John Bolton's Not-So-Subtle Hint: Time For An Israeli Strike On Iran?

Washington Post:

With Iran's hard-line mullahs and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps unmistakably back in control, Israel's decision of whether to use military force against Tehran's nuclear weapons program is more urgent than ever.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[marco01]

10:29 PM on 07/02/2009

"Unfortunately, the Obama administration has a "Plan B," which would allow Iran to have a "peaceful" civil nuclear power program while publicly "renouncing" the objective of nuclear weapons. Obama would define such an outcome as "success," even though in reality it would hardly be different from what Iran is doing and saying now."

Sorry. As a sovereign nation, Iran has the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy. Bolton doesn't mention this by maybe negotiations could include a requirement for international inspections.

The West, namely the US and Israel, by is actions pushed the Iranians into this anyway to protect themselves and aid in their bid to help the Palestinians.

It seems to me, in my most uniformed military opinion, that the force option, which is of course what Bolton is slavering over, short of invasion* seems like is could only have the affect of making them more determined. Iran is big and technologically sophisticated, I wonder how far down they can build research and factory facilities?

No, the Middle Path is best.

*Egads! That would be no. 3!

[sticksnstones]

07:21 PM on 07/02/2009

@ flossophy

Let me introduce you to a German word .... Weltanschauuug. It's a term that combines a definition of the world with an explanation of the way it works.

As it relates to the US foreign policy for the past, oh, let's say 200 years, the definition includes the following elements :

1) A tendency to equate anti-colonialism with opposition to empire as such.

2) An insistence that American values are universal values, leading to this corollary : other peoples cannot solve their problems and improve their lives unless they go about it in the same way as the US.

3) A commitment to the principle of self-determination, informed by the conviction that all peoples must ultimately self-determine themselves in the American Way if America itself is to be secure and prosperous.

4) A penchant for externalizing evil.

5) A reflexive predilection for demonizing adversaries.

6) A belief that the American economy cannot function absent opportunities for external expansion.

7) A steady, if unacknowleged, drift toward militarization.

8) An unshakable confidence in American Exceptionalism and American Beneficence.

I will submit that, if I am to believe your postings to represent your world view, you agree with these eight elements. I will also submit that these very elements will eventually lead to our downfall as a viable nation. Morality aside, we will drown in the material cost of supporting such notions of EMPIRE.

[flossophy]

10:57 PM on 07/02/2009

Thanks for the German vocabulary lesson. Let me clarify some misconceptions you have:

1) America is the non-imperial hyperpower. Instead of rolling tanks and troops, we roll Starbucks and tourists into your country... along with billions in foreign aid.

2) American values are simply the values that a group of largely undistorted humans developed in a stable, prosperous environment. Other peoples, by and large, live under some form of tyranny (soft or hard), which has made their efforts to solve their problems more difficult.

3) Self determination is not an American value, it's a human value.

4) The Left does a good job of externalizing evil (bloated plutocrats, robber barons, capita|ist pigs, j3ws, etc).

5) Dem0nizing adversary's bad policies, sure... But demonizing adversaries is a hallmark of the left (Bush-H|t|er, Darth Ch3ney, Ashcr0ft, Reagan, boogiemen, etc). If you're talking about the SU... I think it's fair to dem0nize a regime which s|aughtered 20 million of it's own people because they didn't think correctly.

cont'd

[flossophy]

10:57 PM on 07/02/2009

6) Economic expansion is required for human pr0gress. Places which feature economic stagnation look like Africa, parts of South/Central America, North K0rea, etc. The world benefits from strong economic growth in the US.

7) We have treaties with our allies around the globe to protect them from aggression. Our large military essentially subsidizes the social welfare programs of W. Europe, simply because they don't have to spend 20% of their GDP on a large military. We got them covered (you're welcome, Europe).

