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[THREAD] Bolton's book paints a picture of him as an unabashed war monger. That's what he's trying to normalize.
He's most proud of his efforts to sabotage diplomacy b/w the US & #Iran & start a war, which he details throughout the book.
He's most proud of his efforts to sabotage diplomacy b/w the US & #Iran & start a war, which he details throughout the book.
2. In his book, Bolton describes how Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin was against some of the Trump administration's escalations with #Iran.
Bolton says that had "hardliners like him" persuaded Trump over Mnuchin, there would have been "more dramatic economic decline" in Iran:
Bolton says that had "hardliners like him" persuaded Trump over Mnuchin, there would have been "more dramatic economic decline" in Iran:
3. Mnuchin argued internally that the "constant" use of sanctions by the Trump administration would weaken the power of US sanctions & encourage countries to move away from the dollar.
Bolton didn't care.
Bolton didn't care.
4. Bolton of course dismisses out of hand "Mnuchin's concern for the harm" US sanctions "would cause the Venezuelan people."
5. Bolton documents how during the G7 summit last August in France, Mnuchin & French President Macron reached a deal for sanctions relief to help jumpstart negotiations with #Iran.
Bolton was fuming.
"This was exactly what Pompeo & I had been struggling to prevent," he says.
Bolton was fuming.
"This was exactly what Pompeo & I had been struggling to prevent," he says.
6. Bolton describes a lunch meeting between French Pres Macron & Trump, where all they talked about was #Iran & a potential sanctions relief deal & a meeting w/ Iran's FM @JZarif.
To Bolton's dismay, Trump described it as the best "one & a half hours he ever spent."
To Bolton's dismay, Trump described it as the best "one & a half hours he ever spent."
7. Trump advisor Kelly Ann Shaw saying Trump “definitely” wanted to meet Zarif:
8. As documented throughout his book, Bolton was prepared to resign over the slightest move toward a diplomatic breakthrough with #Iran.
Here he says he changed his flight itinerary to go back to Washington to resign if Trump met Zarif in France.
Here he says he changed his flight itinerary to go back to Washington to resign if Trump met Zarif in France.
9. Bolton, Pompeo, Netanyahu, were all freaking out over the potential Trump-Zarif meeting. Netanyahu was desperately trying to get through to Trump to convince him not to do it.
10. Jared Kushner was actually the one who was stopping Netanyahu's calls from getting through. He argued that a foreign leader shouldn't get a say in who the US presidents meets:
11. Bolton & Pompeo were livid.
Pompeo said "2 Democrats", Kushner & Mnuchin, were running Trump's foreign policy.
Bolton said he might resign even if Trump doesn't meet Zarif, Pompeo said "I'm with you."
Pompeo said "2 Democrats", Kushner & Mnuchin, were running Trump's foreign policy.
Bolton said he might resign even if Trump doesn't meet Zarif, Pompeo said "I'm with you."
12. Throughout the book, Bolton makes it explicitly clear he wants no "deal" or negotiations with #Iran, but wants war & regime change.
Here he says there can be "no deterrence" with the Iranian government:
Here he says there can be "no deterrence" with the Iranian government:
13. Bolton has an extensive section on Trump’s trip to Japan & then Shinzo Abe’s trip to Tehran last summer.
Trump asked Abe to be a mediator. Trump tells him he wants a deal that can be negotiated in "one day." Trump said similar stuff to Macron:
Trump asked Abe to be a mediator. Trump tells him he wants a deal that can be negotiated in "one day." Trump said similar stuff to Macron:
14. Bolton discusses Zarif’s “B-Team” narrative--that Bolton, Bibi Netanyahu, Bin Zayed & Bin Salman--were trying to prevent Trump from negotiating with #Iran.
Bolton says Trump believed this, which his book also abundantly makes clear has been true.
Bolton says Trump believed this, which his book also abundantly makes clear has been true.
15. Bolton telling Joint Chiefs Chairman Dunford that "military force" had to be used against #Iran:
16. The whole section on how the US almost went to war last June after #Iran downed an unmanned US drone in or near its airspace is worth reading.
Bolton was giddy that Trump had initially accepted a plan to bomb Iran. He wanted larger strikes, but was cleverly subtle.
Bolton was giddy that Trump had initially accepted a plan to bomb Iran. He wanted larger strikes, but was cleverly subtle.
17. According to Bolton's narrative, White House lawyer John Eisenberg played a major role in preventing the strikes, convincing Trump at the last minute that the attack would be "disproportionate & unlawful."
Bolton & Pompeo were furious with Eisenberg.
Bolton & Pompeo were furious with Eisenberg.
18. Bolton & Pompeo made a resignation pact after failing to start a war with Iran.
Funny how Pompeo is raging against Bolton now.
He's probably only still in the administration to continue to sabotage any potential at diplomacy with #Iran.
Funny how Pompeo is raging against Bolton now.
He's probably only still in the administration to continue to sabotage any potential at diplomacy with #Iran.
19. Elsewhere in the book, Bolton talks about how Boris Johnson & Trump talked about how disastrous regime-change policies have been.
Bolton says regime change for him doesn't mean "nation building" or "democracy promotion."
He just wants to destroy these countries & get out.
Bolton says regime change for him doesn't mean "nation building" or "democracy promotion."
He just wants to destroy these countries & get out.
20. Bolton's book highlights the destructive role he played as national security advisor.
He pushed for failed policies that have hurt or killed untold numbers of people & hurt US interests.
People like Bolton should be nowhere near the decision-making process.
He pushed for failed policies that have hurt or killed untold numbers of people & hurt US interests.
People like Bolton should be nowhere near the decision-making process.
