Unfortunately, President Trump does not need Senate confirmation. Bolton's appointment is scary, to say the least. The Times article could have been headlined, "Can a Leopard Change it's Spots?" The concerns expressed in 2005 remain.
1
I read the first 30 letters that exhibited extreme dislike of John Bolton. That’s 30-NOTHING mind you.
I believe he will do well on behalf of this country just knowing that NYT readers dislike him so.
Why is this guy not behind bars for his role in starting the war against Iraq?
Trump is a short-term pragmatist. Bolton is a long-term ideologue. Neither is suited to lead the USA. We keep our fingers crossed and hope that Trump falls out with Bolton in early course.
Great, with the stink of Dick Cheney all over him and a proven talent at getting people angry. If Trump seeks a distraction from his own shenanigans, this character is the right choice. Madness!
3
Bolton has to know his boss is malleable and that means danger for the rest of us because Bolton will find ways to make Trump do his bidding.
2
John Bolton is another war hawk who, like Trump, successfully avoided being sent to Vietnam. He openly admitted and confessed that he had no desire to die in a Southeast Asian rice paddy. Unlike Trump, he did not mind agreeing with H. W. Bush in championing the Iraq war and sending thousands of young men to Iraq of which many never returned or were injured or maimed. The US is still paying in so many differend ways for this unjust and immoral war.
By now we have learned and know he has not mellowed but hardened his war hawkish views which is evidenced by advocating for a preemptive strike against North Korea. He is totally against the nuclear deal with Iran and is not known to advise against any military actions. He is indeed a scary dude and is not known to ever support diplomatic options. He is also a known to not tell the truth and with a well known liar already in the White House makes it a scary situation.
1
“It has been my experience that his mouth is much bigger than his brain.”
Perfect fit for the Trump administration.
6
The question is, between now and when he is next to depart Trump's graces will Bolton be able to get us into another war?
2
I remember that Bolton was a loose cannon bomb thrower way back in the days when he worked with USAID. Except for fellow political appointees at the time, he was roundly viewed as a jerk by most USAID professionals. Of course, he never changed.
5
In temperament, behavior and respect for the truth, Bolton sounds just like Trump. No wonder he selected him.
3
Anyone who has taken business admin classes knows, this approach is a classic sign of poor management.
2
“It has been my experience that his mouth is much bigger than his brain.”
Smart people generally don't feel the need to run around telling everyone how smart they are. And usually the people talking the loudest are the ones trying to cover up their defects with bluster. When a bi-partisan group of people are dismayed by this choice, perhaps it isn't such a good choice.
4
It's pretty obvious what's going to happen, but we'll see. Certainly more militarism--always from men who evaded service in any US military force themselves. And President Donald Trump owns it all, as history will record.
3
Bolton will continue to exhibit his deranged personality but in Trump's white House he may be only the second most mentally unstable individual. There is no upside here and while a Democratic flip of the House and/or Senate might provide some restraints on the insanity, by design Presidents have a lot of power regarding international affairs.
2
Just another hawk who, like BLOTUS, found a convenient way to avoid going to Vietnam when his country called. I think we need to return to the Middle Ages when sovereigns and their progeny actually led their troops into battle. Maybe then they would think long and hard about committing our military to wars with no clear or attainable goals.
3
Okay, Bolton is a nasty guy and not a team player. But, when the Times uses Bolton's support of the Iraq War and his belief that Saddam had WsMD, the paper is bound to point out that it too, on its front page, more than once, also led readers to believe that Saddam did indeed possess those WsMD in quantity. Those Times' claims were later found to be based on shoddy sourcing. The paper trusted a journalist who was duped. Upgrade your standards for disclosure, while condemning someone else, or lose your credibility on this important issue.
7
The Times was not cherry picking pre Iraq War intelligence in order to justify an invasion, as were operatives in the Bush Administration, such as Bolton and Cheney. Rather they were relying on the government to provide accurate information, which it deliberately failed to do. The NYT has also recanted its support for the Iraq War, something John Bolton has not done. Beware of anyone who is not able to acknowledge a mistake and move forward. Bolton is stuck in the past, and that is exactly where he should remain.
6
Bolton's PAC helped fund Cambridge Analytica's attack on our Presidential election. Conflict?
18
An advisor is meant to provide honest, impartial advice based on expertise in a particular area. Mr. Bolton fails on every count, especially for the post of NSA. This is arguably one of the most critical appointments for most Presidents, few of whom have in-depth experience in National Security matters, and the ramifications of a poor NSA are huge.
Donald Trump seems determined to sweep away all those who might have the experience and courage to 'speak truth unto power', in favour of a coterie of yes men who will likely support narrow, vested-interest agendas without the slightest concern for the national (or international) interest. John Bolton is a classic example.
10
Next up - Hannity after Pompeo.
5
It looks like this is litmus test for the country to see how far it is in Trumps pocket. Already today it is sad to see how our institutions and constitution are unable to prevent actions not wanted by the majority of the people from happening.
6
Very concerning , with Dt's unstable views which waver , change almost hourly , this appointee may probably be the match that lights the fuse . We may possibly be at war soon with Bolton's influence , be afraid , be very afraid as it seems there is no stable mind at the White House.
6
Leave it to this president to hire the very worst people in every category. Bolton will fit in just fine with his peers in the cabinet who are eagerly trying and succeeding in destroying every norm and institution in this country. As another poster so eloquently stated, Bolton is a liar, coward, and fool-- a perfect trifecta for this odious cast of characters in a foul, traitorous administration.
11
Is Trump capable of thinking logically about anything?
2
The talent pool of those wishing to work for this White House is now a puddle. Therein lies the problem, and Bolton will be just the beginning of those dredged up from the barrel's bottom.
7
Everyone is worried that Bolton will manipulate Trump and encourage his worst instincts. I'm worried about that, too. But I consider another possibility: Trump doesn't like to be told what to do, or the appearance of anyone making decisions for him. Bolton will end up crossing him, especially on Russia. All it will take to be rid of him is one Time cover with a Bolton-flattering headline.