8) American exceptionalism is simply human exceptionalism... America simply figured out the best rules of the game: protecting individual liberty, limiting the abuse of government power and rule of law. Immigrants made this happen (thanks, world!)

Our downfall (and potentially the world's) would be to abandon the principles that turned this country from a small outpost colony into the most powerful and prosperous nation in history in under 200 years. It's worth noting that America does not abuse this power as the S0viets did in the 20th.

You have a uniquely distorted view of the world. Where did you get it from?

[sqwerl]

02:50 PM on 07/02/2009

Israel will attack Iran within the year. They did it in Iraq, they did it in Syria. Iran is no different. They will not wait for, "I don't know which side to pick", barry to give'em the green light.

[sticksnstones]

03:50 PM on 07/02/2009

Israel accepts foreign nationals in its military. You should sign up .... put some real skin in your game.

Your own skin.

[Weirdwriter]

05:20 PM on 07/02/2009

Absolutely. Because, y'know, once Israel does that it means the the entire Arab world will turn its attention from fighting amongst themselves to retaliating against Israel.

Wouldn't want to miss the fun, would you?

[rich3324]

02:24 PM on 07/02/2009

To the people of the world reading this post, We're really sorry about Bolton. Americans are not all like that.

[Harmony1812]

04:16 PM on 07/02/2009

and most of us are embarrassed about most everything from the Bush administration. Also most of us are appalled about our most vocal group - extreme conservatives.

[flossophy]

04:27 PM on 07/02/2009

and most of us are embarrassed about most everything from the American Left. Also most of us are appalled about our most ineffectual group - extreme pacifists.

Extreme pacifists and anti-war whiners will never help to spread liberty across the globe. Sorry, people of |ran... you'll just have to wait another 3.5 years before we can help you. Meanwhile, keep your head down and your hair covered... we're too busy working on free healthcare, free college and green jobs to be bothered with advancing human & civil rights in your neighborhood.

[flossophy]

04:22 PM on 07/02/2009

To the people of the world reading this post. We're really sorry about rich3324. Americans are not all like that.

[sticksnstones]

04:35 PM on 07/02/2009

To the people of the world reading this post. We're really sorry about Flossie. Humans are not like that. To believe otherwise is to ascribe anthropomorphic qualities.

[marco01]

05:30 PM on 07/02/2009

Man, you ARE lost in your own reality.

The people of the world DESPISE the neocons and the American Right and maybe you missed it because you were having a near breakdown, but the world REJOICED when Obama became president. Turns out the people of the world like being treated with respect rather than with arrogance.

Just ask "Old Europe" for starters.

[medicinecat]

01:59 PM on 07/02/2009

Conservatives do not believe they owe anything to the community. They don't want to pay to educate another's child, or to take a down and out person to the doctor. However, when it comes to throwing nukes around and starting world war 3, they're downright enthusiastic that the rest of us should generously benefit from their "end-times" schemes.

[sqwerl]

02:47 PM on 07/02/2009

Why should anyone have to pay for anyone else, In that case, give me 10000 dollars. Would you do that, I didn't think so.

[sticksnstones]

03:46 PM on 07/02/2009

That's exactly the kind of community spirit that cost you and yours the last election and will assuridly cost you and yours the next election.

Keep up the good work, Man With His Island.

[Harmony1812]

04:20 PM on 07/02/2009

Yes, that is what Jesus would do. He would ignore the poor, sick and less fortunate. Sure glad you listened in Sunday school.
This is why you would pay - because it benefits everyone. The more educated and healthy a population is the more productive it is. That is better for everyone.

[Harmony1812]

04:18 PM on 07/02/2009

They don't even want to educate themselves or their own kids excvept in christianity and nationalism.

[flossophy]

04:32 PM on 07/02/2009

it's 'except'.

Public education, huh... I rest my case.

[ashabot]

01:38 PM on 07/02/2009

I can't stand the guy. Ugh. John Bolton loves the Taliban. It justifies the hate that seethes within him like a poison sea. Nothing he likes more than to shake his finger at the world.

