Posted on 05/17/2007 12:33:23 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
LONDON (AFP) - Straight-talking former US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton accused a top BBC presenter of being leftwing and "a superior Brit" in a colourful on-air spat Thursday.
The controversial ex-diplomat, who left the UN post in January, made the comments after fiercely defending the United States' role in Iraq and saying that force should be used against Iran if necessary.
BBC presenter John Humphrys, the main anchor on the broadcaster's flagship Today radio programme, raised Bolton's hackles by asking if the US administration was not a "busted flush" after Iraq.
"You're absolutely wrong ... The people who express the point of view that you just expressed I think were largely anti-American beforehand anyway," said the ex-ambassador.
When Humphrys suggested that billionaire philanthropist George Soros might take that view, Bolton shot back: "Are you kidding me? This is a man of the extreme left."
"I'm sure you would find a great deal in common with him as would many others on the continent," he added, referring to widespread anti-American sentiment in Europe.
The BBC man defended himself, saying he was impartial but just asking questions as a devil's advocate and adding: "Maybe they don't do it like that in the United States."
Bolton: "I know, you're a superior Brit, aren't you?"
Moving on, Humphrys asked Bolton if World Bank chief Paul Wolfowitz, under fierce pressure to resign amid a scandal over his girlfriend's pay package, was "about to go."
"I see you're a gravedigger as well," retorted Bolton. "I'm not at all sure I see that demise happening."
Bolton and Wolfowitz were both widely seen as part of a neo-conservative group which pushed for the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. But Bolton denied he was a neo-con Thursday, although he said the movement was still alive.
"I'm not a neocon, number one, but number two, I don't think the neocon adventure is over," he said.
I nearly barfed when he asked the question about Soros. Anyone with doubts as to what is the Soros agenda, is sorely lacking rudimentary cognition. Bolton would make an excellent Secretary of State, and not only clean up the SD, but clean it OUT! I hope it is Hunter who has the opportunity to hire him :)
If I might, Old Bean, pass the Grey Poupon and STFU.
Also, now that we have some fine conservatives out there, how do we corral them and drop the nutballs we are having to deal with.
Gotta love Bolton. I wish more Republicans were as outspoken as he is.
Too bad the Republican Senate in ‘05 didn’t have the cojones or leadership to confirm him
About time someone played “whack a mole” with an “objective” reporter.
Predictably, some Britons, even those who say they are conservative, are unhappy with the way Bolton speaks. I have seen remarks like this:
“I listened to the exchange. I thought Bolton’s words were interesting but the way they were delivered in a heated discussion, with neither side willing to pause to hear each others words, made it sound like a slanging match. It would have been better if Bolton, having goaded a heated response from Humphrys, had held his fire and timed his next punches to land more firmly. That would have been a more impressive performance.
It seems readers of this blog share Bolton’s view that the war is a success and the result of the overthrow of Saddam will be a better safer world. This is a minority view not shared by your average R4 listener, I think Bolton’s attack may have rallied the troops on his own side but will have converted few from the other side to his point of view.”
They think Bolton should “play it nicer”.
Bunch of British Communists
“Too bad the Republican Senate in ‘05 didn’t have the cojones or leadership to confirm him”
Thank you RINO Hagel and RINO Voinobitch
Best part of the interview was when the BBC Leftist cited the America hater Soros.
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