Bolton: Unilateral Military Action Is ‘On The Table’

[Roland99]

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/06/01/bolton-shut-up

Yesterday on Fox’s Your World with Neil Cuvuto, U.N. Ambassador John Bolton explicitly said that unilateral military action against Iran was “on the table.” Bolton diplomatically added, “It’s put up or shut up time for Iran.” Watch it:

Transcript:

BOLTON: And I think when the President says it’s unacceptable, I think what he means by that is that it’s unacceptable. So it’s important…

CAVUTO: But unacceptable means that if it keeps going on you’re going to do something about it…

BOLTON: That no option is taken off the table. And Secretary…

CAVUTO: Military as well?

BOLTON: Exactly. Secretary Rice…

CAVUTO: Unilateral military action?

BOLTON: Secretary Rice made that point again today. But that’s why I think…

CAVUTO: That we would, I’m sorry Ambassador, that we would act alone if we had to?

BOLTON: That’s why he says no option is taken off the table. But it’s also why he has, the President, has reached out President Putin and other leaders in the past couple of days to say, “We’re making a significant step here,” that will be criticized by many of the president’s staunchest supporters here at home. But he’s taking this step to show strength and American leadership and to say he’s willing to do something that may be unpopular even with some of his supporters, to remove all excuses from Iran and its supporters to say, “We went the extra mile. We gave Iran really, this last chance to show that they are serious when they say they don’t want nuclear weapons.” This is put or shut up time for Iran.

:scared:

[fooj]

1. Shit. We've got to get rid of these treasonous, rat bastards! NOW!!!!

They are destroying us. :cry:

[Julius Civitatus]

37. Can't wait to see Bolton tried at The Hague

The guy's a criminal.

[JDPriestly]

50. Not so fast. Do you want your grandchildren to be paying

R E P A R A T I O N S? That is where we are headed. Americans have bombed Iraqis indiscriminately, tortured Iraqis in prisons and, now we learn, systematically assassinated innocent Iraqis. It's not just our leaders who will pay for these war crimes. We will pay, and so will our children. The American people are in the position that the German people were in during WWII. Our government is out of control, and we are complicit. We are complicit in the bombings, the torture and the assassinations. We will pay, and our children will pay. We can't just point our fingers at our leaders. They are dragging us all down with them on the slippery slope to international crime.

[Kagemusha]

2. Whoever made the "world = US, Israel & such and such islands" crack

was absolutely correct.

Note that the person who made that crack on a recent thread about Bush statements re: Iran mentioned the actual islands but they're too insignificant for me to remember. And I'm actually pretty good at geography in general...

[Judi Lynn]

10. On UN votes comdemning the US embargo on Cuba, the only countries

supporting the U.S. usually are Israel and the Marshall Islands. Of course both depend heavily of foreign aid, so that's not really fair, when you think about it!

If they didn't need cash, there'd be NO ONE on a lot of votes supporting U.S. "policy."

[catmandu57]

3. I wish someone would take Yosemite Sam out back

and do a premptive strike on his ass.

[lyonn]

25. "Yosemite Sam" that is too funny! Fits

This sick bunch appears to be setting up their chess pieces for taking out the king, the Iranian leader (?). Trying to make it look like we are doing all we can to keep from bombing, but, they will use the same one as Iraq, get them before they get us and better to fight them over there than here. Heard bush ranting about immigration this a.m. and although not listening to the words the fake forcefulness made me think this was a fellow losing his grip and that could be damn scary. Have his keepers lost control of him? Is he slightly aware he has no cloths?

[Canuckistanian]

35. Yup.

Yosemite Sam.



Just look at that cookie duster!

[tanyev]

51. "Ah'm a gonna blow them I-ranies to smithereenies!"

[xxqqqzme]

4. I really, really hate these rat bastards

All this posturing and bullying - these criminals are so fucking pathetic. Why is it we can see all this criminal activity so clearly and inside the beltway they are deaf, dumb and blind!

