Posted on 12/24/2019 12:50:45 PM PST by Mariner
Former national security adviser John Bolton has suggested Donald Trump is bluffing about stopping North Korea from producing nuclear weapons in his most direct criticism of the president’s foreign policy yet.
Mr Bolton, who resigned from the Trump administration in September, accused Mr Trump of having more of a “rhetorical policy” on North Korea rather than a serious plan in an interview with the news website Axios.
“The idea that we are somehow exerting maximum pressure on North Korea is unfortunately just not true,” the former adviser said.
“We're now nearly three years into the administration with no visible progress towards getting North Korea to make the strategic decision to stop pursuing deliverable nuclear weapons.”
His comments come amid heightened tensions after a top North Korean official said the country would send a “Christmas gift” to the US in December.
It is thought that Kim Jong-un is planning to adopt a hardline anti-US policy, which would take denuclearisation off the table and abandon negotiations, according to a CNN report.
Mr Bolton told Axios that if North Korea defies the US, the Trump administration should admit its policy has failed and take a tougher approach on Mr Kim’s leadership.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
Nowhere in the article do they refer to President Trump as “president.” Seemingly they cannot bear saying it.”
Thanks for reporting this sad reality of the Never Trumpsters there and here.
To my memory, no current or former cabinet official has made a public declaration more damaging to US national security.
John Bolton is an enemy of the American people.
“To my memory, no current or former cabinet official has made a public declaration more damaging to US national security.”
I think John Kerry could challenge that.
There was A time when we cared about Bolton’s ideas. Our mistake.
Bolton has invested his entire career in foreign intervention. Just where and when is the only difference.
“I think John Kerry could challenge that.”
Yeah, he’s had his fair share.
But what Bolton did here takes the cake.
Yahoo, just sayen.
It was pro John Bolton only.
How about if Trump is pursuing a different strategy, with North Korea’s expected ICBM test looked to as providing an occasion for the US to threaten to sell a large tranche of weapons to Taiwan and Japan and bolster defense ties with them? China will protest furiously, but Trump can demand that China shut down North Korea’s nuclear program or endure the consequences of the logical US counter-move.
Just wow. I used to respect John Bolton...
““To my memory, no current or former cabinet official has made a public declaration more damaging to US national security.”
I think John Kerry could challenge that.”
Hillary tops them all.
I agree - if this statement was actually made by Bolton and was accurately reported.
No well meaning and loyal American senior official would say such a thing. At best it's a reckless attempt to trigger Trump into being more aggressive. But given Kim's view of Bolton, any aggressive Trump action which seems to be in response to Bolton's comment would be counterproductive.
I can only conclude that Bolton just intends to damage the President irrespective of the strategic effect on the issue. Just a cheap political shot.
I don't know why former officials cannot exhibit the respect and professionalism to refrain from public comment on ongoing matters. Especially something of this importance. Absolutely bush league.
Never have liked Bolton and think Trump was given bad advice to hire the guy for any position. He ought to be on permanent “no hire” by any responsible Republican President.
Bolton knows he is only relevant if he can get a war going and sell his “expertise” to some arms supplier. Advisers should be on tap, never on top.
Sounds like warmonger Bolton is trying some third grade psych on POTUS in a reverse effort to goad him into a kerfuffle with the Norks.
His actual full comments rarely reflect the headlines or the spin are helpful leftist interpreters tell us they mean.
Not saying I agree with Bolton's statements, but they are usually just different opinions on priorities and approach, not inflammatory or treasonous.
A couple of possibilities here.
First, perhaps this is a reality check that no amount of sanctions and diplomatic pressure is going to stop a regime so committed to the task. If we're not willing to make multiple, repeated military strikes, perhaps even put troops in-country, there may be no reasonable expectation of stopping NK.
Second, and perhaps more cause for concern, it may be that there is no point in trying to prevent NK from developing nuclear weapons, because they already have them? Consider, their first nuclear weapons test was back in 2006. They've performed a total of 6 to date. The last several apparently relatively sophisticated devices utilizing either a multi-stage design (claimed, but probably unlikely) or a boosted fission design. That is a long time and they've been putting a lot of effort into it.
Oh, and before you lib lurkers start blaming President Trump for this, 5 of the 6 tests occurred before he took office. That's right sports fans, NK's rapid development and advancement of capability came under bammy's watch. Imagine that. Now President Trump has to deal with the reality of NK very likely already having nuclear devices in a weaponized configuration. The only real question is, can they survive a missile flight and re-entry and still operate... Well, there's several other questions too but that's the big one.
Shut up, draft dodger. People I knew, each one better than you, didn’t come back from Nam. So just STFU you old Neocon queen.
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