John Bolton

Tom Finneran hear you while listening to -- it's for a money and succeed WRK oh Boston's biggest and best talk stoked talk shows station. And I hold in my hands a book. The author of -- which is John -- open in the name of which is surrender is not an option. With delighted to welcome to the WRKO phone lines John -- the John thanks for joining us here I should say ambassador -- open I'll become all of at least slightly more formal John I had two -- where I guess where I want to stop we have enough time to explore a lot of things. You've recently -- an article in commentary magazine about Iran. The threat the risk of around obtaining nuclear weapons in the us sense that this requires the United States to get very serious very quickly to sober up and to consider. Decisive intervention in action commute to scrap the RKO audience specifically what you think. Our response to -- to should be to this development in Iran.

This comes after years failed -- he European countries that tried to CA and had we not waited. This here -- we tried to apply -- really strong economic sanctions years ago there might get a chance they succeed I think we've lost that chance I think. Four plus years failed diplomacy could constrain their options that are basically down to unless we want to -- Ian nuclear on and the two options -- regime change to Iran words last resort that targeted use military force against the main weapons program -- I'd -- either of these two things. Happily ethnic very difficult position and -- were prepared to give on the chance that nuclear weapons.

In -- sense that the AA as a Iran becomes a gets closer and closer to obtaining nuclear weapons. That there is any possibility that either Russia or China together -- independently. Would begin to state the around resistance and opposition to that more readily more vociferously than they have.

Well I would've thought it that Russia in particular it would have done so because after. Role as Iran develops its ballistic missile program its Russian cities that are. Closer range at least in the near term in American cities that Russia has. A lot of economic gay issues at stake they sell a lot of high -- conventional weapons want to do more business China operates ballistic missile technology -- on -- China has huge interest in Iran's oil and natural -- given China's energy demands so we've seen in the Security Council the UN were generally Russia and China in effect flying cover for on and that's that is.

We're talking to John -- he is the former United States ambassador to the United Nations the author of -- book surrender is not an option which I hold my hand very interesting provocative book ambassador Bolton between the two. I'm fortunate lousy choices I guess we have either regime change are tied it intervention. Is the one that stands out from your experience in perspective as -- likely of success than another.

If we had more time I think change would work the regime on the olives -- popular they made at the economies since they took over 19 the young people know they can have a better life strict Islamic while they see it in the country -- And there's a lot of ethnic dissatisfaction well but you know you can't turn that -- dissent on auction can't produce change overnight which is why is time short the prospect of military action if not by the United States then perhaps by Israel I think grows more likely.

I recently in a presidential debate senator Joe Biden from Delaware. Made light of the fact that the Iran in its pursuit. Might within a few December he is he thought have perhaps one but who maybe three weapons but he said look -- come to act facing the array of weaponry that Israel has and the United States obviously. Nobody nobody even complete madman. Would would embark. On -- on -- on use of those weapons what's your response to senator Biden is relatively. Casual dismissal of the concerns.

And it and it and it's by wrong and that -- just replace everything in the running into the north Koreans destroy it weapons that take a I don't want to limit. World where regimes like Iran the prize like in the here after more than life on earth or -- like Kim -- yields North Korea won the the most repressive regimes in the world today. Really work in Hitler in the bunker than anything else I don't want to live where we worry about what they're going to do any -- and that's why the regional bush administration's national security doctrine was to make sure. That these dangerous weapons -- and dangerous people begin with that's the only way we can really BCA.

Let me shift a little bit to Iraq and I want to get back to the may be the beginning of it if we can't. As we ramp up toward an invasion toured the in other at least the start of the current walk the whole situation of war all cry I was about weapons weapons of mass destruction. Intelligence estimates surveillance satellite surveillance photographs and like to walk us back in time a little bit because my recollection was also that the United Nations had passed. 18 -- 19 may be even more. Resolutions and yet Saddam continued to tough wanted to -- you know his you know his.

Right actually write it for all the people were strong defenders and I've ever heard an active answered the question if you leave and using and almost exclusively for our policy would do a country like simply ignores the Security Council. Ever answered that in at. Refusal by to -- up. The terms in the 1991 cease fire was legitimate concern for hours sir given -- threat to. Other other countries in the region and our interest -- we just take 12 in the technologies question which which has turned into it not true why people -- the administration distorted -- Intelligence that they fear that American commanders and in countries in the region is for Saddam stockpiles of chemical weapons -- note that there's. His -- declared them in 1991 as part of the declaration of their weapons of mass destruction -- art make security. And that okay during the 1990 shows where those weapons are destroyed. The rocky it year after year at year we party destroyed. So we don't have any left and the EU and kept saying show us the records. Chose the people who conducted the destruction -- the facilities and the Iraqis would never do it so people concluded that it's itself that the clarity add these weapons and he couldn't prove it destroyed and he'd probably still had. That we ought to this date know what the real story is on this chemical weapons perhaps they never existed perhaps Saddam lying in 1991 would've been one of his biggest mistakes if he did but but this was this concern about chemical weapons. Nothing to do with intelligence it had everything to do with what the Iraqis themselves that the play.

