John Bolton speaking at Duke tonight. Should I live tweet?
Protestors outside and some clearly getting ready inside. As is usually the case, they have a legitimate beef, but are operating in extreme mode.
I find Bolton reprehensible butbwant to hear him explain himself
He's being interviewed by Peter Feaver, police sci type, served on Clinton's and Bush's NSC
Feaver told me that Kelly's speech last week should make it easier to press Bolton on some issues
Peter is prepping audience to be civil.
Jokes that he's talking here, but hasn't in house or senate
JB claims existential threat to US sovereignty from Intl. Organizations is primary strategic problem (Fucking black helicopter bullshit)
Lists his successes at getting out of unnecessary treaties which hamper sov.
Eyeroll
"We dont profit from those orgs like ICC" paraphrased
2003 invasion hindsight? Was that a failure? Or a mistake? He says I had little to do with it. Was cut out by Powell. But he believed it was right choice
He says if we disaggregate Iraq policy in long term it's been bad, but we didn't do what I wanted in wake of the successful invasion.
What about the 2003 Intel failure that was in your portfolio? Well, we should have overthrown Saddam in 1991 (although i arrived at that conclusion after the fact). And the CIA said it was a slam dunk on wmd, and so....
So those failures suggested the JCPOA, no? Bolton nsays Iran fundamentally different.
You have argued for iran regime change. Why would it go better there?. Answer: It's a different country. <eyeroll>. We'd use different means <huge eyeroll>. He then jump shifts to why Iran's program a threat. Dodging question.
Feaver insists. What about day after? We would have kept troops in numbers in iran and return authority to iran quickly (and give them a copy of federalist papers, and wish them well)
Iran differs, he says again. Doesn't have shia, kurd, Sunni split. Iran populace is more aware of alternative possibilities of government. <rampant hope as policy>
<he just confused Iraq and iran>
Current iran policy is failing. Because Maximum pressure is NOTt being applied. Sanctions are hurting. Trump policy has not focused on regime change like he wants it to
After Ukrainian airliner came down we saw iran people strongly question their govt. They did not rally to the flag <this seems true to me>
Imminent threat argument to strike soleimani was irrelevant . He was a legit target.
Shift to NORK, admits pursuit of Kim Jung Un a failure. They won't make a real deal. Theybwont give up nukes. 2 years wasted on this effort. We've given them more time.
Venezuela: we weren't strong enough in support of Guaido.
(2 side comments already about cant talk about things in the book currently under review)
Maduro sustained by Cubans. <true enough>
Addresses prepublication review and admits it's not fair, but wont talk about it.
Blather about Corona virus and how bad China's regime is.
Russia: US policy on Russia not aggressive enough. Euros even weaker. When we went to Helsinki, I put up with a lot. "I did the best I could"
Assess Pompeo: wont answer. Jim Baker was the best sec state I worked with. (Wont answer who was worst)
Tillerson? He and Kelly both talked about moments when they had to tell trump. He couldn't do something. Did that ever happen? He wont answer.
He hints that Ukraine stuff is merely sprinkles compared to other things in book.
Why willing to appear to senate but not house? He says all house witnesses under subpoena. They asked me to appear voluntarily and I declined. They then subpoenaed my deputy. WH told Kuppermann not to cooperate, claiming testimonial immunity. Kup caught between branches.
Exec branch AND house backed away. Bolton never subpoenaed. Judge in kupperman case dismissed case over jurisdiction issues.
So JB said he had to make decision, but it was already too late for House.
Why not hold press conference? Legal threats from executive branch
Now student questions. How do you feel about fox news? No real answer. What did you achieve as NSA that you liked: INF withdrawal and JCPOA withdrawal
Role of human rights in foreign policy? It matters. One among many. No absolute. We end up siding with bad people. Oh well.
Islamophobia? Not true. Read what I've said or written. You won't find it.
Re zelensky call: you'll love chapter 14
Is there a deep state? No. But natsec bureaucracy has issues. State dept needs cultural revolution. But I have also studied the bureaucracies, and I dont see it as a state. Sure, some obstructions. Its complex.
And good night
