Saturday, April 14, 2018

Adam Weinstein — John Bolton, Trump’s New War Consigliere, Dodged The ‘Already Lost’ Vietnam War

“I confess I had no desire to die in a Southeast Asian rice paddy… I considered the war in Vietnam already lost.”
— John Bolton, 1995
Shorter John Bolton: I totally would’ve gone to fight the war I publicly advocated, but it was going to be lost anyway, and I didn’t want to die, like the 9,500-plus Americans who went in my stead and died between 1970 and the fall of Saigon. Now buy my book, Surrender Is Not An Option, which explains why we need war with Iran and North Korea.
With hawks like these, it’s amazing we haven’t lost more wars. But with Bolton coordinating White House security strategy, there are likely to be plenty of new chances to lose. Not for him, obviously; just for the troops he supports so dearly, at a safe remove.
Adam Weinstein

13 comments:

Kaivey said...

He's going to get all of us killed. He's probably got some bunker stacked with food so he feels it's worth the risk. He's probably also a psychopath and they are unable love people so their lives have no meaning or purpose and they get bored very easily. Wars probably give them a bit of excitement. They are mentally ill - psycos - but they dominate at the top.

Dave said...

At some point you have to admit that this is exactly who Trump has always been. He says and does whatever he needs to do to get what he wants, and then his real side come out- the sociopath. Since sociopaths are inherently destructive both to themselves and others, and since the US presidency has become Imperial on the international stage, it was inevitable that this would happen, as many of us argued during the election. I am actually shocked that anyone is surprised. The world is now in incredible danger, because the leader of the worlds largest military is “feeling unencumbered.” He has figured out that war will protect him from the domestic scandals that are plaguing him. So we will get more war. He is just getting started. He wants to “win” and make people feel America is getting great.

So there it is. Once again, a demagogue lies and cons his way to the top, and once he achieves power reverses course, and uses the levers of power in his own self interest. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

The only way to avert disaster is for the people of the world to demand an immediate halt to the aggression of their leaders around the world. Will that Happen? I’m not holding my breath.



Kaivey said...

The peace movement needs to organise and start demonstrations.

Matt Franko said...

“New War Consigliere”

This is a good analogy.... now he needs to replace Sessions with a domestic version of Bolton too.... start arresting people here....

Noah Way said...

All the people who shouldn't have been killed in 'Nam were.

All the people who should have been killed in 'Nam weren't.

Jeff65 said...

Arresting who, Matt? On what charges?

Matt Franko said...

All the Clintonista perps involved in the illegal surveillance on the Trump campaign.... jail....

Perhaps their media accomplices too...

Matt Franko said...

Maybe Mueller a la Duke lacrosse prosecutor...

Probably 100s....

Maybe even Paul Ryan...

Matt Franko said...

McCabe is a no brainer the DOJ IG just reported he lied to investigators multiple times...

Jeff65 said...

I don't have an issue with that assuming the evidence warrants arrest and everyone gets their day in court. The democrats are awful - as bad as the republicans. Worse even because they're massive hypocrites on the issues they must pretend to care about.

Tom Hickey said...

The problem is that there are no credible investigators domestically or internationally. Like intelligence, it's all politicized now.

This is heading for a bad end as the massive loss of trust spirals.

Jeff65 said...

Tom, yes but they're all complicit in the politicization and loss of trust. Let them reap what they've sown. I don't see the average American waking up quickly enough for a soft landing.

Tom Hickey said...

Tom, yes but they're all complicit in the politicization and loss of trust. Let them reap what they've sown. I don't see the average American waking up quickly enough for a soft landing

As trust erodes, so does soft power, credibility, and legitimacy.

Then either hard power is brought forward or there is a change in the status quo.