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The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,683 posts)
Thu Jun 25, 2020, 06:41 PM Jun 2020

The real villain of John Bolton's Trump book is John Bolton

Bolton makes clear President Trump’s foreign policy is absolutely terrible — but Bolton’s is much, much worse.


After reading former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s tell-all book, it becomes exceedingly clear that President Donald Trump’s foreign policy is terrible — but Bolton’s is much, much worse.

Anyone who reads the 500-plus-page book will find their suspicions were correct: Trump’s approach to the world truly is that shambolic and dangerous. But there’s a twist: The author inadvertently offers readers hope that there’s been a major improvement — because the author himself is no longer in the White House.

By his own recounting, Bolton urged Trump to shy away from diplomacy and seek hardline positions against adversarial countries, namely in North Korea, Iran, and Venezuela. In one particularly disturbing passage, Bolton says it was “irrational” for Trump not to conduct an attack on Iran that could have led to tens to hundreds of civilian casualties, after it downed an unmanned American surveillance drone.

Had Trump taken Bolton’s advice more often, then, the US would be engaged in multiple conflicts across the globe. “It’s not clear to me that something equivalent to two more Iraq Wars would be better for the country,” Joshua Shifrinson, a US foreign policy expert at Boston University, said.

https://www.vox.com/2020/6/24/21300291/john-bolton-book-trump-review-room-foreign-policy
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The real villain of John Bolton's Trump book is John Bolton (Original Post) The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2020 OP
He's every bit the authoritarian, the narcissist, the bully, that Trump is... Just less ignorant. hlthe2b Jun 2020 #1
He's actually quite a cartoonish villain Blue Owl Jun 2020 #2
What really makes me mad is he thinks he knows louis-t Jun 2020 #3
I was livid when he made those comments about Dems not working with Mitch! pazzyanne Jun 2020 #4
One thing about Bolton: He's consistent. Paladin Jun 2020 #5
Poor Bolton, if only there were more insane people. Nt BootinUp Jun 2020 #6

hlthe2b

(102,236 posts)
1. He's every bit the authoritarian, the narcissist, the bully, that Trump is... Just less ignorant.
Thu Jun 25, 2020, 06:44 PM
Jun 2020

At least as toxic, but more directly so. Just Trump in a different "shell."

louis-t

(23,292 posts)
3. What really makes me mad is he thinks he knows
Thu Jun 25, 2020, 07:23 PM
Jun 2020

how the impeachment would have been more successful. With McConnell leading the Senate, there was no other possible outcome.

pazzyanne

(6,549 posts)
4. I was livid when he made those comments about Dems not working with Mitch!
Thu Jun 25, 2020, 08:50 PM
Jun 2020

We watched that sh*tshow for almost 12 years, apparently he didn't or he is blind. Watched his interviews with various commenters, and he is a one trick pony. He has plenty of criticism, but does not have the integrity to stop what is happening. Another self-aggrandizing narcissist as far as I am concerned.

Paladin

(28,254 posts)
5. One thing about Bolton: He's consistent.
Thu Jun 25, 2020, 08:51 PM
Jun 2020

He's always ready to throw other peoples' sons, daughters and spouses into bloody, costly wars that don't do fuck-all to improve things.

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