John Bolton on Iran, North Korea and 'accountability' for US wars | Talk to Al Jazeera
John Bolton is one of the most divisive figures in American politics today.
To some, he is Washington's most famous warmonger. To others, a fearless defender of US interests.
From Iraq to Iran, Syria to North Korea, his decades of conservative foreign policy have influenced the position and actions of the US in conflicts worldwide.
Since first serving under President Ronald Reagan's administration in the 1980s, Bolton built a career as a solid, conservative Republican politician.
He was assistant secretary of state for international organisation affairs when President George HW Bush was in the White House, and was under-secretary of state for arms control and international security as well as ambassador to the UN for President George W Bush.
Most recently, he was national security adviser to President Donald Trump. But their working relationship ended in acrimony and accusations after 17 months.
Trump tweeted that Bolton's services were no longer needed in the White House, while Bolton insisted he had quit. His recent book - The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir - caused controversy as Bolton portrays a president driven only by his desire for re-election.
On this interview, we go beyond this latest well-covered controversy to explore what was the truth of his policy advice and positions and whether he has any regrets.
Did he really encourage the Trump administration to "take on the whole world at the same time", as President Trump stated? Or was he just misunderstood?
We find out as John Bolton talks to Al Jazeera.
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Пікірлер: 432
This guy is a despicable human being.
love how you kept him on topic when he was obviously trying to evade
@treddymuongi1051
3 жыл бұрын
he knows every decision he was ever involved in turned into a disaster. He will obviously try to deflect because he has no policy successes and has advocated for failed wars and interventions
@Deno2100
3 жыл бұрын
Nobody could keep him on topic, he didn't answer one question.
he's a psycho, nothing more ...
@teameclipse6842
3 жыл бұрын
sup
@sladetuner8661
2 жыл бұрын
Amen!
Bolton is so much of a warmonger that even Trump had enough of him
@erenmademewritethis9833
3 жыл бұрын
@Rudiger Glique yet ...
@erenmademewritethis9833
3 жыл бұрын
@Rudiger Glique personally , I think he's selling lies , he promised troops back home yet foreign presence only increased and he's been flirting with war with iran , made Israel emboldened to attack iran for the last couple days . Domestically he managed to turn America into disease , riot filled country , but I do hope wins in 2020 he's bad but entertaining , dems are just bad lol
@erenmademewritethis9833
3 жыл бұрын
@Rudiger Glique true , trump made the Israelis feel so comfortable that they're willing to start a war with iran , drag America into it just to keep him in office
@candicem9344
3 жыл бұрын
@Rudiger Glique he's trying to cause a war with multiple country's
@candicem9344
3 жыл бұрын
Trump is a racist and is running a facist state right now
Bolton don't want to answer the questions. Try to cover it!
America is a better place without this Bolton! Never can rhis man be allowed to hold any position in government or advisory role! Its literally offensive listening to this man! Why doe AJ give him airtime?
@4040tee
3 жыл бұрын
because when you dont agree with someone you shouldn't silence them, but debate them. If they are truly wrong, their ideas will reflect that.
*EVEN TRUMP HIMSELF HAD ENOUGH OF THIS MUSTACHE !!!*
@tayyabkhan2228
3 жыл бұрын
You kidding, the most beautiful thing about him is just the mustache!
@apeman9238
3 жыл бұрын
The walrus mustache 🤣🤪
@iman7j887
2 жыл бұрын
I try to imagine him without his mustache
He’s guilty and he knows it. You can see him try to hide it behind his fake laughs.
John Bolton was speechless ....He was embarrassed 🤣🤣
He was "properly grilled" 😂
@oluwaseunajia
3 жыл бұрын
I agree, but even his new arch enemy won't surrender him to the ICC
@youngz13o
3 жыл бұрын
He was just brought back to reality
I don't like Bolton's views or opinions, but this Al Jazeera journalist was very annoying. Too many interruptions and he seemed more interested in arguing with Bolton than interviewing him. Horrible interview!