[rascalish]

01:38 PM on 07/02/2009

Gads, why is it everytime I see his visage I think of an aged Yosemite Sam.
And, just like Yosemite Sam he keeps shooting himself in the foot.

[SmolderingRuin]

06:35 PM on 07/02/2009

Thanks for the connection. Now, when I see his deranged visage, I will be able to laugh. Up to now, I've just shuddered.

[KevinLoyalAmerican]

01:12 PM on 07/02/2009

Does anything other than stupidity come out of the mouths of the right anymore?

I really do want to have a no-less-than 2 party system...

[brandnewstuff]

12:59 PM on 07/02/2009

Why is Josh Bolton with all his personal wrongs not six feet under?

[Decipherer]

01:29 PM on 07/02/2009

We're talking JOHN Bolton here, not former OMB director JOSH Bolten, OK?

[Francis99]

12:51 PM on 07/02/2009

When Bush appointed this person to the UN it signaled his full disdain for the work and function of the UN. When anyone makes a statement encouraging acts of international aggression by any country they should be shunned like the plague.

[mrskorn]

01:40 PM on 07/02/2009

The UN is a joke.

[sticksnstones]

01:52 PM on 07/02/2009

The UN is only as good as the people the participating member nations appoint as representatives. It follows then, that our participation in the UN during Bolton's tenure was indeed a joke. So, I'll give you credit for being partially correct in your assessment.

[flossophy]

01:53 PM on 07/02/2009

The UN is a tragic joke.

It's an ineffectual relic of post war Pr0gressivism. And as with most Pr0gressive policies and institutions, it's an utter fail.

[sticksnstones]

01:57 PM on 07/02/2009

I see you're still smartin' from you and your's crushing defeat last November 4th.

I'm so glad.

[piul05]

12:16 PM on 07/02/2009

His masters must be getting impatient with all the communication that is going through the diplomatic channels; nor an "axis" of this, neither a "obliteration" of that. The frustation must be immense...

But he can always go on a kamikaze mission and attack Iran by himself - who's holding him back?

[LiberalDem]

12:30 PM on 07/02/2009

You know, if John Bolten wants to ride a nuke ala Slim Pickens in "Doctor Strangelove", he can dream....

[Decipherer]

01:26 PM on 07/02/2009

It's John "Bolton," not to be confused with Josh "Bolten," actually.

[chriss0114]

12:14 PM on 07/02/2009

I wonder where the neocons think the troops will come from?

we already have private mercenaries in Iraq carrying out operations and are short cycling troops and taking in recruits with waved requirements we would not have let in otherwise

past time for a draft

[Harmony1812]

04:24 PM on 07/02/2009

I just want to know how much money the Cheneys, Bushs, and Rumsfields made from this war from Haliburton and no bid contract kickbacks.

[flossophy]

04:43 PM on 07/02/2009

Zero. It's illegal for the Prez and Veep to profiteer while in office.

[NickConrad]

12:08 PM on 07/02/2009

So the NIE says there is no weapons program, and most of Bolton's own party has no idea what a mullah even is (hey, guys, Ayatollahs run the show), but what the hell let's go start another war. I'll bet it will shut those middle-eastern-ers up who keep thinking that Israel is some imperialistic Western tool whose sole purpose in the world is invasion of Muslim land.

[vinny]

12:07 PM on 07/02/2009

wall street journal hearts war mongers

[flossophy]

04:45 PM on 07/02/2009

war mongers abroad heart the American Left. they're so easy to walk all over.

[YewNeekId]

12:07 PM on 07/02/2009

Perhaps it's time for a strike on IzzReal. They are a t/errorist nation, they have WMD.

[flossophy]

04:46 PM on 07/02/2009

Who told you that nonsense? Seriously, the left should be ashamed of themselves for proper-ganderizing this sh33p.