Posted on 05/29/2008 4:34:26 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Military action against Iran would be a last resort but the United States and its allies have not done enough to promote the alternative, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said on Wednesday.
John Bolton, who was a leading hawk in President George W. Bush's administration, told an audience at the Hay literary Festival that five years of "failed" negotiation with Iran over its nuclear program had left just two options for dealing with the issue — regime change and use of force.
"The use of military force is an extremely unattractive option and only to be used as a last resort," he said, adding he would favor regime change.
Bolton said the elements for regime change were present in Iran — the economy was in difficulties, young Iranians could see the possibility of a different life and there were ethnic tensions within the country.
But he added that the United States and its allies had not done enough to bring about the required change.
"I wish that we had had a much more vigorous policy five years ago," he said.
Bolton, in Hay to promote his book "Surrender Is Not an Option," said the insistence of Britain, France and Germany on trying to negotiate a solution with Iran and U.S. acquiescence in this policy had failed.
"Today Iran is five years closer to having a nuclear weapons capability," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
Wars begin in August
Surrender-Obama will see to it that we won’t have a military; he’ll just insist that we “work” thru the U.N. Blue Helmet Brigade.
Unnecessary. Bolton is wrong.
“Surrender-Obama will see to it that we won’t have a military; he’ll just insist that we “work” thru the U.N. Blue Helmet Brigade.”
George Bush isn’t going to risk this. Iran will be hit by us and/or Israel when the timing is right which might be before the election. President McCain is going to need a lot of prayers.
Let’s see, we’ve been openly discussing attacking Iran for what? 10 yeas?
Think they’ve taken any steps to blunt that attack?
Think they may be ready for us by now?
Well, let’s just give them another few months to get ready.
Issueing sanctions is kinda like wetting yourself while wearing dark trousers.
It gives you a nice warm feeling, but nobody seems to notice.
I agree with Mr. Bolton. I think we have waited far too long. In particular, I think that allowing Britain and France to conduct such fruitless "negotiation" with the madmen running Iran was a major error.
Years ago I was on loan to the blue helmets in South KOrea.
If you think the Marx Brothers were a little confused, they couldn’t hold a candle to the U.N.
Least when I was with them they weren’t trading food for sex with children in famine areas.
If we go in, bomb the crap out of them first.
There have been a few changes. The Pres can do this for a limited time, which is more than enough time to get in so deep it can’t be stopped.
And then forget about the going in part . Don't we still have subs with missiles ? Polaris or something ? The Colin Powell doctrine of if you break it , you must fix it , was the stupidest idea since the "O" shape ambush .
He is a private citizen and can say whatgever he wants even if he is wrong.
The “War On Terror” is not a blank cheque to declare war on every country in the world.
Last I checked, the Constitution was still in force.
If Iran is really as big a threat as the neocons say, they should be able to convince Congress with abundant proof.
Correct. We can wait until Obama is elected and surrender. That’s the third option Bolton failed to mention and the one I’m sure you’re thinking of.
Now that's really funny!
I think our most recent experience with that probably raised the bar on what constitutes "proof" of WMDs by quite a bit. Everybody "knew", not just this admin but the previous one, and Congress was convinced. Yet, nothing there worth having a 5+ yr war over, WMD-wise anyway.
Unfortunately that may mean the "proof" will be Iran detonating something. And then it's too late.
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