Bolton: I ‘Absolutely’ Hope The U.S. Will Attack Iran In The Next ‘Six Months’

[one...two...tree 2,762]

...former CIA operative Bob Baer told Fox News that the Bush administration will likely attack Iran in the coming months. “Iran policy is on close hold, but the feeling is we will hit the Islamic Revolutionary Guard corps sometime next six months or so,” said Baer.

Today, former U.N. ambassador John Bolton appeared on Fox News and responded. He said that while he couldn’t confirm Baer’s statements, he “absolutely” hoped they were true:

HEMMER: One final step here, too, that I want to take with you. You told one of our producers earlier today that you don’t know if it’s true — and you’ve made that clear in our interview here, that you don’t know what the odds are or are not against that — but you hope it’s true. Why do you hope it’s true?

BOLTON: Absolutely. I hope Iran understands that we are very serious, that we are determined they are not going to get a nuclear weapon capability, and unless they change the strategic decision they’ve been pursuing for close to 20 years, that that’s something they better factor into their calculations.

Bolton’s calls for strikes against Iran mirror those of other neocons, such as Bill Kristol and Michael Rubin, who also pushed for the Iraq invasion. Bolton’s claim that “Iran is interfering in Iraq and is posing a direct threat to our troops” is not a reason to strike the country. In reality, both Gen. Peter Pace and the National Intelligence Estimate have confirmed that Iran is “not likely” to be a major driver of violence in Iraq.

Transcript:

HEMMER: The Bush administration reportedly deciding to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.

So, what does that mean, huh? Well, according to the former CIA operative Bob Baer, it means the U.S. could be gearing up to launch some sort of military strike on Iran. Bob Baer was here yesterday morning. Listen:

FORMER CIA OPERATIVE BOB BAER: Iran policy is on close hold, but the feeling is we will hit the Islamic Revolutionary Guard corps sometime next six months or so.

HEMMER: With such an — that would start another war. Is the administration up for this, Bob?

BAER: Well, it’s not exactly it’s a war. It’s what the administration is convinced of, is that the Iranians are interfering in Iraq and the rest of the Gulf.

HEMMER: Well, that certainly got our attention. So we asked John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., for his take on that today.

Sir, good morning. Welcome back.

BOLTON: Good morning. Glad to be here.

HEMMER: Bob Baer says within six months his sources inform him that there will be a strike on Iran. Do you agree with that?

BOLTON: Well, I don’t think one can tell one way or the other. I don’t think there’s any doubt, based on the information we have, that Iran is interfering in Iraq and is posing a direct threat to our troops.

So I think if President Bush as commander in chief believes that information is accurate, he is fully entitled to take defensive measures, which could include going after the Revolutionary Guards inside Iran. […]

HEMMER: One final step here, too, that I want to take with you. You told one of our producers earlier today that you don’t know if it’s true — and you’ve made that clear in our interview here, that you don’t know what the odds are or are not against that — but you hope it’s true. Why do you hope it’s true?

BOLTON: Absolutely. I hope Iran understands that we are very serious, that we are determined they are not going to get a nuclear weapon capability, and unless they change the strategic decision they’ve been pursuing for close to 20 years, that that’s something they better factor into their calculations.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/22/bolton-iran-six-months/

[charlie_brown 0]

Better sooner than later.

[Mags 112]

For some reason I thought that this was going to be about Michael Bolton.

[Ban Hammer 13,678]

For some reason I thought that this was going to be about Michael Bolton.

me too

[Jasman0717 9]

For some reason I thought that this was going to be about Michael Bolton.

Interestingly enough, so did I

[Jaseball 0]

If they attack Iran is it going to affect my saffron supply?!?!

We want to have 3 wars going on at the same time? Honestly if I were 18 and having to register for the draft now I'd be scared.

What if Iran were to detonate a test bomb today and claim they had more ready to go? Would the US be so willing to go in and attack? I think the idea for these countries is once they can build and set off nukes, the rest of the world has to back off and think twice before taking any action.

Of course my own fear is the same as the US gov. Once a terrorist sets off a dirty bomb or nuke in a large city the chaos and the entire face of the world changes in an instant.

It would be 9/11, but 1000x worse.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

This Bolton..

not this one...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If they attack Iran is it going to affect my saffron supply?!?!

We want to have 3 wars going on at the same time? Honestly if I were 18 and having to register for the draft now I'd be scared.

What if Iran were to detonate a test bomb today and claim they had more ready to go? Would the US be so willing to go in and attack? I think the idea for these countries is once they can build and set off nukes, the rest of the world has to back off and think twice before taking any action.

Of course my own fear is the same as the US gov. Once a terrorist sets off a dirty bomb or nuke in a large city the chaos and the entire face of the world changes in an instant.

It would be 9/11, but 1000x worse.

What I find most disturbing is the ones who are beating the war drum are the same ones who drummed us up to invading Iraq. All members of the PNAC...scary, neocon chickenhawks who love war.

[Mags 112]

Am a little scared right now...

[Scott & Lai 12]

Am a little scared right now...

When did he get the "woman hair"?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Am a little scared right now...

When did he get the "woman hair"?

That was back in the 70's when he was a real lady's man. Then the 80's came and his hair left him.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Bolton the bully. Ptthhpt

[rclouse 0]

No way. Why should I change? He's the one who sucks.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Bolton the bully. Ptthhpt

...and William Kristol, Cheney, Khalizad, etc... interestingly, Condi Rice has a different approach.

[JODO 2]

Bolton is a warmongering whack job. Remember when he put on that talent show at a UN meeting and the diplomats thought he had lost his marbles