John Bolton On The "Post-American Presidency" Of Obama And How It's Time For An Israeli Strike On Iran

John Bolton's article "Time for an Israeli Strike?" appeared in the Washington Post today: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/01/AR2009070103020.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns. Bolton persuasively argues that "with Iran's hard-line mullahs and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps unmistakably back in control, Israel's decision of whether to use military force against Tehran's nuclear weapons program is more urgent than ever... Accordingly, with no other timely option, the already compelling logic for an Israeli strike is nearly inexorable. Israel is undoubtedly ratcheting forward its decision-making process. President Obama is almost certainly not... First,Tehran isn't going to negotiate in good faith. It hasn't for the past six years with the European Union as our surrogates, and it won't start now... Second, given Iran's nuclear progress, even if the stronger sanctions Obama has threatened could be agreed upon, they would not prevent Iran from fabricating weapons and delivery systems when it chooses, as it has been striving to do for the past 20 years. Time is too short, and sanctions failed long ago. Only those most theologically committed to negotiation still believe Iran will fully renounce its nuclear program. Unfortunately, the Obama administration has a 'Plan B,' which would allow Iran to have a "peaceful" civil nuclear power program while publicly 'renouncing' the objective of nuclear weapons. Obama would define such an outcome as 'success,' even though in reality it would hardly be different from what Iran is doing and saying now... Since there is no likelihood that diplomacy will start or finish in time, or even progress far enough to make any real difference, there is no point waiting for negotiations to play out... Those who oppose Iran acquiring nuclear weapons are left in the near term with only the option of targeted military force against its weapons facilities. Significantly, the uprising in Iran also makes it more likely that an effective public diplomacy campaign could be waged in the country to explain to Iranians that such an attack is directed against the regime, not against the Iranian people. This was always true, but it has become even more important to make this case emphatically, when the gulf between the Islamic revolution of 1979 and the citizens of Iran has never been clearer or wider. Military action against Iran's nuclear program and the ultimate goal of regime change can be worked together consistently. Otherwise, be prepared for an Iran with nuclear weapons, which some, including Obama advisers, believe could be contained and deterred. That is not a hypothesis we should seek to test in the real world. The cost of error could be fatal."

Another piece by the always persuasive and thoughtful former ambassador to the United Nations is entitled "The Post-American Presidency." In the lengthy essay he writes that "Obama is the first post-American President. Central to his worldview is rejecting American exceptionalism and the consequences that flow therefrom." That can be read by visiting http://www.standpointmag.co.uk/the-post-american-presidency-features-july-09-john-bolton-obama.
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