Lastly, my favorite litmus test for a narcissist involves their inability to let others be praised. All praise must fall upon them. So any media coverage praising Bolton in any way--including and perhaps especially Fox News--will send Trump over the edge.
3
Sounds like a Donald Trump kind of guy!
3
If it was not clear on November 8, 2016 that we would be going to war again, it should have been obvious on January 27, 2017, when Trump's "Muslim Ban" signaled that he would be governing not as a pragmatic deal-maker but as a clueless bully.
As the many scandals close in, and with John Bolton whispering in his ear, Trump will almost certainly be going to war. Maybe against Iran, because they don't yet have a bomb and it would make Saudi Arabia happy, but would it anger Russia? Trump won't cross Putin. So maybe North Korea, in spite of concerns from China, Japan, and South Korea.
Either would lead to a disastrous war, and a new era in which American leadership in the world is all but dead. We will live in a brutal new reality in which China is ascendant -- their economic power and stability will trump America's vastly diminished soft power. And the more we use our overwhelming military, the less trust and power we will have.
This latest dire chapter should at least serve to remind us that George W. Bush is NOT a sweet, aw-shucks old painter. His administration LIED to America so that they could wage the tragic and wasteful Iraq War.
11
This pick won't last either. He'll be gone in a year. We all know there isn't room for two bulls in a china shop.
10
How in the world can anyone from the Bush administration who launched us into the Iraq War be allowed to participate in any national security or foreign relations capacity? The re-election of Bush was a travesty and the appointment of Bolton now is salt to the wound. When are we going to hold public officials accountable for their masses mistakes?
12
He sounds perfect for this administration.
2
Still another of these wannabe tough guys. Fifty years ago, we had the real thing at places like Ben Het and Dak To. Where was Mr. Bolton? Where was Mr. Trump?
19
The nomination of National Security Adviser doesn't require any congressional vote, apparently. There needs to be, because of the importance of the position. In fact, with Trump as president, I wish all his appointments required a vote.
7
So what--he does not require confirmation. Want another person--have your candidate elected to the presidency in 2020.
Or... use your First Amendment right and speak out when the president hires a completely dangerous, unqualified person to the position of national security adviser. Are you going to pretend that if Hillary were president and hired a dangerous buffoon to this position, you would be silent?
8
Are you not at all concerned that a cowardly war hawk who still clings to the idiotic notion that the Iraq war was a good idea is advising our child-king president as he looks to engage in diplomacy with a nuclear-armed sociopath?
6
Teaming Bolton with Trump might be the final straw as this administration unravels. Republican presidents already seem to have a penchant for starting wars for political misdirection or to burnish their power as a 'war' president (Reagan in Grenada, Bush Sr in Panama, and Bush Jr in Iraq).
But Iran and North Korea are far more capable foes, and this time the targets have powerful allies in Russia and/or China.
It all comes down to how much Trump needs a major distraction and how much influence a warmonger like Bolton carries. The pool of qualified people interested in working for Trump is extremely small, probably zero in many cases. Bolton couldn't pass Senate muster for a far less consequential post at the UN. But he does kiss up, a prerequisite for Trump. And per his numerous public state he wants to drop bombs first and and never question the results. To complete the trifecta, he appears to be entangled with both the Russians and the Mercers.
Have congressional Republicans seen enough? We have to hope so. I doubt we can wait for a new congress to be seated.
8
Trump would love to start a war to satisfy his ego by being a "war-time" so-called president. The nutcase warhawk Bolton will work overtime to give Trump reasons to launch yet another illegal war costing untold thousands or even millions of innocent lives. That is his specialty. Trump will be thrilled to put on a flak jacket and helmet for photos while putting Russia Gate on the back pages. And the Republican so-called leadership? A war might help them in the next election cycle. Whats not to like?
12
Well, let's see. Reagan had Grenada & Panama. Thatcher had the Falklands, aka Argentina, who unfortunately for the Brits had the temerity to fight back.
Surely there must be some militarily weak country that Trump could bully where the optics wouldn't be too bad that could give him street cred with the other tin pot dictators he so much admires.
Venezuela perhaps, tell Trump it's Mexico, he won't suspect a thing. They virtually have no government, their troops are busy oppressing their own people, they have oil. First, send down Bolton to insult them, and when they throw him in jail send in the troops to rescue the hostage and restore America's honor. Bingo, Trumps happy, Bolton gets the bejesus scared out of him and it can all be done on some sort of gold card. The single biggest expense would be some sort of uniform for Trump with a sash, epaulets, lots and lots of gold braid and ask Sheriff David Clarke for advise on medals...Get an old picture of Idi Amin for comparison.
It seems Trump's picks for his administration are directly from FOX News. If he sees them on TV, they are good enough!
Bolt is a known warmongering chicken-hawk - the worst possible choice.
12
Bush/Cheney gave us the Iraq war. What war might we expect from a Trump/Bolton combination? One can only shudder at the thought.
7
So, essentially he thinks he knows it all and will crush and push out anyone who dares disagree with him. Hmmm...why does that sound so familiar?
I am a bit comforted by the fact that Bolton is so hard-headed that he's liable to oppose something Trump wants to do or conveniently 'forget' to pass on all of the intelligence info on to DT, both of which will get him turfed out.
3
As dispiriting as Bolton's nomination is, the deference Congressional Republicans will certainly show to his manias is even more depressing.
These conservatives are so frightened to be caught on the wrong side of Trump's displeasures -no matter how irrational they are- that they'll bend over backwards to keep the peace with him. Even if "keeping the peace" in this instance means the assurance of war.
5
"The unnamed national intelligence officer for Latin America was revealed to be Fulton Armstrong, who in an interview last week said that Mr. Bolton had targeted him for “vicious attacks,” “rumor campaigns” and “infantile” character assassination."
Run for your lives! Somebody cloned Donald Trump!
