Friday, April 18, 2008
John Bolton tells tall tales about Iraq and Iran in Dallas Thursday
The Former U.S. Rep to the U.N. answered "difficult" questions from Fox News
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Were it anyone else speaking, some of the quotes from Thursday's NCPA lecture series might have been shocking. But with John Bolton at the helm, the occasional unchecked assertion was expected.
Erin Rice
John Bolton and Eric Shawn
Speaking primarily about the various security threats to the United States - Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia, to name a few - his most controversial statements to the 400+ person luncheon were in regard to the Iraq war.
At one point when discussing Americans' perceptions of the war and what should or should not have been done, the Former Ambassador to the U.N. clarified, "The war in Iraq lasted three weeks... We were completely victorious." The audience seemed confused. He continued playing a game of semantics with the term "war" and the U.S.'s current effort to alleviate terrorism in the region. The largely favorable crowd then became fidgety when Bolton made the following statement:
"It's not because we didn't have a plan for what happened after Saddam was overthrown. We had too many plans. We had lots of ideas, no one of which prevailed; no one decision was made."
To which one attendee within earshot said, "So, what you're saying is, there was no plan."
It became clear that his definition of various issues in Iraq were counter to those of many supporters in the room.
The 40-minute conversation, moderated by Fox News Senior Correspondent Eric Shawn, wasn't a pro-Bush rally by any means, as Bolton expressed fault with how the administration has thus far handled many things. Throwing various factions under the bus, in jest and in seriousness, including Democrats, Baby-Boomers, and the New York Times, towards the end he turned his sights on his favorite whipping boy, the United Nations: "I like to say it was a target-rich environment in New York and I didn't get nearly as many as I wanted."
To hear audio clips from the program, click on any of the "Listen now" links below.
John Bolton on why he believes Iran and North Korea are important and why we don't hear about those security threats more.
On political motivation in the State Department:
On the U.N. and its perceived inability to "change Iranian behavior" and what if anything can sway Tehran from its current direction:
On what it would mean if the newly elected U.S. President were to sit down with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and if it could actually happen:
On many Democrats' (and some Republicans') assertion that Iraq is the "greatest strategic blunder in the history of the United States":
On what we should have done in Iraq, how long the war "lasted," and whether we had an end plan:
On Iraq's role in the outcome of the war and America's obsession with "finding failure" in Iraq:
On his criticisms of President Bush's handling of North Korea and his concerns with the situation:
On boycotting the Summer Olympics' Opening Ceremony, China's potential threat to the U.S., and how the new president should handle relations with China:
On facing Russia and China in the U.N. Security Council and in general international relations regarding Iran, oil, and nuclear security:
On how the U.N. deals with terrorism, whether the U.S. can change the culture of the U.N., and his skepticism of the organization:
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Comments
bobdon000 Anonymous
I did not attend this presentation. But I find your headline banner using the "tells tall tales" phrase very revealing regarding your own biases.
Some level of disclosure by Pegasus News and Erin Rice would be appreciated; especially since you can't resist taking shots at Bolton (and Fox news).
Pegasus News should stick to covering the soft local stuff. You are out of your league with the "reporting" as presented in this piece
2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
jasonleonwright Anonymous
bobdon000, Did you listen to the audio clips? Did you actually spend the time to comment on some of the audio from them? It doesn't appear that you did. It seems like you just want to get onto Erin Rice and Pegasus for their "biases." Why don't you spend the time to listen to what was posted before you jot down your "comments." Erin, thanks for posting the audio clips. I don't know another news agency that had such comprehensive coverage.
2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Chad Jones Staff
You say LESS BIAS same day He say MORE BIAS.
Me paradoxed.
2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Billusa99 Anonymous
John Bolton is an idiot.
Thanks, Erin.
2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
John McClelland Verified
And Irannnnn. Iran's so far awayyyyy. Couldn't get away.
2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Scott Doyle Verified
Well played, John.
2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
johnyalamo Anonymous
I kinda agree with bobdon000 at least about the headline. I daresay, anyone who rises to the U.S. Amabssador to the U.N. is not an idiot. You may not agree with his political views, and certainly not with this administration, but Mr. Bolton absolutely is no idiot. I would define an "idiot" as one who roots for Republicans or Democrats, or if you like, Liberal or Conservatives, with the same zeal and gravity they root for the Dallas Cowboys, Mavs or whatever sporting team is their favorite. International politics is far to complicated for a pure liberal or pure conservative philosophy to solve. A non-idiot should be able to view the world through both sides.