Excellent, hard hitting interview. Well done, Al Jazeera
9:55 How to beat around a bush 101 Host: "You're not really answering the question with all do respect" Bolton: "thank you"
Mehdi should have done this interview
@mosestekper7659
3 жыл бұрын
I agree with you on that.
@noaha5484
3 жыл бұрын
That was my first thought
Interesting interview. Bolton did a good job of responding to the attempted bullying by the interviewer. He was seldom allowed to respond to any question without interruption by the interviewer who sounded like a lawyer doing a cross-examination. Many of us strongly disagree with Bolton's opinions but it is interesting to hear him explain them.
Good job on the interviewer 👏
I can't believe the arrogance of this interviewer in constantly interrupting Bolton and looking for 2 word answers to the complex issues his smug questions raised. Bolton is a brilliant man who is extremely well read on national security issues.
Bolton: You have to be more specific, I have committed alot of war crimes lol
I thank Al Jazeera for interviewing Bolton. He remains every bit an extremely combative hawk, with no capacity for introspection or acknowledgement of errors.
Sami Zeidan has done a brilliant job of interviewing this bigot!
As an American I do not see North Korea or Iran as a threat to our nation. I think that the US is responsible for causing a good ammount of the current issues that are in place today. I think that Bolton himself is very much responsible for the issues that are still seen today as a result of the illegal invasion of Iraq.
@michaelmcfeely6588
3 жыл бұрын
We have been in South Korea for 70 years; it is time to leave. Time to put the military-industrial complex on a diet.
@philiphew796
3 жыл бұрын
Neither is China A threat. They stole a few trade secrets, big deal. You will too, if there’s something to steal.
Bolton is an expert and experience political operator. No way this reporter was gonna somehow pin him down. He came across as just interrupting
Let the man finish a train of thought al jezeera
Criminals always make sure they never get exposed for their own crimes against Iraqis and others whom they have destroyed.
16:00 lol Excellent interviewer! Bolton shook his head because he looked the fool.
Even though I am familiar with these kind of interview format and love it, I was irritated by the interruptions of presenter. But, after a few minutes later, I understood how wrong I was when Bolton had been talking for 5m and saying many things, but nothing in terms of the questions.
Put Bolton on the front lines with his family and he will answer the questions. God will be the Judge and they will all be held accountable to the families that lost their loved ones.
0:14 the ring is in john bolton hand is from US AIR FORCE right? I'm iranian and my father had one of them. He served as duty soldier for the shah and some pilot gifted him with such a ring. Its really beautiful.
Excuse me? Declaration of WMD was not Massive error. Thats called a lie
Al Jazeera really needs interviewers who actually understand foreign affairs. They seem to want Yes or No answers not answers which illustrate nuance and complexities involved in geopolitics.
John Bolton started his conversion by quoting, his interest is to his country (USA) goes no further. ......
Being familiar with Al Jazeera debates and the particular host as well, I have never seen them treating a guest so badly. While Bolton was at times vague,but mostly he did answer sufficiently. The host was irritating and kept repeating the same lines over and over.
There was wide dissent about Iraq possessing WMD. Many Labour members of the British Parliament said so in debates, and I watched them. There were others, and there were other countries. Their opposition can be summed up in what Glenda Jackson, MP, said on the floor of the House of Commons that given to extent Iraq had been monitored from the earlier war under George HW Bush, the manufacture and possession of WMD was "impossible." That was Jackson's words. Impossible.
When showing Bolton via. video conference, the background colors continually shift. Regardless of whether it is a transmission or presentation error, Al Jazeera should have ability to 'stabilize' the static background. This is not unique to the Bolton interview. I've seen this in multiple Al Jazeera interviews of others via video conferencing.
a true american hero greatest man usa ever had
Such a shame he was in american government deciding for the rest of the world for such a long time
Thank you for confronting this shameless fascist.
Stop interrupting the guy !!!!!!!