5
For whatever reason, god decided not to imbue Mr. Bolton with any grace or wisdom. He seems oblivious to the hollowness of his own worldview. I doubt he could face the truth anyway.
7
Where are our esteemed legislators in DC regarding this war mongering and odious bully's entrance into the deepest recesses of our government?
Their silence is deafening, and I wonder if he "has something on them" to ensure their acquiescence. From what I've read about him I would not put such tactics beyond him.
Scary, scary, scary.
6
Trump: shovelling the muck from the bottom of the barrel......
8
Either Bolton will not last long as Kelly and Mathis find him impossible or he remains, they leave and the US gets involved in another war which it (again) loses.
6
Draft Dodgers 'R' US. Easy to sacrifice others, to save your own carcass. Military strikes on Iran, before the Midterms. Guaranteed.
21
Sounds like the perfect Trump apparatchik.
8
I am not a fan of John Bolton and this information about Bolton is not surprising.
That said, how about a follow-up article and tell us how Bolton was at the UN.
5
This man is deadly and dangerous second to only another deadly and dangerous tyrant, North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. He is even more dangerous Darth Vader, Cheney. Kim is no Saddam Hussain. He has real WMD - nukes!
6
there are REASONS why no president has so directly engaged and probably enraged the NK leaders to date....picking fights with people who have nuclear weapons is not only dangerous but extremely foolhardy..and this seems to be exactly what the Trump/Bolton team has in mind..! we may all need to consider where we are living and whether someone place else might be better..!! like another country.....!!
2
He has changed. He is being looked at for possible illegal activities during an election.
"John Bolton’s Cambridge Analytica Connection"
"https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/03/john-boltons-cambridge-analy..."
9
I don't think Bolton can get a security clearance. He is the subject of at least one FBI investigation.
23
Please be right. The prospect of Bolton advising Trump is horrifying.
4
Heaven forfend we have such a cruel, obsequious hothead as Bolton as the nation's national security advisor. Perhaps the Senate will see fit to call hearings on his fitness for the job.
9
Mr. Bolton lied, and lied unapologetically: "We are confident that Saddam Hussein has hidden weapons of mass destruction."
Yet Mr. Diller says that there were "no clear ethical transgressions."
Sorry, Mr. Diller, but lying IS an ethical transgression. Mr. Bolton violated Leviticus 19:11: "You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another." If this is not an "ethical transgression", then what is?
3
John Bolton an inept bully wrong on so many things, will not last long but he will be the straw that breaks Trump's Presidency.
6
How is Bolton going to get a security clearance? Between his Cambridge Analytica connections and his NRA-Russia connections, he may already be figuring into the ongoing investigations. We've already had one National Security Advisor who shouldn't have had a security clearance. Leave it to Trump to find another. And for that matter, Trump himself wouldn't be approved. What a travesty.
121
one would think that at the VERY LEAST the national security adviser would have a top level secret clearance......! he probably cannot get one..at least not through normal channels and rules that everyone else follows...but be assured that if Trump wants him, DJT will personally give him one.....!!
1
John Bolton got 4,484 Americans and 116,000 Iraqis killed in Iraq for NO justifiable reason. He lied, like Ariel Sharon did, about Iraq having weapons of mass destruction. In two weeks prior to the attack, UN inspectors found no evidence of WMDs, but Bolton advised Bush to attack anyway.
He is a pro-Israeli war hawk and a clear and present danger to the United States of America, just like Trump is for choosing him.
22
Bolton is a disgrace as a human being. He is aggressive, un-diplomatic, and self-serving. And yet, compared to Trump, may appear as reasonable,,,when asleep.
6
He won’t last very long, or at least be sidelined when he contradicts the inconsistent Trump. It’s inevitable.
6
"Kiss Up, Kick Down." In her work, 'The Origins of Totalitarianism,' Hannah Arendt explains that German slang had coined a term for the kind of bureaucrat who stomped on those below and bowed to those above. The term, "radfahrer," means bicyclist but it recalls to the position of someone stooped on a bike furiously pedaling with a hunched over torso, as if they were bowing obsequiously. Eichmann was her paradigmatic example of this kind of person.
12
Oy, buckle up your seatbelt, it's going to be a bumpy ride. Just what we need, a bad cop president and a bad cop NSA. Bad for sure.
Pounding the nail is the only solution when all you've got in your toolbox is a hammer.
8
I was a civil service employee who suffered persecution from a political appointee that resulted in my termination. I can tell you from personal experience that it was a very disturbing, even dehumanizing experience. Such behavior is completely unacceptable and undermines the democratic tenet of an independent and professional civil service. Regrettably, it can occur when more senior civil service mangers whose sworn duty is to protect the integrity of public service are too weak to push back against the political appointee. I'll go with Senator Hagel's - a decorated vet - assessment - Bolton is wrong for the job.
16
Like Obama famously said, "elections have consequences'. Many people did not like Obama's other 'smackdown' response to McCain 'election is over' and those who don't like Trump's picks should remember the times when the shoe was on the other foot.
Trump is President, he has the right to pick whomever represents him best in various posts. And he has the right to replace them as often as he wants. You have the right to vote for another candidate in 2020, Democrat or Republican. But until then, let the elected government do it's work. You can only have one government at a time.
It is very damaging to national interests to constantly obstruct your own government. Democrats obstruct a Republican government, then vice-versa.. Meanwhile China and Russia rise.. it is just a matter of time until they challenge a USA government beleaguered by its own internal conflicts.
9
Your point is well made. Now, if only the President would act like a President.
2
"Trump is President, he has the right to pick whomever represents him best in various posts."
Ideally, the National Security Advisor serves as an honest broker of policy options for the President in the field of national security, rather than as an advocate for his or her own policy agenda.
3
Ok, Sauce for the Goose, let’s revisit President Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland.
10
A person cannot behave in government as John Bolton has behaved unless they are protected by an extremely powerful protector or protectors.
Sheldon Adelson is Bolton's number one protector. Rupert Murdoch is number two.
Both of his protectors want a war with Iran. Neither is interested in North Korea.