[cyberpj]

5. Didn't someone post here to watch for 6/6/6 Iran start date? nt

[Nickster]

9. BenBurch said 6/7 was the date. n/t

[Roland99]

12. Seymour Hersh had said a June date (but didn't mention a year)

and this was over a year ago.

[ixion]

6. uh, 'unpopular' as in WAR CRIME, Mr. Mustache

invading a soverign nation is illegal. Pre-emption is illegal.

Oh yeah, I forgot... BushCo doesn't give a rats ass about that. :grr:

[gratuitous]

7. Put up or shut up time for Iran, huh?

And just this morning, the New York Times was reporting that the sudden willingness of the Bush administration was nothing more than a sham, the appearance of going through the motions of negotiation so they could "check it off the list" and go ahead with an invasion anyway.

For those of us who remember all the way back to 2002-03, this looks a lot like the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, with Bush demanding that Saddam disarm, Saddam claiming that he didn't have any arms to dis, and the weapons inspectors backing up what Saddam was saying. Many of us also remember the outcome: Bush told the weapons inspectors to get out of the way or get bombed, and we jumped head first into the cesspool.

What is Bush going to use to invade Iran? It's not like he's got an army sitting around waiting to spring into action. Or does he just abandon Iraq ("You're on your own now, boys") and send the troops now in Iraq across the border?

[Roland99]

15. The NYT reported on *that*? Wow!

Was it an op/ed or a bonafide article?

[gratuitous]

20. Article today by David Sanger

Link here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/01/world/middleeast/01iran.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Naturally, the lede of the story wasn't that the Bush administration is just going through the motions by negotiating; that would be far too newsworthy. No, the money paragraph is buried a dozen or so paragraphs in:

In the end, said one former official who has kept close tabs on the debate, "it came down to convincing Cheney and others that if we are going to confront Iran, we first have to check off the box" of trying talks.

A couple of years from now, the Times will sanctimoniously point to this buried paragraph and a few others like it to try to convince folks that they knew all along what a sham the Bush administration was trying to put over on the American people, so don't blame them as they try to hide the pleated skirts and the rustling pom-poms of the war cheerleaders.

[Roland99]

23. At first, something didn't seem right with that statement...but then...

I realized we're talking about DICK here.

He had to be conviced and persuaded to go to the UN before invading Iraq. Can't imagine he's one to learn from his mistakes (except that maybe he yells "DUCK!" before he fires off a shotgun).

[RoseMead]

22. "Put up or shut up?" Is that like "Bring it On?"

It is exactly like the run-up to Iraq, and it sucks enormously.

As to how they're going to do it, I think they are planning to rely more heavily on air attacks, rather than ground assault this time. But I also think they are getting ready to move some troops from Iraq to Iran - look at all the stories out recently about Iraq's fabulous new government (to be up and running *any minute* now ) and the US's plans to remove some of our troops from Iraq in the nebulous but not-too-distant future. We're being prepared.

[ClintonTyree]

42. They just moved 1600 more troops INTO Iraq.........

there won't be any troop reductions in the near future. Iraq is in a full blown civil war now. "Insurgent" attacks are at an all time high, violence is increasing at an exponential pace and the Iraqi "government", an entity in name only, is powerless in it's own country. The Iraqi "army" is a toothless, sniveling pack of cowards that hide behind "coalition" (United States) forces and are nowhere near ready to defend their own country. And why should they? 'The United States broke it, let them fix it', seems to be the majority opinion in a country that is FAR WORSE OFF than under the "brutal dictator" Saddam. They've merely traded one brutal dictator for another: bush and his gang of miscreants.

[Bhaisahab]

46. "you're on your own boys" - sounds familiar

that's exactly what he told Karzai and the Afghans when he wanted to yee-haw into iraq.

some assholes never change.

[shadowknows69]

8. This quote about sums up the last 5 years

"And I think when the President says it’s unacceptable, I think what he means by that is that it’s unacceptable. So it’s important…"

Do any of the people in charge have an IQ over 80?

"I've known sheep that could outwit you"
-A fish called Wanda.

[mikeytherat]

47. I've known sheep that could outwit you, I've worn dresses with higher IQs.

But you think you're an intellectual, don't you, ape?

