Bolton Fired as National Security Advisor
By Jason Sibert
President Donald Trump fired National Security Advisor John Bolton this week.
Bolton served in various capacities in Republican administrations over the years. He served as Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development for Program and Policy Coordination (1982-1983), United States Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legislative Affairs (1985-1988) and United States Attorney General for the Civil Division (1988-1989) under President Ronald Reagan. He was Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (1989-1993) for President George H.W. Bush. Bolton next served as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control (2001-2005) and Ambassador to the United Nations (2005-2006) under President George W. Bush before becoming National Security Advisor (2018-1019) under Trump.
The former National Security Advisor has long seen arms control, international agreements, the United Nations and other multi-lateral institutions as unacceptable constraints on American Power. Bolton was a supporter of the 2003 war in Iraq and an opponent of President Barack Obama’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, sometimes called the Iran Nuclear Deal. He was the leading force behind President Trump’s speech to the United Nations last fall to the UN General Assembly which was a condemnation of multilateralism and a defense of sovereignty. Despite Trump’s agreement with Bolton’s unilateralism, the president didn’t always heed to the national security advisor’s advice. Trump said no to a retaliation against Iran when the country downed a U.S. drone and also to Bolton’s disagreement with his diplomatic approach to North Korea. Trump once said that Bolton wanted to “start three wars a day.”
Bolton’s departure is certainly a bright spot for those who stand for diplomacy, international law and international institutions. When he was appointed National Security Advisor, some were afraid that the president would follow his advice. However, Trump’s views differ only in the detail. While Trump doesn’t appear as willing to go to war as Bolton, he doesn’t respect the tenants of a world driven by international law, order and peace any more than the recently departed National Security Advisor. He was in agreement with Bolton on the JCPOA.
In order for the Trump and Bolton types to be defeated, there has to be a solid voice or voices against unilateralism. Those voices must tell the public why unilateralism doesn’t work and how it spreads disorder across our world. The quagmire in Iraq and the unrest in Iran caused by the United States’ exit from JCPOA would be an example of the unorderly world emerging from the unilateralism of our country’s foreign policy. Things will change at the top of our government when it feels pressure from below from those who oppose its direction.
Jason Sibert is the executive director of the Peace Economy Project.