Bolton's "job" in the Trump administration will be to get Trump properly focused on a war with Iran. September 2018 would be a good time...maximum positive impact (for Republicans) on the Mid Terms.
17
I would add that Robert Mercer funded Bolton's super PAC, just as he funded Cambridge Analytica. Mercer also funds Breitbart News, Steve Bannon's multiple projects, and he footed most of the bill for Donald Trump's presidential run.
1
I can't be the only person who recalls seeing Bolton in the GOP mob threatening to break down the glass doors of the Florida civil servants who were struggling to re count ballots in 2000. Is there anything more horrific in the world of civil service than a near-violent mob harassing hard-working salt of the earth folks just trying to do a difficult job under enormous pressure? That's Bolton, although I'm not predicting what kind of Nat. Sec. Advisor he will make.
15
Republicans: John Bolton represents another nail for your coffin. Support him at your own peril. Same goes for Democrats. He is a dangerous demagogue, who will try to start another unwinnable war. EVERYBODY knows this.
15
The simple assessment of John Bolton is that he is a loud mouthed, unqualified, back stabbing and impulsive jerk. Perfect for Trump, in other words. Reptiles of a scale together sail.
18
The appointment of Bolton is another example of how dysfunctional and chaotic the government is. It’s pathetic to think that the diabolical Bolton will aspire to reshape foreign policy. If Iraq is any indication of his foreign mastery and expertise, a country reshaped onto a mass of rubble; the entire world is in trouble.
8
Let’s hope Bolton cannot get a security clearance. That might be the only way to stop him from becoming the National Security Advisor...
14
It's almost like Black Sabbath wrote the song War Pigs decades ago with Bolton in mind.
7
Bolton and Trump deserve each other but the world deserves neither.
20
You know, there are so many red flags now. It reminds me of the shooter in Florida. There were so many red flags, it's little surprise that they led to something awful. In the case of this administration, you would expect that the sheer extent of its multi-dimensional shortcomings is going to lead to something really awful sooner or later. We'll marvel later that catastrophic failure hadn't hit us earlier.
14
Bolton worst tendencies have only strengthened and that is what is NOT mentioned in this story. He must have absolute control and it must be done his way. He will go after anything that even seemingly thwarts his methods or views.
He is so entrenched in his own ideology that he has no room for any perspective other than his own.
Sound like someone we know? Amazing that Trump would actually pick him, but Bolton is known to be highly manipulative, lying to make himself look better, and throwing anyone and everyone else under the bus. He's bolstered Trump's ego, but wait ... there will be a confrontation. Bolton will just sneak about. He should be careful. His history is well-known and there many more ways of airing staff grievances than ever before. A lot of eyes will be on Bolton, as they should be.
The NSC will be in total disarray before this is over.
Wondering how he might get along with Haley since he has absolutely no respect for women. Secretary Rice was a woman and black, something that Bolton couldn't abide.
11
The "sad" thing is that Trump campaigned by railing against the Iraq war as "stupid" and a "big mistake". Now he hires one of the architects.
169
Just curious...
Why do people who participated in the largest foreign policy debacle in US history (the Iraq war) continue to keep popping up in our government? Is there no accountability for a $2+ trillion mistake that cost anywhere from 120,000 - 430,000 causalities? Some estimates top 1.2 million! On top of the fiscal disaster, and the almost incomprehensible human toll, the event completely destabilized the entire region, and has given rise to a far more dangerous terrorist organization (remember that was why we went there in the first place!), and empowered Iran, a sworn enemy of... drum roll please... MR. BOLTON.
If this absolute buffoon, with a demonstrated record of utter failure in achieving his own objectives (wish I could italicize that) cannot be held accountable for his mistakes, it's terrible, but so be it. However, the last thing any objective human being should do is reward his absolute stupidity and demonstrated ineptitude by giving his a position as National Security Advisor!
Bolton's appointment a little like nominating Franz Ferdinand's driver (who took a wrong turn and put the Archduke in a place to get assassinated, starting Wold War 1) for transportation secretary. Or perhaps the captain of the Titanic to lead Maritime Administration. Or an arsonist as fire chief...
Is there no consequence in this world?
25
I, at 82, no longer am an optimist about what I used to think was our great country. Lucky us, my husband and I, to have lived on the G. I. bill for him to finish his education--to have been optimists that our children and grandchildren would have similar opportunities. No more. The Bolton appointment is the final straw. One more draft dodging bully to lead us over the precipice.
5
A note to Mr Trump who will never read this: John Bolton was one of the Bush administration guys who told us Saddam Hussein had "Weapons of mass destruction" as justification for the Iraq war which led to the rise of ISIS and the current Syrian debacle, etc etc etc. Trump has said he was against the Iraq war. He can't have it both ways. Why would Trump choose a cherry picker of intelligence as his national security advisor? Even Ben Carson might be more competent.
9
I agree with you about what should be. Unfortunately, Trump can have it both ways and does it all the time.
And Fox News helps him justify whatever side he is taking that day.
And his voters are perfectly fine and continue to think he is draining the swamp and making America great again.
It is heartbreaking what Trump and the Republicans are doing to the country.
And it is heartbreaking to see these sheep of Trump supporters.
MASA - Make America Smart Again
5
Mr. Ford, former assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research said about John Bolton, "It has been my experience that his mouth is much bigger than his brain." Perfect match for Trump whom his mouth shoot before his brain is loaded. Unfortunately Bolton's mouth which by the way was never seen in Viet Nam, is one of the reason why so many Americans are still grieving for their love ones killed in a unnecessary war in Irak.
15
But 'kick up and kiss down' strategy does not work that well, does it.
2
Trump's assessment: Arrogant?...check. Abusive?....check. Listens to only what he wants to hear?....check. Narcissistic?.....yeah, check. Talks more than thinks?.....yep to that too, check. Will kiss my feet?.....sounds like it.
Hired!!
