The John Batchelor Show

VIDEO: Obama for General Secretary

September 23, 2016

Thursday  22 September  2016 / Hour 2, Block A:  Amb. John Bolton, in re: UNGA. Rouhani with Chuck Press this afternoon: Todd asked about the secret nuke facility in Iran, supposed to have been closed entirely, but it now has a first-rate ground-to-air system. Why is  that there? “Iran has a right to defend itself.”  Was formally agreed to be converted to a research facility, but now Russia ships the S-300 missile defense system. It's utterly clear that the regime is moving along toward nuclear prowess. Rouhani in a speech criticized the US for violating he nuclear deal! 
Iran got $150 billion of assets unfrozen, are off to the races, leaving real instability n their wake. Signatories to the JCPOA met with Iran; clearly are not holding Iran to account, either for violations or  for outrageous , dangerous harassment of shipping, Iran’s behavior in the broader context hasn't changed a whit, Iran deal was said to have been made in order to solve Iran’s nuclear behavior and its funding of global terrorism; that’s not happening. Paul Ryan called John Kerry a shill for Iran and said he was acting as the Iranian Chamber of Commerce!
US gave licenses to both Boeing and Airbus to sell hundreds of advanced aircraft to Iran!
Anent Syria: Iran [Jared Zarif]  claims that “the US bombed Syria and Israel bombed Syria, so it's all confusing.”  How cute of Iran. Iran has accurately sized up Obama and Kerry – they're desperate to keep the deal; on Tuesday, Obama lashed himself to the mast of the Iran deal as the principal accomplishment of his administration. He'll allow nothing cause the deal to come unstuck, gives continuing power to Teheran to continue outrageous behavior.  Moral hazard: Iran ad Russia are exempt form being judged. 
The period from now till 20 Jan is a time of grave vulnerability.
Also: the next Secretary General of he UN— it's more confused than I expected; an East European may be the winner; or a woman. Or a new candidate who  has yet to enter. AN East European could be a thorn in the Russian side, while Moscow makes sure there’ll be a Sovietskii candidate.  Does Barack Obama want the job of SG? Yes, he wants a position from which he can preach to the world. Argentina would be no good for Britain; US opposes some candidates; expect heavy negotiating. Does Putin have  a choice yet? Russia and US need to agree on a candidate.  Long ago the Chinese and I had a meeting and cut the deal for Ban Ky-moon; this round may have to be the same. 
·         http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-folly-of-fighting-terrorism-by-lawsuit-1473116091
·         http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/21/world/barack-obama-unga-2016-united-nations.html?_r=0
·         https://www.aei.org/publication/who-will-lead-the-united-nations/
·         http://www.defenddemocracy.org/media-hit/toby-dershowitz-what-rouhani-didnt-say-at-the-un/
John R. Bolton, a diplomat and a lawyer, has spent many years in public service. From August 2005 to December 2006, he served as the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations. From 2001 to 2005, he was undersecretary of state for arms control and international security. At AEI, Ambassador Bolton’s area of research is U.S. foreign and national security policy.