Bolton: Bush Paving Way for Obama Admin.
I wanted to share an interview former Bush United Nations Ambassador John Bolton did with Fox about the administration’s decision to send the State Department’s No. 3 diplomat, William Burns, to meetings this weekend in Geneva to discuss an incentive package aimed at deterring Iran for building and deploying nuclear weapons.
Bolton is on the outside looking in at an administration he barely recognizes. A hard-liner on Iran, Bolton sees only folly in attempts to negotiate Iran away from what he considers its single-minded obsession with obtaining nuclear weapons and using that leverage to make itself an even bigger player in the Middle East.
More importantly, Bolton appeared to concede Obama will win the White House. He went so far as to say Bush’s Iran moves could take the Iran issue off the table for McCain and give Obama a boost in credibility on national security he believes is unfounded but will nevertheless occur.
The interview occurred Wednesday and I apologize for the late posting. Tony Snow’s funeral set me back professionally and emotionally yesterday and I’m playing catchup on several fronts as a result.
This is the Bolton verbatim:
“This is not going to be a one time meeting. I can tell you what the State Department will say the day after the meeting: ‘It went really well, we made a lot of progress, now we’ve got a process going, surely we should go to the next meeting.’
In any event it’s the Bush administration legitimizing the Obama presidency’s policy. It’s like Senator Obama already has a transition office in the West Wing.And, I think, it will make it very difficult for congressional Republicans and Sen. McCain to continue their critique of the weaknesses of the existing administration policy.
The problem is that the negotiations with Iran have already been underway for 5 years. This is not a new idea. It’s not a new idea when Sen. Obama proposes it, it’s not a new idea for the us to sit at the table. After 5 years of negotiation, the only consequence is that Iran is 5 years closer to nuclear weapons. Iran is not going to give up its pursuit of those weapons voluntarily, the diplomatic options have been tried and failed and our real options are now, unfortunately, quite limited.
I think the State Department is doing its best to ensure a smooth transition toward the Obama administration. So, I have little doubt that an interest section is highly likely before the end of the Bush Administration. Once again, Tehran will read that as a weakening of the administration’s resolve and will use it to their advantage.”
Again, this interview occurred Wedneday. The Bush administration confirmed work on creating an interest section in Iran on Thursday.
On the eve of Obama’s overseas trip, this criticism from a former Bush insider suggests John McCain may have less latitude to criticize Obama on Iran. He may have lost ground in criticizing Obama on Afghanistan due to his endorsement of sending more troops there this week — after Obama called for the same thing on Aug. 1, 2007.
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
I want to say that Bush is seeing now that we need to talk and become better with our allies we dont need another war this doesn make us look weak.
[...] Bolton appeared to concede Obama will win the White House. He went so far as to say Bush’s Iran moves could take the Iran issue off the table for McCain and give Obama a boost in credibility on national security he believes is unfounded but will nevertheless occur. Is Bush purposely fucking up John McCain because McCain is treating him like the plague? I think so. Bush hates McCain. There is no doubt about that. Source [...]
Taking the war to Pakistan is perhaps the most foolish thing America can do. Pakistan has 160 million Arabs and a nuclear arsenal. Pakistan also has the support of China. The last thing the United States should do at this point and time is to violate yet another state’s sovereignty.
Finally there appears to be a time line being discussed for withdrawal of troops in Iraq, as requested by the Iraqi government. Also negotiation and diplomacy are being tried in Iraq and Iran by the Bush Administration and the respective governments. This is what Senator Obama has been suggesting all along.
The Bush Administration has proved that we cannot kill all the insurgents and that our presence in Iraq is a recruiting tool for the extremists.
I couldn’t agree with Bolton more. I am just amazed at what the State Department is doing during this election time that only backs Obama’s stances as if they were purposely trying to get him elected for President. Unbievable! And does anyone else get the eerie, creepy feeling I get when I see Obama so well loved by officials in Afghanistan and backed for President by Al-Maliki of Iraq for President as the German newspaper said? Something in this picture does not seem right and even scarey. I thought Muslims hated people who convert to Christianity. Could it be that they still see him as a Muslim?
i can’t believe i’m hearing this on fox, you guys have finally got it.
finally you guys are coming around
Bush “paving the way” for an Obama Administration…???
Paving the way, perhaps, but not the way the media is portraying it…The Bush Administration is setting the stage for the “last and final” offer for Iran; a take it or leave it ultimatum. The Iranian leadership can’t be trusted and the Bush Administration knows that…we know Iran’s intent with the nukes and why ANY delay only helps them get closer and closer to their goal. Everyone, and that includes Europe knows that Israel will act if the world just stands by as it so often has done. As I see it, the Bush Administration wants to be very clear on their position and to ensure there is no wiggle room on misinterpreting our intent; a last measure taken before direct military conflict; this most recent effort tells me the time is up for Iran.
I would love to see them magically alter their course but these people are hell-bent on their mission to destroy Israel and to install its form of religion and government throughout the world (by force).
As for Obama benefiting…I can assure you this has nothing to do with either candidate…
this is a matter of grave consequences if we and others like us don’t act…if we pave anything it ought to be the parking lot we erect where the Nuke sites are now after we take ‘em out…
I would like to know why Obama does not have to qualify for a security clearance and the lowest of enlisted men have to qualify ? He actually cannot qualify because of his drug use and sales and his association with known Terrorists. This is in the qualifying requirements for all military members. What excuse is he going to use? If I had done the things he does I would have lost my clearance.Has anyone asked him in public?
I guess some people underestimate the supporters of PUMA.
This is the most accurate under reported article I’ve seen. Obama is clearly the best man for the job.
As for a comment regarding drug use and not qualifying for security clearance…We already have a president and have had other presidents who have done drugs (and not as teenagers, but as adults) who have the security clearance you mention. We’ve had a president who has pardoned terrorists and have sold much worse than a bag of weed. I don’t want to talk about a teenager who experimented with drugs. I’d much rather talk about the best man for the job. That man is Barack Obama.
Obama 08!!!!!!!!!!