14
If Trump's criteria for national security advisor are someone who appears on TV and sports a conversation-piece mustache, I wish he'd called Sam Elliott.
13
Sam Eliot is way too classy a guy to work for Trump.
8
Elliott for President! His voice alone doing a State of the Union address would be worth the price of admission.
3
"Those who opposed him then, like Carl W. Ford Jr., along with many who supported him, say Mr. Bolton has not changed."
We can assume that's why Trump picked him. What is more important is he doesn't have the Pentagon Politburo baggage McMaster was always carrying around.
Bolton won't be afraid to fire at will, which means, of course, lots of leaked "hate and discontent" stories will be coming out of the NSC. Hopefully, sooner than later.
4
Out of 330 million plus citizens this is the best candidate available?
15
The Senate must change its rules, now, to require its confirmation for a presidential nominee to the Cabinet-level position of the National Security Advisor. Aside from the present multifaceted and well documented Bolton impetus for such a change, it is remarkable, at least for this citizen, that a confirmation requirement had not previously been in place.
Short of taking this necessary step, the appropriate Senate oversight committees should immediately schedule public hearings to fully probe Bolton's fitness for the N.S.A. post, on policy, administrative, and temperament grounds. The more one reads about the reckless, obnoxious, firebrand Bolton the more one has the frightening image of a possible international conflagration on the horizon. Time, indeed, is of the essence.
For once Republicans, place your country over party, meaning the narrow interests of Trump. World peace may very well hang in the balance. Act now!
123
NSA is not a cabinet level office (its a senior advisor position) so Congress would have to either elevate the office to cabinet level and remove it from the Office of the Executive, or change the National Security Act of 1947 that created the Security Council
1
Exactly. Congress needs to elevate the office to cabinet level and remove it from the Office of the Executive.
This position is arguably more important than Secretary of Defense since the national security advisor consolidates information from all sources for the president (supposedly). If a president appoints someone who isn't an honest broker, then the job becomes de facto Secretary of Defense.
I’m really hoping Trump’s presidency serves as an object lesson that our laws are insufficient to protect against an unqualified, unknowledgeable, mercenary rogue demagogue, who has disdain for ethical and democratic norms, chooses people based on their militancy, unquestioning loyalty to him, and appearance rather than qualifications, experience, or loyalty to the country, who thinks strictly legal is the same thing as ethical, looks for loopholes to get around the law, and tests the boundaries by pushing them well beyond what the lawmakers who made them ever imagined would be necessary—because they assumed presidents would have some scruples, respect not just the letter of the law, but the spirit of them, and serve the best interests of the country, not their own. Not to mention one who may have conspired with a hostile foreign power. The limitations of our laws regarding the executive branch have been exposed by just such an unqualified, willfully ignorant, mercenary rogue demagogue, and they must be addressed. We can no longer depend on the honor system, have the expectation that presidents will have a moral compass and respect ethical and democratic norms, some going back to the founding of our country, or assume that the oath of office will be abided by. It’s sad fact, but one that must be reckoned with or we will only be inviting the exploitation of the highest office in the land, begging for mercenary candidates to run for it.
1
I wonder how long it will take for Trump to tire of him. Remember how enthusiastic he was about his earlier appointments. These two will clash eventually.
4
Where "eventually" is about 5 minutes.
1
He's among the least suitable for that job imaginable. But he was chosen by the least qualified, most unfit, least competent president of all time, so it does make perfect sense.
13
I do not know Mr. Bolton, but I know some others mentioned in this article and I recall the incident that Mr. Ford alludes to. It was ugly and reverberates to this day whenever Mr. Bolton's name is mentioned in the State Department corridors.
Having said that, John Bolton should be given a chance to run the NSC. In a town where everyone is afraid to have an opinion, he is someone with a strong point of view. One can agree or disagree. And the President is entitled to shape his national security team the way he wants.
Finally, remember that the NSC serves in large part to develop consensus amongst cabinet agencies regarding foreign policy. John Bolton will find that to succeed, he will have to cooperate.
Bolton helped us invade Iraq on lies.
Not someone who should be given a second chance?
In addition, when it was his turn to be patriotic and fight for his country during Vietnam, he joined the National Guard to avoid active duty similar to W Bush.
Cheney did not go nor did our President bonespur.
But they seem to have no problem sending others off to fight and die.
And Iran is in their sights.
6
Remember when he covered up Iran-Contra? How many chances does this guy get?
4
Have you not read anything about this man? "Consensus" is not a word that can be associated with John Bolton. Unless of course you meant it in the "me, myself and I" sense of the word.
4
I'm fine with warmonger Bolton, but I just ask that Kim Jong-Un, etc. comes for Trump supporters first (only?). I think that's fair. They've made their bed and now they need to sleep in it.
2
He's not qualified to be the National Security Advisor. He hasn't gone on any Sunday talk shows lying about a video.
Donald Trump has to be pushing the limits of stupidity to bring himself to lean upon the counsel of John Bolton.
Any president worth the title should have the humility to consult experienced and respected statesmen if he has a genuine interest in the security of the United States. President Obama asked some of W’s top-drawer appointments to stay on. But the Trump administration is so bereft of talent and brains that he’s willing to wade into waters assiduously avoided by previous presidents.
If we’re not knee-deep in war in a year, I’ll be quite surprised.
114
Well said- and I'm a Yankees fan. Good luck this season ! And good luck to America. We'll need it
4
Dubbya and Bolton got us into the Iraq war, but Obama was not any better. He set the whole Middle east on fire.. Egypt, Libya, Syria.. ISIS rose under Obama's watch..
So far I think Trump did well on economy and foreign affairs (not as well with the rest). Give the guy the term he earned.
@JAI, London: And good luck to the Pinstripers as well. But Judge in the 1-spot?
Just another Typical Trump appointment. When will the American people finally stand up and say to Donald J. Trump, YOU'RE FIRED!
17
Not before November 2020. Firing him earlier than that would require 2/3 of the Senate, which would happen only if the Republicans decide that he's such a liability that they should get rid of him and replace him with Pence.
