Booted for Bolton
Ex-diplo hired as H.R. fired
President Trump fired national security adviser H.R. McMaster on Thursday and replaced him with John Bolton, a hawkish former UN ambassador and frequent cable-news commentator.
Trump announced the switch in a tweet that said, “I am pleased to announce that, effective 4/9/18, @AmbJohnBolton will be my new National Security Advisor.
“I am very thankful for the service of General H.R. McMaster who has done an outstanding job & will always remain my friend. There will be an official contact handover on 4/9.”
Trump has repeatedly clashed with McMaster and rumors have swirled for weeks that he would be bounced.
His departure follows Trump’s dramatic ouster of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last week.
McMaster, a 55-year-old lieutenant general in the Army, thanked Trump for trusting him with one of America’s most security important posts.
“Throughout my career, it has been my greatest privilege to serve alongside extraordinary service members and dedicated civilians,” McMaster said in a statement.
“I am grateful for the friendship and support of the members of the National Security Council who worked together to provide the president with the best op- tions to protect and advance our national interests.”
In hiring Bolton, Trump is bringing on one of the foremost hawks in Republican foreign-policy circles.
The 69-year-old Bolton, who has recently been a contributor on Fox News, has served for Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, for whom he was UN ambassador.
He was an architect of the US invasion of Iraq — which Trump has claimed to have opposed — and has said America would be justified in taking a pre-emptive strike against North Korea.
“The threat is imminent,” Bolton wrote in The Wall Street Journal three weeks ago.
“Given the gaps in US intelli- gence about North Korea, we should not wait until the very last minute. That would risk striking after the North has deliverable nuclear weapons, a much more dangerous situation.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wasn’t thrilled with Trump’s pick of Bolton.
“Mr. Bolton’s tendency to try to solve every geopolitical problem with the American military first is a troubling one,” the New York Democrat said in a statement.
“I hope he will temper his instinct to commit the men and women of our armed forces to conflicts around the globe, when we need to be focused on building the middle class here at home.”
Bolton has also suggested taking a tougher stance against Iran, suggesting that the US trash the nuclear deal with country and/or arm opponents of the current regime in Tehran.
Bolton’s views on Iran and North Korea “are overly aggressive at best and downright dangerous at worst,” said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.).
But Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), also a vocal hawk, lauded the selection of Bolton.
“Selecting John Bolton as national security adviser is good news for America’s allies and bad news for America’s enemies,” Graham said.
“He will do an outstanding job as President Trump’s new national security adviser. He has a firm understanding of the threats we face from North Korea, Iran and radical Islam.”