Apes don't read philosophy.

Yes, they do, Otto. They just don't understand it.

mikey_the_rat

[Mr_Spock]

11. Bleh, when they come out and say it - it's just saber rattling.

Interesting development...

I guess the June attack is off the table for now.

[partylessinOhio]

13. We the people of the United States and the people of Iran -

are going to have to go through this sh!t because party boy cannot stand that his ratings have fallen. Many people are going to die because the impostor's ego cannot be satisfied. Another country is going to be contaminated by depleted uranium because the selected one cannot satisfy his hunger for power.

What can we do? What can the world do? Why isn't the Pope concerned? The Pope traveled to Poland and spent too much time living old history when we have this very serious current crisis that needs immediate attention before we have more dead people incinerated.

This incompetent SOB does not rule the world. Someone called him Satan today on C-Span. I believe he is.

[Amonester]

31. $atan, or the "Devil'$ $pawn" (g-e-o-r-g-e = 6 letter$, ...

...w-a-l-k-e-r = 6 letter$, and b-u-$-c-h-e = 6 letter$)

http://www.bushisantichrist.com
"He snorted cocaine ... He dodged the draft....His friends knew him as an alcoholic womanizer with a bad temper....a complete failure at business until his wealthy friends rescued him."

"...it's extremely unlikely that any other world leader will ever again be as strongly associated with the number 666 as George Bush."

$o, if thi$ other criminal "mi$take" begin$ on 06-06-06... :evilfrown:

[stepnw1f]

14. I Would Like to Get into a Boxing Ring with this guy

and I don't like fighting, but for some reason I'd enjoy tearing him apart.

[Roland99]

16. Be sure to give Harry Reid some free tix.

:rofl:

[stepnw1f]

17. I Don't Know

will I get him in trouble if I do? :P

[peacetalksforall]

18. Is this another example of delivering opposing postiion within 24

hours of each other?

Doesn't it look like they are going to bomb the hell out of their targets and then assume that Iran will surrender?

If not, it can only mean that they want to kick off WW III and the destruction of most of the world.

Diego Garcia, folks. To take place from Diego Garcia.*

How much of this attack is aided by personnel and equipment from Israel?

I despise the leadership of the United Kingdom as much as I despise ours.

This isn't just Tony Blair and Dick Cheney. It is the Monarchy and all the barons - just as it's been for decades. It has to be. Blair and Cheney are only in-our-face operatives who do the bidding of the barons.

Usually people moan after being struck. I moan before.

* Stolen from the people of Diego Garcia by the British and sold to the U.S. in another United Kingdom<>United States atrocity.

[Roland99]

19. If/when it happens, expect a near economic meltdown

Iran *WILL* fight back and will attempt blockades.


Oil at $75/bbl will seem like the good ol' days.


Not to mention the possibility that other countries may boycott or sanction the US themselves!

[marmar]

21. How do I hate that psychotic little silly moustached man....?

Let me count the ways.

[HuffleClaw]

24. "We gave Iran really, this ***last chance*** to show..."

yup. a 'march to war', one that totally ignores that iran has the RIGHT to enrichment. god, what a horror.

[frylock]

26. why the hell not..

fuck the world. :eyes:

[Dudley_DUright]

27. Bolton sure has a diplomatic way with words

:sarcasm:

This man is national embarrassment second only to Bush himself.

[The_Casual_Observer]

29. Do diplomats conduct their business on Fox News?

Making threats on tv just doesn't seem too pro or dignified if you know what I mean.

[ClintonTyree]

44. FOX news IS a direct arm of the bush propaganda machine......

of course our "Diplomats" (who've seemed to confuse diplomacy with saber rattling) are going to use FOX as their public forum. FOX has carried the bush administration's water for them from the beginning, why change now? Any time the bush regime wants to 'get out the word' where do they immediately head? To CNN? To MSNBC? To any of the "big three"? No, they go directly to FOX News to "catapult the propaganda". They know they have a sympathetic ear with FOX management and it's brain-dead viewers.

