Tuesday
Sep022008
Bomb Iran or Regime Change: Former UN Ambassador John Bolton
Staff
Bomb Iran or Regime Change: Former UN Ambassador John Bolton - Listen to Audio File (4:55)
By Jack Rice for Talk Radio News
While Day One at the Republican National Convention seemed a little unstable, Day two seems to be back on course. During the afternoon, I saw a familiar face with the walrus mustache and knew that it was Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton.
And while the focus seems to be on Sarah Palin’s daughter’s baby, I knew that Bolton would not be talking about that. Instead, I knew that the one topic that he is most passionate about is Iran. So, I asked a very opened ended question: Can you talk about recent development, pro or con, involving Iran?
And Amb. Bolton was off. Essentially, Bolton described the failures of the UN Security Council and concluding that there were truly only two foreign policy options available to the U.S. at this point. The first option is regime change within the country. The second option was a series of strategic strikes. To make sure I heard what I thought I had, I repeated what he said – just to confirm. And, yes, that is what he meant.
Bolton then stated that the Israelis may carry out the strikes. I asked about whether if this were the policy it would be better to do them ourselves as it would be perceived as an attack by proxy anyway. And, again, he agreed, believing that the U.S. should carry out the attacks.
I then turned to the question of John McCain and whether John McCain would follow such advice. Bolton appeared confident that McCain seemed more willing to take the threat seriously and may act accordingly. Barack Obama, according to Bolton was unwilling to take the situation as seriously as it needed to be taken.
Listen
By Jack Rice for Talk Radio News
While Day One at the Republican National Convention seemed a little unstable, Day two seems to be back on course. During the afternoon, I saw a familiar face with the walrus mustache and knew that it was Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton.
And while the focus seems to be on Sarah Palin’s daughter’s baby, I knew that Bolton would not be talking about that. Instead, I knew that the one topic that he is most passionate about is Iran. So, I asked a very opened ended question: Can you talk about recent development, pro or con, involving Iran?
And Amb. Bolton was off. Essentially, Bolton described the failures of the UN Security Council and concluding that there were truly only two foreign policy options available to the U.S. at this point. The first option is regime change within the country. The second option was a series of strategic strikes. To make sure I heard what I thought I had, I repeated what he said – just to confirm. And, yes, that is what he meant.
Bolton then stated that the Israelis may carry out the strikes. I asked about whether if this were the policy it would be better to do them ourselves as it would be perceived as an attack by proxy anyway. And, again, he agreed, believing that the U.S. should carry out the attacks.
I then turned to the question of John McCain and whether John McCain would follow such advice. Bolton appeared confident that McCain seemed more willing to take the threat seriously and may act accordingly. Barack Obama, according to Bolton was unwilling to take the situation as seriously as it needed to be taken.
Listen
Iranian President Ahmadinejad's Comments to the Press at General Assembly
During the conversation, which was at times confrontational, Ahmadinejad retained a sense of relaxed composure. Though he skirted issues such as detention of dissidents, media transparency, and nuclear threats to Israel, Ahmadinejad was willing to engage on multiple, controversial topics.
Ahmadinejad spoke of his country's willingness to allow IAEA inspectors in to Iran, and denied the possibility that Iran would preemptively attack Israel, stating that "[the world] is entering a post-nuclear" era. The president also discussed his willingness to cooperate with the Iraqi government, cautioned the West about it's excursion in Afghanistan, and warned of the hazards of continued violence in the Middle East.
Listen to Audio File (5:06), via translation
Listen to Entire Press Conference (59:10), via translation
Listen