John Bolton |
The international military campaign in Libya is being carried out in such a directionless manner it "makes your head explode," contended John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Bolton stated in an interview today: "Our argument is we are there to protect innocent civilians. We have bombed rebel forces as a consequence, and we even told the opposition that if they abused human rights we would bomb their forces intentionally."
"So you can have a day when American planes are bombing both Moammar Gadhafi's troops and the opposition," he continued. "It makes your head explode."
Bolton was speaking in an interview with "Aaron Klein Investigative Radio" on New York's WABC Radio.
The former ambassador was referring to reports that rebels in eastern Libya say a NATO air strike hit their forces near the oil town of Brega, killing at least 13 rebel fighters.
NATO's original mission was to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya while carrying out operations against forces loyal to Gadhafi in a reported attempt to halt a humanitarian crisis.
Asked by Klein, WND's Jerusalem Bureau chief, whether the current NATO operations in Libya favor U.S. interests, Bolton replied, "Certainly not the way that we are doing it, nor with the objective that Preside Obama has laid out."
He continued: "I think there's a key American strategic interest in ousting Gadhafi from power. And I think that had we acted very early in this Libya crisis – four or five weeks ago – we could have positively tipped the balance against Gadhafi. He might have fled the country. This thing would be over by now."
Bolton, however, charged the president "chose not to act until by his own admission it was nearly the last minute in terms of Gadhafi's advance on the rebel capital."
"And now we are in an extraordinarily confused military and political environment where our president says, yes, he wants to remove Gadhadfi, but no, he is not willing to use military force to do it," Bolton said.
"And the only purpose for the use of military force," Bolton added, "is the protection of civilians, which leaves us, leaves the opposition, leaves everyone but Gadhafi hopelessly confused."
Bolton further expressed skepticism the world would witness a transition to democracy in the Middle East and North Africa, something the president has called for in those countries facing unrest.
"I think the idea that just because someone is opposed to an authoritarian regime means that they will end up being pro-democratic and hopefully in favor of all the liberal values that we hold in terms of free speech and an open and tolerant society doesn't necessarily follow," stated Bolton. "And I think in fact a lot of people are prepared to say they support democracy even though to them it means one person, one vote, one time."
Bolton spoke as reports emerged that Gadhafi accepted a so-called road map to peace proposed by the African Union.
South African President Jacob Zuma announced the roadmap calls for an end to hostilities, "diligent conveying of humanitarian aid" and "dialogue between the Libyan parties."