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‘He doesn’t really mean it’: Trump is bluffing about stopping North Korea’s nuclear weapons, Bolton suggests
The Independent via Yahoo ^ | December 24th, 2019 | Unattributed

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 ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: beautifulletters; bestpeople; kabukitheater; mistertoughguy; putinsbuttboys; trollisourlasttroll; trusttheplan
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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.

1 posted on 12/24/2019 12:50:45 PM PST by Mariner
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To: Mariner

Looks like Bolton is pulling a Max Boot.


2 posted on 12/24/2019 12:52:42 PM PST by sauropod (Hold onto that impeachment for a while. It'll get better with age, just like Jennifer Rubin has.)
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To: Mariner
John Bolton is an enemy of the American people.

Wait until he testifies in the senate impeachment hearings. bolton is part of the deep state and he has a woody for Trump.
3 posted on 12/24/2019 12:56:07 PM PST by JoSixChip (I'm an American Nationalist)
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To: Mariner

Well, we know that’s a lie right there, because no American President in my 72 years, other than President Trump has ever even met in person, or made an attempt to meet with any leader of North Korea. Did he only meet with Kim to see if he could get two scoops of ice cream on his pie?


4 posted on 12/24/2019 1:01:55 PM PST by mass55th ("Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." ~~ John Wayne)
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To: Mariner

Bolton couldn’t win dog catcher.


5 posted on 12/24/2019 1:01:56 PM PST by CodeToad (Arm Up! They Have!)
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To: Mariner

Nowhere in the article do they refer to President Trump as “president.” Seemingly they cannot bear saying it.


6 posted on 12/24/2019 1:02:46 PM PST by Blennos
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To: Mariner

Bolty just wants to make bucks off weapons sales! Eisenhower would have had him shot.


7 posted on 12/24/2019 1:03:29 PM PST by rawcatslyentist (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfuAJcWl6DE Kill a Commie for Mommie)
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To: Mariner

Read and heard the entire messaage. It was NOT anti-Trump. It was anti-Kim and that’s as it should be.


8 posted on 12/24/2019 1:03:51 PM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: Mariner

Does he still have his security clearance?


9 posted on 12/24/2019 1:05:00 PM PST by EQAndyBuzz (When you think about what the left is doing to America, think no further than Cloward-Piven)
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To: Mariner

“Spose that is fake news?


10 posted on 12/24/2019 1:05:16 PM PST by yoe
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To: Mariner

Does he still have his security clearance?


11 posted on 12/24/2019 1:05:45 PM PST by EQAndyBuzz (When you think about what the left is doing to America, think no further than Cloward-Piven)
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To: Mariner

Bolton was difficult even with the wussy Bush. I think a lot of people liked him then because he was hawkish - but he was also off the wall and an egomaniac. He hasn’t changed.


12 posted on 12/24/2019 1:05:46 PM PST by livius
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To: Mariner

Absolute worst you can say about Pres. Trump re: North Korea is that he’s not been any more effective than all the other presidents from Eisenhower on. I’d add the modifier “yet” to that, as the fat lady hasn’t sung yet.


13 posted on 12/24/2019 1:06:25 PM PST by Old Student (As I watch the balkanization of our nation I realize that Robert A. Heinlein was a prophet.)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

More than likely.


14 posted on 12/24/2019 1:06:42 PM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: Sacajaweau

“Read and heard the entire messaage. It was NOT anti-Trump. It was anti-Kim and that’s as it should be.”

And, if Kim and his cabinet believes the US President does not have the will to stop him, how does the chance of war change?

It makes it much more likely.

It undermines the US face toward Norklandia to a great extent.


15 posted on 12/24/2019 1:07:33 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: JoSixChip

“...and he has a woody for Trump.”

Trump’s the reason he CAN’T get a woody.


16 posted on 12/24/2019 1:09:16 PM PST by ryderann
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To: sauropod

Mr. Bolton has to examine the situation as part of a larger gestalt. (I used that word to sound intellectual)

Why should the US be the one to send their soldiers to die and spend their treasure to shut down NKs nuclear program?

NK directly borders on SK, Russia and China. Any of which could roll over NK if sufficiently motivated.

Until they act, sorry not our problem.


17 posted on 12/24/2019 1:09:47 PM PST by glorgau
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To: Mariner

Having had a lot of respect for Bolton over the years, due to watching a number of his interviews and how he conducted himself on the issues addressed, it is literally shocking to me to see him come off looking this bad.

We talking about gamesmanship at the highest possible level, trying to defang a nuclear threat from perhaps the world’s biggest threat since Kim does not seem to fear reciprocity.

In marches Bolton to make it clear he disagrees with Trump, and so he should walk on Trump’s negotiation carpet, with severely muddy feet.

I consider this borderline actionable.


18 posted on 12/24/2019 1:10:30 PM PST by DoughtyOne (Pledge: "...and to the Democracy for which it stands..." I give up. Use the democRat meme...)
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To: mass55th
Well, we know that’s a lie right there, because no American President in my 72 years, other than President Trump has ever even met in person, or made an attempt to meet with any leader of North Korea.

True as that may be what has it actually accomplished?

19 posted on 12/24/2019 1:11:03 PM PST by DoodleDawg
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To: Mariner

Three years and no significant progress made? Hmmmm. How many years has North Korea existed? How much progress did every prior administration make? Yet, orange man bad because he hasn’t fixed North Korea.

BTW, I’ll go so far as to say North Korea would be foolish to give up its nukes after what happened under the last administration. Look at Libya. There is nothing short of a fully ratified and signed treaty that would stop a future administration from reneging on any agreement.


20 posted on 12/24/2019 1:11:20 PM PST by CitizenUSA (Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.)
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