Bolton: Israel will attack Iran before next President sworn in Stephen C. Webster

Published: Monday June 23, 2008



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Print This Email This John Bolton, a former United Nations ambassador appointed by President George W. Bush, has predicted that the state of Israel will attack Iran's nuclear sites before the next US president is sworn in. In an interview with UK's The Telegraph, Bolton said the Arab world would be 'pleased' at news of such an attack. "It [the reaction] will be positive privately," he said. "I think there'll be public denunciations but no action." However, Bolton panned the idea that an attack on Iran would be carried out by American forces, stating: ... "the administration has essentially given up that possibility. I don't think it's serious any more. If you had asked me a year ago, I would have said I thought it was a real possibility. I just don't think it's in the cards." The 'optimal window,' states Bolton, would be between the elections on November 4 and the January 20, 2009 inauguration. "My judgment is they would not want to do anything before our election because there's no telling what impact it could have on the election," he is quoted as saying. "An Obama victory would rule out military action by the Israelis because they would fear the consequences given the approach Obama has taken to foreign policy. ... With McCain they might still be looking at a delay." READ THE REST