th, 2009 at 12:51 amJust a silly side comment here but if you bootblack JB’s facial hair and hang a goat hair beard on his chin he bears a remarkable resemblance to someone who sounds like his echo.
January 8th, 2009 at 3:59 pmJohn Kerry looks like Herman Munster…hes just not funny though…especially since he lost to Bush
January 17th, 2009 at 12:28 am