They could certainly impeach him if they elect a Dem-controlled House, but impeachment just gets the ball rolling. He can't be removed from office without large-scale GOP cooperation. Which would only be forthcoming if the Republicans find it strategically useful to get rid of him.
1
The Press still doesn't want to talk about John Bolton and torture. He lifted the signature of the United States from the Rome Statute to enable the Yoo/Bybee/Levin memoes. He defended American torture in front of the UN Commission on Torture in 2006.
Him plus Gina Haspel is a national security team that believes in breaking the law on heinous crimes.
17
Obama never stopped torture. I am sure you had no problem with that.
Your statement is incorrect.
Obama’s mistake was not prosecuting those responsible for torture but he did stop it.
4
Forget about, for the moment, the talk of Bolton's abrasive "Kiss Up, Kick Down" personality.
The take home message is that Bolton was the Champion of the Iraq war and still says it was the right thing to do. This was the worst US Foreign involvement-action since the Vietnam war, and we have Bolton in large part to thank for it.
Performance is measured by results, and by this benchmark, Bolton should probably be in jail, rather then back in the halls of political power.
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I like Bolton. By appearances, he is an unusually courageous and honest man in a field where it stands out. He is more likely to speak truth to power with Trump than others. I tended to agree with his foreign policy in the past. I am always prepared to be disappointed by anyone though, particularly in this field.
I expect you and your family to volunteer for the armed forces as those who agree with war mongers should be willing to kill and die for their beliefs.
6
Unusually courageous and honest? Perhaps more accurately would be" a lying chicken hawk who bullies underlings". Look at Judy Woodruff's March 28th PBS newshour for several of his lies to be detailed.
3
I can't agree with your perspective, Brad. Your expectations would be like my expecting you and your family to volunteer because in my view the last administration's policies, which it sounds to me like you supported, led to the weakening of our country as opposed to Russia, China, Iran, N. Korea, ISIS, etc. That puts us all at risk. I don't even like Trump, but his foreign policy, even if inconsistent or ill-informed, is better than the appeasement and over-abundance of humility that we had the last two terms. It doesn't work against implacable enemies and not much more so with allies.
Feel free to disagree with me anytime, but, you'd get a lot further with persuading people if you try reasoning rather than the standard throwaway lines or ill wishes.
It is good Mr. Bolton has not changed because the U.S. needs strong hand in middle east to get Russia, Iran and Hezbollah out of Syria. While we were friends with Iran at one time the situation is now different and outside help is needed to send message to the Iranians and their vicious Shia allies in the region. Only the U.S. has the power to do it.
2
Strength is an asset when used in conjunction with intellectual vigor and appropriate consideration for the potential risks of a given action. Bolton has clearly demonstrated in the Iraq war that he charged ahead with an ideological position (that proved to be incorrect on several fronts) and utterly failed to judge the potential consequences — we’re still paying the price.
He also withheld information that would have allowed others in positions of power to make sound judgements.
That isn’t strength. That is recklessness.
4
Congratulations, Trump. The worst possible choice for THIS Position, at least from any sane persons viewpoint. Oh. Duh.
19
Perhaps you want to bring back Susan "it was a video" Rice?
Absolutely I'd prefer Susan Rice, and so would anybody rational.
6
Yes, Susan Rice any day over this cartoon.
3
Nicely detailed account of this sorry time in US foreign relations.
The role of the National Security Advisor is supposed to be one of consensus builder or, failing that, of a reasonably neutral conduit for alternatives.
Bolton will instead be more like a one man intelligence pseudo agency: whatever intelligence is incoming, his output to the President will be ruthlessly tailored to his preexisting views. This has always been his approach, and quite frankly, is is not the kind of guy that is going to change his ways at this late date.
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".. this sorry time in US foreign relations."
Really? Getting China to begin reeling in Un is better than anything Barak "Red Line' Obama did?
Intelligence pseudo agency indeed...this is a man who is inflicted with a profound case of cognitive arteriosclerosis...if it doesn't fit his pre-existing, rigid biases, it counts for nothing.
7
“It has been my experience that his mouth is much bigger than his brain.”
That's a pretty damning comment. It's also ironic that his apparent predilection to form conclusions before thinking about evidence to support those conclusions mirrors the same traits his soon-to-be boss displays.
Another knock, aside from his irascibility, seems to be his very limited experience in senior roles. The shortness of his UN tenure is matched only by the thinness of his skin, apparently.
So he hasn't changed, say those who know him. But while he's unfortunately not required to be confirmed by the senate, I think in the court of public opinion there should be a more recent assessment of his background.
Such as his SuperPAC and connections to Cambridge Analytica, as well as Russia--anybody watch that NRA ad Bolton made for Russian markets? The involvement, and potential breaking of campaign laws through the use of foreign nationals from Cambridge Analytica in 2014, and Mercer money pouring into Bolton's SuperPAC bear investigation.
If someone is to be the president's adviser on national security, isn't it imperative that at a bare minimum, he hasn't run afoul of any American laws?
47
Birds of a feather flock together. Trump and Bolton are both Dodos with big mouths and tiny brains who have risen to positions of power way beyond their abilities.
6
One can only hope that wimpy Congress will demand an investigation!
5
Not run afoul of the law? What a quaint notion! Remember General ‘Lock Her Up’ Flynn and his guilty plea !
Hopefully Bolton’s tenure at National Security Advisor will be as short...but, then again, after Bolton, who? Sean Hannity??
2
Dreadful choice on all levels which is no surprise; do you think Trump picked him because the dreadful moustache is the only thing worse than Trump's hair? They are obviously soulmates at some deep inner level.....
14
Bolton will serve as the Executive Branch goon. Goons often do the dirty work and carry to extremes the wishes of a bad leader. Think Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS in Nazi Germany. Or how about Nikolai Yezhov, who carried out mass killings for Stalin? How perfect for Trump. How awful for the US!
