Posted on 07/03/2019 9:26:38 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
John Bolton, President Donald Trump's famously hawkish national security adviser, could not have been enthusiastic when his boss crossed into North Korean territory last weekend to make a bit of history with the leader of the Pyongyang regime, Kim Jong Un.
For years, Bolton has warned against conciliatory gestures or negotiations with North Korea. Two months before he took his current job, Bolton argued in an op-ed for a preemptive strike on North Korea based on what he called an "imminent" threat.
Now Trump's latest diplomatic gambit with North Korea has raised fresh questions about the influence of his national security adviser, who has appeared out of sync with the president in recent weeks, particularly when it comes to how to handle Pyongyang.
When the president stepped into North Korean territory briefly alongside Kim Jong Un over the weekend, Bolton was conspicuously absent, holding talks 1,200 miles away in the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar.
While Bolton was on his previously scheduled trip to Mongolia, one of his biggest critics who has painted him as a warmonger Fox News pundit Tucker Carlson was on hand for the president's rendezvous with the North Korean leader.
A day after Trump's unprecedented walk across the demilitarized zone into North Korean territory, Bolton pushed back against a report in the New York Times that said the administration was considering scaling back its demands on Pyongyang and accepting a freeze on North Korea's production of nuclear material instead of a full dismantling of its arsenal.
"Neither the NSC staff nor I have discussed or heard of any desire to 'settle for a nuclear freeze by NK,'" Bolton tweeted. He called the report "a reprehensible attempt by someone to box in the President."
(Excerpt) Read more at aol.com ...
Because I always go to America On Line (AOL) for my news updates.
Now we know Trump isn’t going to attack NK, Iran, Iraq or any such place.
Bolton or someone on his staff might be another leak source.
Bolton serves a purpose, not sure what it is, but I’m sure he is there for a reason.
“AOL”? Damn. I thought that they had long since vanished from this earth.
IMHO he is there to give the media something to occupy their time while Trump completely flummoxs them at the same time.
But she won't change, what can ya do?
I consider it great that Bolton is the voice of the raging military complex. He has a long history of not joining in group think. The President needs a clear voice that he can count on giving consistent advice rather than a cabal of weasels trying to go behind his back. Bolton may never get his way, but he is likely to keep the ankle biters at bay. People only post AOL articles when they can’t find a real news source to cause trouble.
Trump needs his voice.
Bolton’s perspective:
Name the port our cargo ships will arrive at to haul off all your nuclear related hardware. And grant our inspectors unlimited access to your facilities.
That’s a perspective you want to have in your inner circle.
My 12 gauge serves a purpose even if I don’t have to use it.
RE: Bolton serves a purpose, not sure what it is, but Im sure he is there for a reason.
I’m certain he is there to remind everyone that we are dealing with evil dictators and not to let our guard and military readiness down simply because of flattering words.
RE: Because I always go to America On Line (AOL) for my news updates.
AOL simply published what NBC News Reported.
I agree. President Trump isn't one to let staff he has no use for linger.
I suspect that he's not a man who wants to only hear from yes men. He let's Bolton try to push the case for bombing places so he gets a balanced view, all perspectives. I think it is now apparent that he never wants to drop bombs and Bolton can't convince him otherwise but he listens and then overrides his advice because thus far the case has never been strong enough to justify it.
Trump is the most law abiding, court respecting, war avoiding evil fascist dictator the world has ever seen.
RE: AOL? Damn. I thought that they had long since vanished from this earth.
AOL simply published what NBC News Reported.
I call BS.
The video of the visit compiled by the Kim team make clear that this was a great success for Trump and in no way at odds with Bolton advice.
RE: The video of the visit compiled by the Kim team make clear that this was a great success for Trump and in no way at odds with Bolton advice.
Have the North Korean sanctions been lifted? If not, then Bolton ( who is against easing of sanctions ) still has influence.
FAKE
I am so very extremely, even severely, thankful that NBC has the good graces to alert me to concerns about Bolton, vis-a-vis Trump. Thank you NBC.
Fake crap.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.