John Bolton. Photo: Flickr/Gage Skidmore
John Bolton’s sacking is good news, now we need an alternative foreign policy by an anti-war government, argues Lindsey German
Some very good news today – the sacking of John Bolton, Trump’s National Security Adviser. Bolton is a horrific warmonger, even by the standards of US administrations. He is a constant advocate of war with Iran, backs Netanyahu to the hilt over the Palestinians, and is an advocate of regime change in a range of countries from Venezuela to Yemen.
Bolton was one of the main architects of the neocon Project for a New American Century, and one of the main supporters of war with Iraq. He has always justified this war, which has left over one million dead.
The reason for his sudden departure is to do with Afghanistan, America’s two-decades-long war. Trump has advocated peace talks with the Taliban (called off in recent days following the death of a US soldier in a Taliban bombing.) Trump’s call for the talks at his Camp David retreat was recognition of the reality in Afghanistan, which is that the Taliban controls large parts of the country, despite being driven from office 18 years ago.
Trump has been forced to contemplate negotiations, especially since his alternative has been intensified bombing of the country which has hit civilians very hard. Bolton has continued to press a hard line and opposed the talks. Trump has also talked about talks with Iran’s President Rouhani, anathema to Bolton.
Bolton only recently visited Britain supposedly to discuss post-Brexit trade with Boris Johnson, in reality to urge British support for Trump’s tearing up of Iran’s nuclear deal and to join US military patrols in the Persian Gulf.
A serious blow to the right’s foreign policy plans – but we can’t trust Trump or Johnson on this either. We desperately need an alternative foreign policy created by an anti-war government.
Lindsey German
As national convenor of the Stop the War Coalition, Lindsey was a key organiser of the largest demonstration, and one of the largest mass movements, in British history.
Her books include ‘Material Girls: Women, Men and Work’, ‘Sex, Class and Socialism’, ‘A People’s History of London’ (with John Rees) and ‘How a Century of War Changed the Lives of Women’.