2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Mike Orren Staff
Some interesting Bolton in more hostile territory earlier this year. Thought both sides handled well:
2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jeremy Dunck Staff
Erin, As far as I can tell, this event wasn't listed on the site. Was it?
Are there other upcoming local NCPA interviews or debates?
2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Rick Yost Verified
johnyalamo-"A non-idiot should be able to view the world through both sides." Well said.
I've never completely understood how a country divided into different competing groups and camps, constantly battling with each other, could possibly make a cohesive organized effort at anything- especially 'nation building'.
Face it, you're not going to learn the straight story, and know exactly what's going on anywhere, from just listening to your favorite pundit. Americans are best informed when they're not closed minded. You must get as much info as you can, from many sources, and make your own decisions. And those decisions should never be chiseled in stone. Nothing as convoluted as the Iraq quagmire, is ever going to be black and white.
billusa99- Even an idiot, might know a bit more than you or I, just from working closer to the subject.
2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Jeremy Dunck Staff
Rick, unfortunately, after many years of effort, I have learned that there are not enough hours in the day for me to be expert (or even particularly well-informed) in all the things I care about.
At some point, you defer and delegate.
On Bolton's comment that the war lasted 3 years and that what's going on now isn't war as it's commonly understood-- that's one part word lawyering, one part begging the question. If what's going on isn't (conventional) war, why do we have a (conventional) army stationed there?
2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Erin Rice Staff
As far as the headline is concerned, I know there will be some controversy there and we toyed with a number of alternatives. The Texas-ish sound to "tall tales" made it seemed appropriate given the location and a quick Google search points out that the negative connotation most people ascribe to the term is not the only way one can approach it. So, I guess, take it for what suits you.
On the topic of bias in this report. Yes, the observations are certainly biased, inherent to my having been there, my previous knowledge of the topics he discussed, and my general political background and notions of diplomacy. However, this is why I went ahead and attached all the audio. If you don't care for my observations you are free to draw your own conclusions. I assure you that all I edited out were the opening remarks from the NCPA President, and most of Eric Shawn's questions, in order to focus on Bolton alone. If you would like, I can email to anyone the entire 55 minutes of audio and would be happy to.
Jeremy - I'm not sure if it was posted as an event. I received the notification from their media coordinator. At the moment they do not have any more of these events scheduled, but I do not doubt there will be more in the future. You can look through past lecturers here.
http://www.ncpa.org/evn/
2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Teresa Gubbins Staff
i overheard some of the headline alternatives that were scrapped ... "statuesque sagas", "Amazonian anecdotes", "elevated epics" ... just crazy stuff
2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
xdavidwattsx Anonymous
The situation of how Bolton "rose" to ambassador is part of how/why people think he's an idiot. Just because you were appointed by Bush (in a recess, no doubt) certainly doesn't make you qualified for you job. Just ask Brownie. He did a heckuva job, right?
So, yes, John Bolton is an idiot. Good riddance to his contentious international diplomacy (or lack thereof).
2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
chrisdanger Anonymous
Bolton reminds you of one of those guys who got the call up from AAA to bat with the big leagues. Only problem is, he didnt bring his A game. Im so glad we're close to sinking this ship of fools called the George Bush Administration.
2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Billusa99 Anonymous
As XDWX said... a recess appointment to the UN is not a rise. He would not have been confirmed otherwise. Bush tried, as the term was ending, to get him appointed. It failed, utterly. And those are just facts and knowledge, RY.
Bolton's views are chiselled in stone -- that's one of the reasons he's an idiot. He seeks not the knowledge of ideas, but the ideas of ideology. The only bigger idiot in all of Bush's team was Doug Feith. But, this thread is only about idiots, not the dumbest $%ck in the U.S.
2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
jasonleonwright Anonymous
If Bolton's the kid who came up from the minors, then he would have been in the dugout talking about how much he hates baseball, and how it's such a waste of time and energy. If you don't like an international group, hey dude, don't participate. Is he an idiot? Well, I don't find him that bright. The question is why hire the most contentious person available for a job? Is this animosity towards Bolton zealous towards one side? No, this is common sense. He hates the UN. So why would Bush make him ambassador? To me, it's commentary on an overzealous right-wing. I appreciated what Erin had done in posting the interview, which is about as fair as you get.
2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
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