No, Bolton is clueless as usual. He and his neo-con allies have supported tax aid to these dicatators for years. Now...we are suffering the blowback and he, and his ilk, have no way for us to respond.
Some highly skilled can-kicking (using OPM) that worked for a generation. Too bad that the trend is toward whabbism. Fifty years of SA can-kicking has created some definite structural problems in the ME.
Mubarak regime falls, an Iranian armed and led group of radicals takes over. Nukes soon to arrive.
Suddenly it's not about one or the other, it's about a nuclear arms race in Islam.
I believe those payments to Egypt were part of the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. Not sure they are optional, or if Bolton had anything to do with the terms of that treaty.
I like Bolton, but I absolutely agree - one can NOT manage Mid-East dictators or Islamists. They have been treacherous since the beginning of time. Its best just to avoid them as much as possible.
Israel is the only stable, pro-Western Republic in the entire Mid-East. Because of these simple advantages of freedom, wealth, and rule-of-law, a country of 8 million keeps 1+ billion Arabs on their toes. It shows who our natural Ally should be.
Very simplistic view. We did the best w/ the hand dealt us. Short of conquering their country what more would you suggest? In the end you have to make the best of your situation and I think we did mostly. The changes occurring now will require the same. To imply the MB will bring democracy is outlandish. If they have their way Egypt will become an Iranian satellite state. Who do you think is orchestrating the mayhem in the ME??
I met Bolton personally once and asked him about being a neo-conservative. he adamantly denies it and criticizes neo-cons which is in some sense what he is doing now.
I say this as a rather neocon person myself. Bolton does not think the Iraq war should have extended beyond removal of Saddam. He does not believe in nation building. He definitely sees US foreign policy as purely our self interest.
I think Bolton agrees with you more than you are allowing.
This issue is also more complicated than you are letting on. We let the Iranian dictator go and now we have the current Islamic government. The same could certainly happen here in Egypt.
The man is far from clueless and probably one of our best and clearest foreign policy minds.
I bet you supported the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, too. Gee, what a smart guy. Not.