You're watching...
Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton on whether the U.S. should push the new Libyan government to hand over the Lockerbie bomber and where Q...
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
Unrest in the Middle East reports today say the man known as the Lockerbie bomber.
Is on his -- once again.
With Qaddafi overthrown in and hiding -- United States puts the new would be government to hand Abdel -- -- all McGraw Almonte who.
All -- McGraw He treats it's an awful.
Over the United States and just where is Qaddafi new reports today is saying members of his family have fled to Algeria -- can copy and sell.
As and spotted in Zimbabwe.
In light of the Libyan rebels' success Syrian opposition forces now calling.
For NATO intervention to assist them in very -- at pushing president -- out of power.
Joining me now to discuss all of this.
This former US ambassador to the United States and United Nations John -- -- ambassador bold first of all.
All -- He did it does this new Libyan government have the stomach.
To deal with the backlash they will undoubtedly have to deal with from the Arab world if they just hand over the Lockerbie bomber to the US or to the west in general.
Well -- I don't think there'd be a backlash from the Arab world you know McGraw He was an agent of the -- government and the terrorist act that He committed in killing 270 innocent people by.
Bombing pan am 103 was undoubtedly authorized by Gadhafi himself.
So I think for the rebels that this would be a plus this would show really their commitment to getting beyond the -- Gadhafi air.
Whether they'll do it or not remains very uncertain but I think it would be in their interest and I think the rest the Arab world would would let ago.
Part of this too is the United States or is it you at are asking the question is the United States concerned about it appearing to buddy buddy.
With the new government in Libya and maybe even vice Versa because that might be seen by the rest of the Arab world.
As the United States putting it a profit or the United States having too much control and part of this goes the -- conversation as well.
Well I'd be happy to find that we had a problem of having too much influence in the new -- I think it certainly.
In our national interest to try and move the the rebel leaders in the direction of being pro west in favor being MF for an open pluralistic society in Libya.
Because there are clearly elements among the rebels that have a very different kind of future in mind.
So I don't think we ought to hold back here I don't think success is guaranteed and I don't think anybody would be surprised that we would be trying to put people in power who would view us favorably.
Before -- -- get to -- let me wrap up -- here.
Qaddafi Stanley may be Algeria Qaddafi in -- may be in Zimbabwe.
But what can you tell us about where He might be and it is that -- is -- -- extradition that could bring you back to Libya so He could face trial is there any possibility of that.
Well that's I think why the rumors have abounded that he's gone to places like -- Zimbabwe -- family and Algeria there have been rumors for the past several months He would end up in Algeria.
My own view is that he's not gonna leave that he's got to fight to the end.
I think getting his family out of dodge makes a lot of sense but in terms -- Gaddafi himself.
Will say it's it's it's a prediction that's open for -- for not I think he's got to stay until the bitter end.
What do you make of the the calls now by the Syrian rebels for NATO help -- because we talk about the Arabs free it's one domino falling after another but does NATO now.
Have to step in and it -- force those dominos the push each other over each and every one.
Well I don't think NATO's policy in Libya was such a great success at least the way the Obama administration played it out.
That it would make sense at this point to go into.
Syria at least under the Obama presidency and it's a very very different environment number one Syria borders on.
Israel it's it's the risk to Israel of us getting involved.
Has to be taken into account look I favor regime change in Damascus and I would try an aid.
The opposition providing them weapons makes sense but let's also not forget the single biggest difference between.
Libya or Egypt and Syria is the presence of Iran.
Syria is effectively today a satellite of Iran in the Iran -- are prepared to shed a lot of Syrian blood to keep the aside regime in power.
-- basketball not I'm as guilty as anybody as lumping a lot of these are all of these nations together with the -- of spring but is an important to realize that.
Syria is a completely different you know animal and of itself different from -- different from mobile is going on in Tunisia in Libby is well.
I think that's right I think there's a lot less there than meets the -- When we all talk about the Arab spring I think these conditions are very different.
In each country and I think our policy has to take that into a -- I think the real problem in the Middle East the dominant problem remains -- -- not just didn't.
Pursued nuclear weapons but its support for terrorist regimes like the one in Syria.
I would fed said I'll wrap -- up with this ambassador.
Played with so much pressures on the Obama administration from a domestic standpoint in terms of the economy everybody we can hear what He has -- say next week but looking at foreign policy.
-- he's had some successes as of late.
What can hang has hat on those that says because as you said -- Iran is sort of the 800 pound gorilla that's still in the room.
Look -- say they -- -- people say you know what at least reform policy perspective what he's doing is right.
Well I I don't think what He is doing is right his policy in Libya was backwards and the success there.
Came almost despite what He was trying to do and the way He was tried to do it so I don't think there's an Obama doctrine.
And I don't think frankly he's interested in -- and foreign policy to try to make one I think his entire focus -- domestic.
That's where his -- and so our focus that's where He thinks is.
Political prospects next year base so I don't I don't look for him to have any incentive.
In his own minds and trying to emphasize national security investor -- always nice Stanley thank you sir.