32
Bolton can be removed by impeachment—and should be. His mentor Cheney should have been impeached long ago, for ordering torture contrary to US law. And he still can be—to set the example.
25
Did you ask for impeachment of any Obama lackeys when he continued torture?
2
In all seriousness, can't we find some younger intelligence professionals who can come to the fore-front? Bolton is 71 years old. It's time to pass the torch to a younger generation. One that isn't going to fight the same old battles in the same old way.
18
In this administration? No one with half a brain is going to work there now.
4
Yes, Mark, but, you see, a younger more experienced intelligence professional wouldn't anger the left like Bolton will, and djt's supporters care about little else.
1
Bolton is an angry, warmongering monster, who has no care about diplomacy or human life. I was astonished that he was still around after the countries hatred of him in prior positions. He's disgraced and another embarrassment for this 'so called' administration.
20
There are lots of dead bodies in the wake of Mr. Trump. If Bolton gets the job he may well end up the same way, just another dead body on Trump's list. Trump is scraping the contaminated bottom of the barrel. One would think it can't get worse, but it always does, Trump does not disappoint.
33
What dead bodies? Please elaborate.
The comment is allegorical.
Dead body = someone Trump fired.
3
Two abusive, combative warmongers, Trump and Bolton are two cowards who avoided their own military responsibilities.
49
Reminds me a little of Churchill's maxim about the Geraman army: "The Hun is always either at your throat or your feet."
9
Just look at the guys face. Pit bull extraordinaire. Ready to be first mate on Trumps quest for the great white whale. And like Moby Dick he will take us all down with him. Now, that is REALLY sad!
13
His mouth is bigger than his brain. Great quote. That seems to be a job requirement to work in the Trump Administration.
40
If he were not a regular on Fox News, Bolton would likely not have been offered the job. We as a society allowed the rehabilitation of Iraq chickenhawks and Bolton is only the most extreme example.
Even though their opinions are sometimes valuable, the stakes are too high. These people should not have been given another position of influence, or to spout dangerous and discredited views, whether Wolfowitz at the World Bank or Bill Kristol on Syria and Tom Friedman, now a booster of the Saudi crown prince. Moreover, it is simply not enough for them like Max Boot to have a mea culpa, given the fruits of their dangerous thinking, they should have been shamed out of public existence.
The hawks have been wrong every time since the Korean War, and can never answer the question, after intervention what then? They are not serious thinkers, but instead aim to gratify their self-important impulses.
5
Fox News? What's the matter, you got tired of blaming Russian collusion?
“I believed then, as I believe now, he lacks any of the qualities to be a senior government official,” Mr. Ford said last week. “It has been my experience that his mouth is much bigger than his brain.”
That's what has made Bolton perfect for Fox News and will make him perfect for the Trump Admin.
23
And now we begin to vividly see the worst danger of having someone like Trump landing in the White House.
20
If there is anything we DON'T need in government, it's boorish screamers with bad tempers and no sense of restraint. Especially in sensitive positions.
That's even worse than those whose mental and emotional development ended in high school whom no one wants to work for.
This is scraping the bottom of the barrel.
20
One thing we know about Trump is that he doesn't read history (or anything else other than his teleprompter) and therefore doesn't learn from history. With Trump's appointment of Bolton as national security advisor, America is less secure than it ever has been.
15
Blunt approach to diplomacy sounds like an oxymoron to me.
6
Bolton will join Trump's new team of bully's and will do just fine in making America a more dangerous place.
4
Bolton changed? Trump picked him over many qualified people for this appointment. There's your answer.
18
That's a characterization made by people who hate Mr. Bolton.
2
It's still an accurate one, mate.
4
Don't really care about him personally, I am revolted by his beliefs.
2
And we hate him because the characterization is true. Anything else you'd like to contribute?
1
Why would he change? why shoould he change? His kind of man became president. Bolton thinks his ideas finally are winners and those who experience with winning or doing well when out of power, are always privileged because of color and connections will never chage. Nor do the people who are extrme liberals like Bernie. Both think, they are RIGHT in their idealogies. They don't compromise because they are in a position where they don't have to.
3
Mr. Bolton is a 'bomb thrower' in bureaucratic parlance, a 'loose cannon", which didn't matter so much at the UN, where he could rail against an institution that he dreamed of destroying...quite literally. But as the man at the helm of National Security? Is there anything DJT does that isn't in and of itself, anxiety producing for the nation? How long, exactly, can this go on?
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Answer: until the end of his term or until the end of his second term, unless the Dems get a majority in congress somewhere along the way. I've become convinced that this is how it is going to be until Dear Leader is gone.
3
Everything about Mr Bolton suggests that he will lead us into war with Iran, North Korea, or any other country with which he disagrees. This is an extremely dangerous appointment. The man is a bully, cut from the same cloth as our president.
44
Three questions regarding the Bolton appointment as National Security Advisor
#1: Will he become snarled in the security classification process?
#2: Will the foregoing reveal foreign financial entanglements?
#3: If Bolton indeed steps into the National Security Adviser role, will he become a powerful media magnet -- for Fox as well as MSNBC and CNN -- that ultimately will concern for Trump as well as Chief of Staff Kelly. Remember that Trump relishes being the center of attention!
Also recall that two highly credentialed individuals -- McGeorge Bundy and Walt Whitman Rostow -- exercised paramount roles in the formulating the policies for the US intervention in Vietnam during the 1960s.
9
Guys like Bolton will force congress to have to shut down the White House if there is ant whiff of starting another war. So that's good.
6
Sounds like a good fit for the current administration, should fit right in.
4
You sound like the Oracle of Delphi.
2
Why is that all of these warmongers on the right never served in combat? Cowardice is why.
192
As a veteran, I observed the 'chicken hawks' of Vietnam, draft dodgers all, try to outdo each other in bravado and war mongering in the Bush administration. A favorite saying, uttered to each other in their faux defenders of freedom mode, was that "anyone can go to Iraq, real men go to Iran." And bolton was one of its favorite pronouncers of such self-aggrandizing, and in my view, self-condemning comments.