[Roland99]

43. Negroponte is bucking for that award, too. News was reporting he said...

Iran could have a nuclear bomb within four years.



But that it was just an estimate.




:eyes:

[AzDar]

28. The attack on Iran, much like the attack on Iraq is on their 'must-do'

list. It is the sole reason a psychotic blowhard like Bolton was installed in the unlikely position of U.N. Ambassador in the first place. Yeehaw, git yer War on, boys!
They are going to kill us all....

[Kipper58]

30. Someone please give Bolton a rifle and a ticket to Iran -

and let him start the war on his own!

[CatholicEdHead]

32. ABC Radio National Australia did a good expose on Bolton

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/stories/2006/1639578.htm

Here is the hourlong podcast.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/feeds/bbing_20060521.mp3

[Roland99]

33. Thanks. I'll put that on my iPod tonight and listen to it tomorrow.

[KamaAina]

34. Why don't we put his ugly rug on the table?

And then nail it to the table?

[stevietheman]

36. Revolution/coup against the Bush Regime is on the table too.

Certainly, the public doesn't _want_ to entertain these ideas, but if Bush steps over the line with Iran, he's asking for it.

[Pierogi_Pincher]

52. It's day, and the sun is shining.

So, why am I having a nightmare?

I don't articulate as well as I'd like to, but,:

any consideration other than 'diplomacy' or 'non-destructive' resolutions re: Iran WILL be the last straw.

I'm deeply troubled in my spirit.

[LynnTheDem]

38. Yeah it's been working so well the past 4 years in Iraq, after all...

Rightwingnuts...STUPIDEST MFers.

EVER.

[TexasLawyer]

39. Hey kids, let's annex the Sudetenland!!!

That's so crazy, it just might work!

[BREMPRO]

40. You call THIS diplomacy? more evidence of their real motives...

They are playing this up as a significant policy change and generous offer to Iran. BULLSH*T!!
I believe Sy Hersch is prescient on this one, he's rarely off the mark. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Bolton are planning and want war and this is just so they can say they gave "diplomacy" a chance and get the Russians and Chinese on board.

From what i've read, this is more about the dollar and American hegemony and control of oil in the region, rather than nuclear capabilities. The Iranians, just like Sadamn did, plan to switch oil markets to the Euro, thereby undermining the hegemony of the dollar and it's fundamental value tied to oil. http://www.energybulletin.net/12125.html
I don't understand the full extent of the economic implications, but it this happens, it appears that:

1) the value of the dollar will likely plummet further
2) the price of oil vs.the dollar will skyrocket

So perhaps they see bombing as a preferable option. At least the dollar would be secure, and their PNAC fantasy kept alive. And higher oil prices? well, just more windfalls for Exxon.

It's about the money

I don't think it's a coincidence that there was a secretive change at Treasury now.

I do know from experience that we are not being told anything close to the whole truth.

Dude, who stole my country?!

If you see their reach, you must impeach!!

[daleo]

41. Empires rise and empires fall

It looks like these maniacs are going to make the latter come true for the States.

[truthisfreedom]

45. 6/6/6 would be the 62nd anniversary of D-Day.

these assholes love their symbolism.

[Jawja]

48. Well that's consistent with how these

thugs operate. They send Condi out with a united front of other nations willing to get a diplomatic solution. Then someone else comes out and threatens unilateral war.

Remember? * would come out and say there were no plans for war with Iraq and Cheney would come out right behind him and grease the wheels for an invasion. It's how they work.

[SIMPLYB1980]

49. Idiots!!

Will anyone ever stop these Fascist, Warmongering, Assholes from Fuctardville. Just how are we supposed to fight Iran we don't have enough troops to stabilize Iraq. The only way I see it's possible would be to institute a draft. I guess we could do it on the cheap again and let Iran try to pick up the peaces of there shattered land, and just how many more terrorist would that create. The depth of this administrations stupidity is unparalleled in the annals of history.


:puke: :banghead: :argh: :grr: :nuke:

[Tempest]

53. Scott Ritter said the Iran war was scheduled for June 2006

Looks like he may be right.