John Bolton’s Plan for Iran

What is more than often surprising about pieces that talk about Iran, sanctions, and regime change, is how little is mentioned about the effects of the sanctions on regular people. Imagine if the sanctions were directed towards a European nation, in that context, all conversations would start with the devastation that the sanctions are having on the people, how they're affecting life expectancy, child mortality, education, malnutrition, health, etc., essentially, humanizing the subject, unfortunately none of that here. What I generally like about this podcast is its ability to shake our understanding of an issue by objectively presenting the counter view, for example, the piece on the Stanford educated Palestinian, Barr's understanding of the law, etc. Sadly, in this piece, it failed miserably.

Where is the transcript

I found Mark Landler’s summary of the current situation with Iran informative. However, I was deeply disheartened that his explanation lacked the long-standing destructive role of the US policy not only in Iran, but also in the region. Mr. Landler said that Mr. Bolton wants a more “democratic regime” in Iran. How is strangling the average Iranian to the brink of desperation so they would rise, bring down the regime a democratic way (not to mention that they will either die, go to prison, and pay the consequences along the way)? I know that Mr. Landler is a journalist and reports what he knows and not his opinion, but to leave important details from the story is failing to educate the listeners who have no idea about the history of US meddling in Iran’s affairs. There is always two sides to the story. Somehow, I felt Mr. Landler expressed Bolton’s view without giving enough background to the “why” of Iran’s actions. I am saddened to see the current suffering and the possible future tragedy that could await the Iranian people because of individuals like Bolton.

No President has lost reelection during a war.

The five words in that headline should be enough to scare Iranians, Iran's neighbors, Americans, families of US soldiers, European allies, and anyone else wary of American imperialism. Of course, Saudi Arabia and Israel will be pleased. Bolton makes Dr. Strangelove seem ... quaint (he's like Gen. Buck Turgison without the sense of humor). He still thinks the Iraq invasion, looking for weapons that most everyone knew had been destroyed, as a pretext to invade an oil-rich country and set up a permanent military presence, was a good idea (right John, like your rant about lopping off the top 10 stories of the UN Building in NYC). This after over 5,000 US soldiers died, tens of thousands wounded, many disabled, and perhaps hundreds of thousands of Iraqis dead or displaced (not to mention the toxic factional power vacuum the occupation helped enable). There's no sane world where that's a good idea. The only way I would support this is if he enlists and leads the charge on the ground. He's not quite the chickenhawk President Bone Spurs was, but he did avoid combat by signing up for the National Guard before his draft lottery. And who could blame him? Vietnam posed no existential threat to America or the American way of life, nor does Iran. Nor did Iraq. The most surprising thing is that he has worked the angles so patiently here, but anyone familiar with his 'accomplishments' knew that when he was appointed, this day would arrive.

the criminal trump administration is doing everything they can to start a fake war in hopes that it will help him in 2020 elections. we crashed the venezuelan economy with our sanctions, yet our media blames it on the leader without ever mentioning the sanctions. we withdrew from the iran deal. what better way to show them our word means nothing. i do not believe that there is suddenly a crisis in either of these countries. it is about political gain. people like bolton should be executed for allowing government sanctioned murder in the name of political gain and profiteering.

Let us not forget that it was the US that played an active role in toppling a democratically elected and once friendly (toward the US) Iranian government. This led ultimately to our installing a cruel and failed regime that the Iranian people rightfully overthrew- which created the troubling government now controlled by religious hardliners. The Daily report is informative about the current situation. Now perhaps a podcast on if our underlining motives were (and are) deserved and what exactly caused the US to overthrow the very kind of government we now wish to install!

How many wars has this man participated in? has he ever shot towards to? Because getting shot at will change you, seeing what you have don to another human being will change you! He is coward. I'm not really into this kind of testosterone talks, I rather talk about policies than wars (because I have seen enough of it and I'm in the first reserve list) but the truth is, Iran has significant anti-ship and air defense assets that are going to be used. so if there is going to be a war than, there is going to be a real major one,unfortunately with major casualties on both sides in which there is going to be a military draft in it, so don't cherish for it. You maybe end up in its front lines ( I have been in front line, and its not a pretty place to be).

