WHEN US President Donald Trump hired former National Security Adviser John Bolton, many of his supporters saw it as a betrayal of his campaign promises. Bolton is a neo-conservative, and a big supporter of US intervention all over the world.
The neo-conservatives (or neo-cons) reached the zenith of their influence shortly after 9-11, when the American public felt the need to hunt down the terrorists who blew up the World Trade Center buildings. But after years of occupying Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as brinksmanship with Iran, American public sentiment soured and when Obama came into power, the Neo-Con brand became associated with the Bush Administration’s disastrous and unpopular foreign policies.
When Trump was elected, the Neo-Cons saw a path back to power. After all, Trump was a Republican, and the Republican Party is or maybe was the party of US Commerce, Libertarians and the Neo-Cons. But Trump himself is no traditional Republican, nor are many of his supporters. Not only are they nationalistic (perhaps even autarkic in their outlook), they also despise foreign entanglements
When Bolton came into White House, many Trump supporters believed that he had been coopted by the Neo-Cons and that a new Middle Eastern war was imminent. That war never happened thankfully, and now Bolton is out of the White House. Trump may hire another Neo-Con, but for now, their influence over the US Administration is gone.
Bolton is ultimately a relic of Pax Americana. He wants to contain Iran, Russia and maybe China in order to preserve the American Peace. Indeed, that’s his strategic worldview: Preserve the American global system at all costs. But Americans themselves are tired of the American global system.
The Nationalist Right see it as a waste of time, blood and treasure; as the source of outsourcing and mass immigration. The global system may be beneficial for America’s elites and partners, but working class and middle class Americans – many of whom make up the bulk of Trump supporters – don’t see it that way.
And, of course, there’s the American Left, and they see the American-led global system as an evil, jingoistic Empire that needs to be destroyed. They may not have much in common with Trump supporters, but most of them can – at least – agree that American foreign policy does not serve US interests.
So Bolton is out and no one, except the Washington elites are dismayed at his leaving. The Neo-Cons may find some way to gain back some of their lost power, but their cause – the cause of the Post-War American system is obsolete… and so are they./PN
