March 2, 2007 at 13:09:10

Bolton wanted Iran to kick out Arms Inspectors, he tells AIPAC (audio track as well as text)

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By Jim Harris (about the author) Page 1 of 1 page(s)

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IN a phone conversation posted in its entirety at the StopAIPAC.org website, Bolton told adoring AIPAC members that he had hoped sanctions imposed by the United Nations on Iran would be followed by a more "dramatic" response on Iran's part, such as withdrawing from the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which could then "produce a counter-reaction" That would be seen as "beneficial". Specifically what counter-reaction he had in mind was not specified. However, it seems clear, for this one former Administration official, is that the game is not to avoid conflict, but to escalate it.

Read this entire conversation (and even hear an audio clip) of Bolton's very candid comments he made as "a free man" just after he left his position as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

Below is a transcript of the relevant part of the conversation:

Former Ambassador Bolton:

Let me turn now to the question of Iran and what I think the situation is there. The Security Council just passed a resolution. The resolution that the Security Council passed at the end of last month imposing certain limited sanctions on Iran, obviously the product of a long effort based on Iran's refusal to comply with the earlier Security Council resolution that gave them until August 31st to cease their uranium enrichment activities. I'd have to say because I'm a private citizen and therefore a free man again, and these are my personal views, now, that this sanctions resolution is very disappointing. It is not as tough as I would have liked to have seen it. In many respects the Russians did an outstanding job from their point of view in protecting Iran, in narrowing the scope of the sanctions, in limiting the effectiveness, I think, of many of the things that we wanted to try and do to prevent the Iranians from continuing to make progress on their nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

I think the Iranian reaction to the sanctions resolution has been very telling in that respect, although they've passed a resolution in parliament to re-evaluate their relation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, they have not rejected the sanctions resolution, they have not done anything more dramatic, such as withdrawing from the nonproliferation treaty, or throwing out inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which I actually hoped they would do that that kind of reaction would produce a counter-reaction that actually would be more beneficial to us.

Listen to Mr. Bolton here
To read the entire 42 minute conversation go here

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