Alex Christoforou
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss US president Trump’s oval office comments on the firing of John Bolton. Trump announced on Tuesday that he had fired Bolton, saying he had “strongly disagreed” with many of Bolton’s hawkish positions.
During a short Q & A in the White House Trump hinted at a change of course in US foreign policy, citing how Bolton had been a “disaster” on North Korea policy, “out of line” on Venezuela, and had not gotten along with important administration officials.
Bloomberg is likewise reporting that Bolton was fired after disagreeing with Trump on Iran, and a disagreement over the possible easing of US sanctions on Iran.
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With Bolton Out, Will Trump Rethink America’s Foreign Policy Dogma? by The Duran
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 303. The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss US president Trump’s oval office comments on the firing of John Bolton. Trump announced on Tuesday that he had fired Bolton, saying he had “strongly disagreed” with many of Bolton’s hawkish positions.
While it is no secret the two men had not seen eye to eye on a number of key foreign policy issues, the timing of Bolton’s exit is more specifically linked to his pushback against Trump signalling his willingness to ease sanctions on Iran as a way to secure a meeting with President Hassan Rouhani, Bloomberg said.
Citing three anonymous people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported that Bolton had argued forcefully against the idea when it was brought up in the Oval Office on Monday.
After Steven Mnuchin, the treasury secretary, expressed his support for Trump’s idea, “Trump decided to oust Bolton” later in the day.
Bolton was a strong advocate of the US’ “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran, where he had spearheaded the US abandonment of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and the reimposition of sanctions. He has also long called for pre-emptive attacks on Tehran to destroy its nuclear programme.
Meeting Rouhani with ‘no preconditions’
According to the individuals cited by Bloomberg, the White House has begun preparations for Trump to meet Rouhani on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly during the week of September 23 in New York.
When asked after Bolton’s departure if Trump might meet Rouhani, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo – who for months has rarely missed an opportunity to bash Iran – was strikingly upbeat.
“Sure,” Pompeo replied. “The president has made very clear he is prepared to meet with no preconditions.”
Yet Trump has remained ambiguous on the subject of easing sanctions on Iran, telling reporters on Wednesday: “We’ll see what happens”.
However, Rouhani has said he will only consider a meeting if the US removes sanctions, a prospect that is anathema to Bolton, who is close to the opposition People’s Mojahedin of Iran (MEK), an armed political opposition group whose members are mostly based in Albania. The MEK has in the past called for military force, further sanctions on Iran, and regime change.
According to Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations, now that Bolton is out of the picture, the chances of a military escalation in the Middle East have been reduced.
“It’s too hard to say if a meeting will happen given the question of whether it’s politically palatable for both leaders,” Bloomberg quoted Kupchan.
“But the likelihood of a meeting has gone up because one of its main detractors is now out of a job.”
‘What a disaster’
The fractious relationship between Bolton and Trump has long been demonstrated in their disagreements over international policy.
On Wednesday, Trump said Bolton had been a “disaster” on North Korea policy, “out of line” on Venezuela, and had not gotten along with important administration officials.
Trump said Bolton had made mistakes, including offending North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un by demanding that he follow a “Libyan model” and hand over all his nuclear weapons.
“We were set back very badly when John Bolton talked about the Libyan model … what a disaster,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
North Korea has denounced Bolton as a “war maniac” and “human scum.” Last year, it threatened to call off a first summit between Kim and Trump after Bolton suggested the Libya model of unilateral disarmament. In the past, Bolton had proposed using military force to overthrow the country’s ruling dynasty.
Trump’s efforts to engage with North Korea nearly fell apart altogether in February after he followed Bolton’s advice at a second summit in Hanoi and handed Kim a piece of paper that called for the transfer of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons and bomb fuel to the US.
Analysts say Bolton’s removal could help US efforts to revive the talks but will not make it easier for Washington to persuade Pyongyang to give up nuclear weapons.
Washington has given no indication so far that it will soften its demand for North Korea’s ultimate denuclearisation, even though, with Bolton gone, the risky all-or-nothing gambit is unlikely to be repeated so bluntly.
“This change in personnel could carve out some space for new approaches or thinking about what defines success and how to achieve it,” said Jenny Town at 38 North, a Washington-based North Korea project.
“Whether it actually does or whether Bolton’s view was more deeply entrenched in US thinking on this matter is yet to be seen.”
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
President Trump….put Tulsi Gabbard in Bolton’s position and solve half of your foreign policy problems. You say you want the best…prove it. .
I don’t think she’s real. She seems manufactured – a “Deep Fake” like the Sum of All Rears Butt Guy mayor of Bending South.
After all, her name backwards is: Dr. Abba GI Slut. (or Drabbag iSlut)
Great & fair report fellows! That Bolton I’ll never understand – and I’m an old man! I can’t think of ONE success he’s had. I still haven’t decided WHY Trump hired him in the 1st place, though maybe his yak yak on talk shows re Russia gate farce at the time – now past – made him think the appointment was balancing things. “Couldn’t be wronger” as old Phylis Diller used to say. You’re kinder to Pompeo than I am, though more astute also. Bolton’s embarrassing firing could be a shot across the bow for him!
D. Chump hires the worst of the worst every time. Remember Nikki Venom Haley? Pompeo is still with him, why? Chump himself threatened to obliterate NK, Iran and is still working on Venezuela. He hasn’t pulled out of Syria, hasn’t even tried. His entire life he has dealt with gangsters. He knows not to cross them.
“His entire life he has dealt with gangsters. He knows not to cross them.”
His life-long career in NYC real estate has taught him, “If you can’t lick us, join us.”
One reason and one reason only he was hired. His uber-Israeli and Saudi support.
Trump might rethink his foreign policy, as far as the Deep State will let him think.
“Thinking is such a subjective verb.
Short answer to the headline, no. D. Chump is incapable of doing anything contrary to his zionist overlords.
Bolton may be out but the “Deep State” remains and Trump is their current puppet!
Hilarious title. Trump doesn’t think, ever, at all, because he can’t.
There’s a sort of an atavistic quality to his process nodes, sort of like the Bush baby.
The dogs of war have no dogma.
We don’t need no stinkin’ dogma