John Bolton, who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush, spoke about foreign policy challenges for the Obama administration. In a lecture sponsored by the Notre Dame Law School chapter of the Federalist Society, Bolton commented on national security threats from China, Russia, and North Korea but particularly emphasized the threat posed by Iran.
“President Obama does not understand that the greatest threat we face is a nuclear Iran,” Bolton said. “Iran is the focal point of our efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation, and we are failing.”
Bolton criticized the Obama administration’s belief that negotiation with Iran is feasible. Bolton said he does not believe that a satisfactory outcome – one in which Iran will develop “peaceful” nuclear capabilities under international monitoring – is possible through negotiations. He explained that Iran has deceived the International Atomic Energy Agency for years by demolishing buildings and concealing radiation.
Bolton said that the United States is faced with deciding whether to support Israel in its decision to attack Iran or to accept an Iran capable of manufacturing nuclear weapons.
“These are two very unattractive choices,” Bolton said.
Bolton said that the United States should stand behind Israel if Israel engages in a preemptive strike against Iran. A nuclear Iran would be dangerous not only because of its potential to arm terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah, Bolton said, but also because it could spark a regional nuclear arms race in the Middle East.
Bolton has previously accused the Obama administration of leaking covert Israeli strategy to prevent a preemptive attack on Iran. For example, Israel was recently granted access to airfields in Azerbaijan on the Iranian border. Bolton argued that this sensitive information must have been deliberately publicized.
“Clearly this is an administration-orchestrated leak,” he said.
Bolton believes that the United States should support Israel, its ally in the Middle East, more strongly than the current administration. “President Obama thinks that American power is provocative, whereas I believe that American weakness is provocative,” he said.
Derek Defensor is a sophomore who lives off-campus. Contact him to discuss foreign policy at ddefenso@nd.edu.