Having hid out, or as Cheney said, "I had other things to do...." during Vietnam, and racked up his deferments and the President falls right in line with his bone spurs, which during the campaign he couldn't remember which foot he had such a grievous injury that he couldn't march, could hardly walk, don't you know?
Dangerous. That's what the chicken hawks are...because they know they are cowards at heart, they over compensate, and that's how you get Iraq. And Iran, come to think of it....
15
OK, but would anyone who wasn't a fierce infighter want to serve in this Administration? And would they be effective if they did?
2
Effective at what? That's the question.
3
This reminds of the story of the Roman emperor Caligula who once made his horse a consul and nobody in the Roman Senat dared to speak up because Caligula was well known for making those with an opposite voice for ever silent.
It’s not much different 2000 years of civilization later.
51
He wound up getting the job anyway through a recess appointment by Mr. Bush, who later regretted spending the political capital on such a divisive figure, telling conservatives, “I don’t consider Bolton credible.”
A resounding endorsement, considering who it’s coming from.
36
If you think John Bolton was a screamer and kick-down artist, Susan Rice made him look like a rank amateur. She could peel the paint off the walls with her screaming and four-letter word tirades. Didn't seem to hamper her much as she chewed through staffers and others within her target zone.
3
This is literally the first time I've heard this accusation leveled against Rice. Source?
3
Thanks pete- any your proof is... None.
4
Source? On the record source, like Mr Ford?
2
Of all Trump's appointees, I fear Bolton the most. His defense of the second Iraq war flies in the face of results: the conflict destabilized the region and led us to spend trillions for nothing. As for his views on North Korea, let me just state the simple conclusion of the Union of Concerned Scientists: a "limited" nuclear war ("just" 10 cities bombed) using modern weapons with high yields would send enough dust into the atmosphere to bring on nuclear winter. Billions across the planet might starve.
Mr. Bolton's stance of talking loudly and using a big stick was archaic at the beginning of the 20th century (think WW I). It has absolutely no place in the modern world.
57
I'm sure that the opinion of the Union of Concerned Scientists is just a hoax (sarcasm intended).
2
The only qualification trump seeks in an advisor is that he or she come from the hallowed halls of Fox "news." That bolton is a supreme bully makes him that much more appealing to trump. All the while, Congressional republicans headed by Ryan, McConnell and Pence as tie breaker in chief, smile in their simpering ways, bob their heads like so many dolls, and let trump go on destroying.
84
If his mouth IS bigger than his brain, he will fit right in with the sorry excuse for an administration with which we are currently living. Let's have a wager on how long he lasts, shall we; since it does seem to be a game of musical chairs!
28
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what exactly is John Bolton saying to Condoleezza Rice as she extends him an unreciprocated handshake in this Doug Mills photograph? His hostile expression speaks volumes. Volumes of misogyny and/or racism or both. It’s no wonder she declined to comment for this article.
74
Fasten your seatbelts, people. THIS crazy Train is derailing, and there's NO Conductor. Good Luck.
20
The best thing this nation could say to this "kiss up, kick down" guy is "kiss off!"
45
Nothing that a little corporate-style sensitivity training workshop can't fix. Don't they have those regularly in the Trump White House?
8
John Bolton is probably the least appropriate individual to perform the job of NSA as the National Security Act of 1947 had intended. He's brash, opinionated, bellicose and unwilling or unable to seek out and consider views of others.
So, is Trump planning to use Bolton as an in-house thug so as to seem the tough guy on national security issues, or will Bolton be Trump's Rasputin, influencing POTUS into carrying out some ill-conceived military action?
This White House drama show is exhausting.
99
Both. He will be Trump’s pit bull and his puppet master.
3
Well, I guess that Bolton's "Kiss Up, Kick Down" approach is better than Trump's "Kick Up, Kick Down, Kick Left, Kick Right."
7
Trump and Bolton are like a binary poison, when combined they can really blow up the planet.
2
Interesting to see the amount of combat The Bolter saw during Vietnam.
Was he there at Pleiku, A Shau, DMZ, Tet, 1972 Spring Offensive.
He has as much knowledge about war and its consequences as Bush Junior who flew for the Texas Air National Guard and defended America against invasions from Mexico and Canada.
He knows about war from what he read in the Sergeant Rock comic books.
Vietnam Veteran
183
Yes, Bushie flew for the Texas National Guard until he went AWOL, abandoning this plum job, rather than submit to a periodical flight physical exam.
3
Mr. Bolton perfectly embodies the trifecta of human weaknesses: He is a fool, he is a coward and he is a liar. He showed his craven character when he dodged the draft in 1970 by hiding out in the Maryland Army National Guard in 1970, asserting he had no desire to serve his country where he might “…die in a southeast Asian rice paddy.” He is a liar because he is well known to twist intelligence reports, including the boondoggle we’ve been struggling to get out of in Iraq for 15 years. He is a fool because he does not understand the value of human life, as demonstrated by his constant beating the drum for foreign wars where thousands of young American soldiers lose their lives, as well as hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and others. The thought of him at the helm of anything other than a clown car is troubling, to say the least. My prediction: His sycophancy should put him in good stead in this administration, where he’ll probably last about 6 months before his mustache starts chafing Trump’s taint.
266
But maybe his Kiss-up ability will make him the co-pilot.
2
Avoiding the Vietnam war crime may just be Bolton's one wise move. Notice I wrote "may."
4
prometheus25 - You state that Boltom embodies the trifecta of human weaknesses. I would but have to say that many in Washington embody these weaknesses, in particular not understanding, or disregarding, the value of human life. Bolton will continue to beat the war drums, showing no shame for pushing the disastrous Iraq war. But the Military Industrial Complex marches on...way too much money in the game to consider human life in the equation.
2
If it's such a consequential position, why doesn't the national security adviser require Senate confirmation?
140
We assumed the Pres would make decisions that were in the best interest of the country. I think that Trump has broken the Office, I no longer support the office of commander and chief.
7