It's true that Bolton argued war is best option several years before joining this administration, but that's not your claim. Your claim is that he (or some other official) said the purpose of the sanctions is to make the common people suffer, and I can't any statement to that effect.
Yes, you are right they didn't literally say that because in that case it would be legally troublesome. I think it is childish to think that this is not pure coercion either to the negotiation/surrender table or public unrest.
By the way, Bolton didn't just advocate war/unrest years ago. It was last year [1].
I understand the importance of being exact, but by being pedantic in a political context without considering motivations and effects is trivialization.
yyyk|6 years ago
It's true that Bolton argued war is best option several years before joining this administration, but that's not your claim. Your claim is that he (or some other official) said the purpose of the sanctions is to make the common people suffer, and I can't any statement to that effect.
mpoloton|6 years ago
I understand the importance of being exact, but by being pedantic in a political context without considering motivations and effects is trivialization.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cenpiO6LMpE