A Jewish Star Exclusive Bolton to Obama:Don’t tie Israel’s hands on Iran nukes

In an exclusive one-on-one interview with The Jewish Star, John Bolton, past U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, policy commentator, and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, stressed that Iran presents “Israel’s biggest danger.”

“Iran’s nuclear weapons program is a threat to the existence of Israel, “ stated Bolton. “This country is a physical reality that they can’t ignore. It’s down to very unattractive options. The Obama administration is pressing Israel not to use force. Nobody is saying that it’s an attractive option. Pre-emptive action is on the table; it’s a decision for Israel to make.”

Sharing his thoughts before the Gush Katif Museum dinner at Razag Ballroom in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, on Feb. 22, he noted that although Israel would be roundly condemned by the Arab countries, as well as by the rest of the world, for destroying any Iranian nuclear installations, they would all turn aside, especially those countries on the Arabian Peninsula, and silently thank G-d for Israel’s saving them, as well, from this threat.

Even the Reagan administration joined the international outcry over Israel’s strike against Iraq’s French and Italian supplied Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981, but there “wasn’t an uproar,” Bolton pointed out, when Israel similarly destroyed a North Korean supplied nuclear installation in Syria in 2007. “It was a joint venture with Iran, Syria and North Korea,” he said.

Bolton also discussed the conflict in Syria and why America is not rushing to assist the rebels. “Iran has hegemony in the area,” Bolton explained. “The conflict in Syria is an Iranian backed proxy war between the Assad regime of Alawite-Shiites against the Sunni opposition. They need to be prepared to take on Iran if they attack Syria. And Obama still thinks he can negotiate with Iran” regarding their nuclear aims, he continued. “Obama doesn’t want to confront Syria.”

Bolton has stated recently that for the last three years the U.S. administration has pressed Israel not to take military action regarding Iran’s nuclear aspirations, a stance that had been private and is now out in the open.

He noted that it is up to Israel to decide if it will permit this nearby existential threat to remain or not, but it appears that the Obama administration is more concerned about an Israeli military attack than about Iran acquiring nuclear capabilities.

He is a staunch defender of Israel and Israel’s right to self defense. “Israel is a close friend of the United States,” he wrote in an e-mail follow up to his Star interview, “shares our interests and values, and is threatened by the same enemies.”

Bolton is a dedicated conservative who traces his activism back to his support of Barry Goldwater’s presidential campaign in 1964. He is a graduate of Yale Law School, and has practiced at a number of high-profile Washington law firms. He has had an extensive public policy career, working in the State Department, the Justice Department, and the U.S. Agency for International Development under Presidents Reagan and Bush.

He has served and continues to serve on conservative, Republican, and pro-democracy groups and committees.

He is known for his long term criticism of the United Nations and its policies.