And -- it and John I've I don't pretend to know not enough about this not against say ambassador with talking to we ambassador John Bolton the United States ambassador for the UN. For a period of time in the now the author of the book surrender is not an option. If it is it beyond the realm of possibility that chemical weapons and other type of weapons. Were moved to free United States' invasion pre allied invasion across the border into Iran Syria is that

there are a lot of stories that that I don't think we've ever had hard evidence one way or the other but it wouldn't surprise me if you ever seen those pictures -- seen pictures. Makes fighter plane wrapped in burlap and buried and which Saddam did to try -- that's to reshape -- capable almost any -- chemical weapons somewhere in the desert transporting the country these these -- possibilities and as -- say it may have -- assembly line to begin but it's it it issues that goes I think fundamentally to reason we were concerned about given his propensity to use chemical weapons as the -- in the war against Ron against the Kurdish people themselves citizens in this country.

John -- book again the title which is surrender is not an option highly recommended reading for everybody. Ambassador -- you -- very critical also of our own State Department the US State Department. Get scorched in this book about as much as the UN bureaucracy and a hierarchy tell us tell us what your experience has been within the halls of the United States government -- specifically vis a vis the State Department.

In others as seeing your career State Department official that I do is to say frequently if the American people knew that we made foreign policy they'd be after us with pitchforks. And I think he's exactly right in what I wanted to do in this book we give I in this scene to count gossip but the real way policies made by. Individual human being both that the UN and in the State Department so Americans citizens could see how it is we arrived on the the crazy so that we ride that I want to get -- out there. Were people read for the 2008 presidential election did get it and debates because while it may not be campaign though we need to fix the culture of the State Department we need strong State Department we don't need one -- Apologetic about America it -- restored that thinks that it. Should be sending foreign policy rather than the president of the United States.

Well I I I think the timing of it is going to be most helpful before people who do think -- have -- perhaps a reasonably concluded that foreign policy foreign affairs is going to be significant event not just in the upcoming presidential election. A whole host of things -- in in in the years ahead a variety of candidates that you know we have John McCain on the year yesterday 200. Joe Biden and others against speak along these lines from time to time are -- a national review Jonah Goldberg some of the people. Have suggested as an alternative to the United Nations this kind of impotence bureaucracy known as the United Nations that suggested perhaps a league of democracies I'm curious. Former ambassador ball but what's your sense of a group of like minded to a similarly governed folks starting to act in concert.

We we really already have a -- democracies in the form the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and any people for. It it would end after the cold work but it it's now critical element these were against the Taliban Afghanistan that's way out of the Atlantic area former Prime Minister Aznar of Spain has suggested the NATO go global. And -- members like and Australia Israel to. To bring them into the organization's well I think this is something we should definitely take a look at the EU and is is instrument we can use for Americans -- policy that there's nothing wrong with competition and the more competitors there are the better everybody forms so I I think we ought to be looking lot of things but I particularly think we should be thinking that taking NATO and making it glow.

Ambassador Bolton -- time we have left let me posed two questions you can take them in any order that you wish. You biggest frustration at the UN what one thing would you change if you could go up there and wave a magic wand and change one thing about the United Nations and operations. Question number two. The bruising confirmation battle that you went through -- which you came up short in Indian secured your appointment by you you were ambassadorship by a recess appointment. The enduring memory of that what -- Scott tissue. All all -- memory can you share with us from that experience as well.

Well on the first point the biggest problem the US and the anti americanism a lot of countries you'd be and his way. Placed to counterbalance American Howard constrain -- status do we need to do. And we ever forget. That that is threat to where interest and we have to act accordingly we use think the US should not be well doormat and I think that we should perform you know terms of the confirmation I think. The hardest part on -- because because we we couldn't really defend ourselves here and bias against need its senators say anything they want but I don't think I -- any scars from the best advice -- that was senator Kyle of Arizona during the whole thing is that what you have to. Thank you yourself as they -- battleship you -- I didn't at this did you have to keep moving keep firing that's what I try to do.

senator Kyle gave you good inside advice in the in the -- Jack and I have to share with that this with the rest of the audience before you go ambassador. I got the first person and you failing to go to college you're gonna get the son of a Baltimore firefighter and he won scholarships to both the -- university and Yale Law School pretty good for the the son of a firefighting he must be awfully proud.

Well that both parents unfortunately bad but I don't have any doubt I. I I got word got because then because jeans and because the values that they gave.

Well John in -- I will say now John another way got a chance to talk I can go to the first name basis. John ball would -- the United States ambassador to the United Nations author of a great book -- not an option anybody who's taken making a serious effort to be informed -- prepare for the next presidential decision an election make sure you read this book John Bolton thanks so much for being with us Iraq KO.

Thank you very much for having enjoyed it.

We will be back in a moment on AM -- 680 WRKO