Prepare for war, says Trump’s new no-nonsense national security chief
DONALD TRUMP’S new national security adviser has said America should “prepare for war” to secure peace amid signs of a more hardline foreign policy.
John Bolton, the former US ambassador to the UN, made the comment just hours after being appointed to the role via a tweet from Mr Trump.
“The surest way to avoid conflict is to have a strong military capability,” Mr Bolton told Sky News. “As the ancient Romans used to say: Si vis pacem, para bellum – if you want peace, prepare for war.”
Mr Bolton will replace HR Mcmaster, the retiring general, on April 9 to become Mr Trump’s third national security adviser in 14 months.
The 69-year-old, who served in the UN under George W Bush, is known for his hawkish foreign policy views and no-nonsense approach to diplomacy. He has said a pre-emptive strike against North Korea would be legitimate and has played down the chance of talks being successful. Mr Bolton is also a fierce opponent of the Iran nuclear deal and has suggested “regime change” should be America’s goal.
Those stances broadly align with the president’s views, but there are differences. Mr Bolton backs punitive sanctions on Russia and believes the Iraq War was justified, unlike Mr Trump. His appointment split Washington as Democrats painted him as a warmonger while Republicans pointed to his years of foreign policy experience.
Christopher Murphy, the Democrat senator for Connecticut, said: “The person who will be first in first out of the Oval Office on national security matters passionately believes the US should launch pre-emptive war against both Iran and North Korea with no authorisation from Congress. My God.”
But Lindsey Graham, the Republican
senator for South Carolina, said: “Selecting John Bolton … is good news for America’s allies and bad news for America’s enemies.”
Robert Kelly, professor of political science at South Korea’s Busan University, said the hiring of Mr Bolton made it look like the president is assembling a “war cabinet”. He said “people are genuinely nervous” about meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Kim and added: “Trump is going to walk in in nine weeks with a staff that is all up in the air right now and that means he’s going to have to put a lot of it together on the fly. That means that the possibility to go wrong is much higher than during a normal summit.”
Mr Trump’s decision to oust Gen Mcmaster came after weeks of growing tensions and amid reports the pair had a troubled personal relationship.
The Washington Post reported that the president found Gen Mcmaster’s delivery style in briefings grating. Mr Trump initially considered Mr Bolton for a role in his administration before inauguration but was convinced otherwise – partly, it is said, because of Mr Bolton’s handlebar moustache. However over recent weeks Mr Trump’s frustration with his national security team and Mr Bolton’s Fox News appearances led to a change of heart.
Stories from Mr Bolton’s past under Mr Bush re-emerged yesterday as fierce debate broke out about the impact he would have on foreign policy.
Mr Bolton’s appointment to UN ambassador in 2005 was rejected by the Senate but pushed through by Mr Bush. However the pair later fell out, with Mr Bush dismissing him as not “credible” after the latter attacked the former president’s “total intellectual collapse” in 2008.
Mr Bolton’s stint at the UN lasted a little more than a year and saw repeated clashes with foreign diplomats.