GOD BLESS JOHN BOLTON; GOD BLESS AMERICA
Johnny Bolton is completely accountable when he can sign a book for you.
Why focus on iraq at the start of the interview and go over information that is past and well known where as there were better questions to ask,that is when the interviewer didnt stop interrupting him.
Let the man speak, goodness. It ruined the interview, whether you agree or disagree with him at least let me understand his opinion.
I love the journalist
You can’t tell Bolton “that was wrong a a MASSIVE lack of judgement” and then ask “Do you think that was wrong?” ....cmon Al Jazeera. Are you trying to be like CNN or FOX News? Ask open ended questions that lead to a constructive discussion rather than this none-sense. Quite disappointed
I love the background of tha aljazeera panelist ....I can miss what Bolton said but tha background it’s awarding confidence in my mind.....
Please give Mr. BOLTON to explained.
Bolton is a guy on war mission. He is borned for that.
@markgrobman5192
2 жыл бұрын
Except when he has to fight in the war.
I must confess I agree with Trump, for once.
He's asking leading questions aka cross examination. He wants yes or no answers. That's not possible. Poor reporting tequnuique .
@ckthegreat100
3 жыл бұрын
Bolton is one of the least popular American politicians in the Middle East for obvious reasons. This was always going to be a hostile interview. I’m sure even Bolton was expecting that. He’s just trying to sell books
*Thanks*
Probably Trump looked at Bolton and feels good about himself to be not as sick as Bolton, only reason he kept Bolton in office. 😂😂
.... can’t he just say yes or no? It’s like giving answers that’s irreverent or diverting the questions
He's the main guilty of all.
Hes a ruthless mass murderer with millions of lives lost due to his war mongering . Pure evil and a monster!
The Washington Regime is better without Bolton by a fraction.
Notorious man
So much talking to not actually answer the questions Sami is asking 🤦🏾♀️ Sami has incredible patience
That was fun.
REAL HEROES 😍😍💪😎😎 IRAN😍😍 KOREA 😍😍💪💪💪
This was one of the worst interviews, not because of John Bolton, but the host constantly interrupting the answers WHICH were in context... sorry, "yes" and "no" answers are not adequate.
One of the most dangerous men in the world..
He says they made a mistake of believing Sadam that he has weapons,2 minutes later in the interview he says he didn't say that,do Americans all think they are that clever?
Ayman nailed the interview towards the end by cornering Bolton and the hypocrisy of ACLU tweets. Well done. Tough interviewer.
Who ready to go to war?
He got mature after killing millions very heavy price for his maturity!!!
Bolton and his freinds are bigest problem for ME🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍
War Criminal
I wish John would speak like that to Putin
Fearless ???? - He is not the one in front of the canons!
hussain said in disclosure he had those weapons, but in publuc denied it and even let UN inspectors search the country for it? thats nonsense!
' John Bolton : The maneveryone hates '
ABSOLUTE HORROR OF A HUMAN ! THE FACE OF 🇺🇸
So basically "Israel told us......" so we HAD to....
@michaelmcfeely6588
3 жыл бұрын
I ask us to remember this: Israel is _not_ part of the U.S..
@chitekwe
3 жыл бұрын
@@michaelmcfeely6588 Someone should tell its leaders and politicians. It seems like every time any politician is running for office they virtually have to swear undying loyalty to Israel.
I think he is father figure of US.
Should take some advice from his twin brother The Lorax
Bolton is in denial and will not listen to anyone.
Good job tothis reporter
tell the journalist to quarentine himself from tv casting
Whats sami zeidan nationality?
he is defying the reporter's question.A shameless policy maker who doesn’t even want to represent his arguments just wanted to say his hawkish advocacy comment against iran and other opposition of his choice . A hawk will always be a hawk..
In Latin America he is better known as "EL DOCTOR CHAPATIN"
He cant just say i was wrong
if trump has taken his advice he be another Henry Kissinger
So to stop all the belligerence in the middle east, Does that include Israel also? Disarming nuclear states like iran is important, does that also include Israel? The double standard is kinda ridiculous.