They are trying to start a phony war based on the worst episodes in American history. This is the sinking of the Maine, and the Gulf of Tonkin all over again. And what countries are falsely claiming their ships have been attacked, only countries involved in doing illegal things to help Trump get elected as part of the Grand Bargain, the Saudis and UAE. They are lying. Congress better not fall for this again.

I'm totally with John Bolton regarding the need for regime change. Unfortunately, given that we are a nation of laws, we have to wait until November 2020 to change ours.

Bolton has been itching for a fight with Iran for along time. As a a hardliner hawk, Bolton does not believe in negotiations and advocates for regime change. Regime change in the 1950s in Iran by the US helped get us in this predicament in the first place. The only thing preventing an all-out confrontation is Trump's abhorrence of getting into a war with Iraq, but it remains to be seen if he capitulates to Bolton's pressure to a showdown. That John Bolton has been reinstalled back into the federal government, at the White House level, was a very bad choice indeed.

There has been a long-festering resentment of the Iranian people in the U.S. for a long time. While the Shah was in power, there were copious students and business people from Iran living, working and matriculating here, and living pretty well, to the resentment of the ordinary working class American struggling to get along. Then came the hostage situation and that was that. Bolton's attitude, like many Americans, is very one sided and will always see Iran as bad and unredeemable until they have had adequate retribution, (a term to be defined by him), meted out and reparations, (again, defined by him), collected. This is going to go on for a while.

Once again, a clueless administration has hired a cowardly, blithering idiot to run its war hawk policy. This buffoon should not be allowed to run a dog catching operation, much less foreign policy with a nation as complicated as Iran. Let's see if Johnny boy will show up for this fight, or any of his children, or will he and his no doubtedly wuss out just like he and Trump did during Vietnam? Republican voters are beyond stupid................

The current situation in the Middle East is a replay of Iraq. Same hawks, same lack of presidential leadership, and oil money. However, this time, unfortunately, American soldiers will pay the price of the arrogance of our leadership. No one in Washington D.C. seems to have a clear idea of the issues involved, and the hidden agendas. It is very sad. The rest of us will have to pick up the pieces after they have destroyed each other. I guess the question now is whether it will be climate change or Bolton's war that will destroy the world. One thing is certain, millions will die and Bolton, Trump and Pompeo will be responsible. It is ironic that this time around the Iranians have the cool heads and our leadership are the fanatics. God help us all! In the end we will not have to worry about climate change, because all the oil fields will have been whipped out. No more Arabia...thanks be to Allah!

Please don't post a headline as an excuse to shunt us over to your podcast. I can read the story in a minute or two and not have to endure the overproduced portentous audio reportage.

It’s obvious the President wants to drag us into some kind of conflict to increase the fear associated with regime change during an election year in the hopes of being reelected.

The childish response of our leaders who want to play with lives of the people they do not see.. It is unfortunate but we have become a nation of War and occupation. What happened in Afghanistan or Iraq will be repeated. I promise to buy an electric car which will need No OIL. Please don't spill blood in my name.

Trump violated the UN resolution and dimonstrated unreliability of the US when withdrew the nuclear deal. While, Iran stayted commited to the deal for one year and showed who is warwonger and the cause of instability. Now, after one year threating and violating the agreement by America and the EU, Iran started to leave step by step. This is the whole real story. The irresponsibility of Trump administration and dangrous policy of the B_team must be ceased.

I was just listening to the podcast, as always it's good, useful information. The one issue that I keep coming across, an issue that often causes me not to listen to this podcast and to advise others to avoid it, is the host. There is no need for the constant verbal exclamations. We are bright enough to understand the import of the things being said. We do not need a loud "Hmpf!" from Mr Barbaro every time he thinks something significant has been said. It is tremendously distracting and more than a minor irritant. If it were to occur every now and then that would be one thing but every time something is said that he feels we should pay attention to, he issues some kind of loud verbal exclamation or snort. Please stop snorting and hmphing.