Not a fan of Bolton at all, but surprisingly he agrees to talk to a media, thats In the other camp. Thats how is revealed his bias and the one of the media, thats making the inteview too. Very interesting report In my opinion.
This is real news?? 😂😏
BOLTON/ RICE 2024
This man needs to be in prison
😡😡😡OMG THE MOST Madman in the history🤮🤮🤮🤮
I don't like the president but he president did the best thing
If there is God, please take him. We are sure you have special a place for him.
The interviewer demonstrates an utter lack of respect and civility toward the Ambassador by deliberately interrupting his answers. It seems to me that the interviewer's intent here was not to ask questions and hear Mr. Bolton's response but to attack and belittle him by not allowing him to finish his answers. Ambassador Bolton should have discontinued this interview not long after it started.
@andrewryan660
3 жыл бұрын
You obviously failed to notice that John kept dodging the questions, so the interviewer was trying to keep him on track. Anyone with a basic understanding of the history of Iraq and Iran in the last few decades understands the lies that created the 2nd Iraq War. I guess you wanted John to walk away from the interview because you're the type of person that can't take criticism; neither can John. To quote President Truman, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."
@James32529
3 жыл бұрын
@@andrewryan660 You should at least give the man a chance to answer the questions. There were many times during the interview when the Ambassador "was" addressing the interviewer's questions but was interrupted, not to be able to finish his answers. And by the way what is the basis on which you or the interviewer believes that Mr. Bolton dodged the questions? Wasn't that an arbitrary judgment on your or the interviewer's part? Even if the Ambassador was not addressing the questions, which I believe he was, this is not the way you should treat your interviewee on your show, is it? In particular when he's the former National Security Advisor and former US ambassador to the UN who did his best to advance American interest around the world.
@James32529
3 жыл бұрын
@@andrewryan660 And to enlighten you my friend, though Iraq may not have had physical pieces of equipment Sadam had nuclear scientists and technicians who had the capability to re-create those nuclear weapons and other WMDs. So Iraq could always return to its nuclear weapons program given the technology it had to develop WMDs. Perhaps more importantly however, prior to the war, Iraq posed a grave threat to international peace and security, functioning effectively as a base of operations from which the terrorists carried out attacks around the world. After the Iraq war the country ceased to be a threat, and the world has become a safer place with Sadam out of power.
@ParsaB1
3 жыл бұрын
@@James32529 let me ask you a questions, as an American and as people who care for our country's well being if sadam was such of a bad and untrustworthy person then why did we have to have the CIA train him and support him into power? Besides have you ever asked where did he get the technology and help from to make such a weapons in the first place?... in case if you didn't know it was us the u.s and our ally germany.. we intentionally gave him that tech to be used against iran and that being one of the reasons why iran hates us just one. I also suggest you should go find out about the history between iran and us and the things we've done to them that has made them one of our adversaries. Hope that you can see the light and so together we can make our country better again in the world.
@James32529
3 жыл бұрын
@@ParsaB1 What you have delineated in your comment above is so grossly inaccurate that I do not feel the need to refute. Have a nice day.
I admire Trump working with this disgusting person. I cant imagine anybody can tolerate him.
Although I agree with everything the interviewer states, I find discussions like these non productive. Bolton gets challenged right away and is put on the defensive. I think many times it'd more revealing to maybe lob the guy a softball question, and let him overexplain himself, and reveal far more info. Guys like Bolton are good at deflecting accusations. I think allowing the interviewee open up more, even tho he's going to lie 90% of the time, more will be revealed.
War criminal. He will be judged in due time
I almost feel bad for Bolton every interview he goes he seems so clueless about how the rest of the world has been viewing him the past 20 years
I wonder if John Bolton has ever smoked pot.
Staller in Chief and Master of Drifting. Ugghhh 🙄🙄
The most unprofessional interviewer i ever watch
Look to the song War Pigs it is about you John !!