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WASHINGTON, March 23 - RIA Novosti, Alexei Bogdanovsky. US President Donald Trump, for the second time in two weeks, shook up his foreign policy team, announcing that John Bolton would replace Herbert McMaster as the presidential adviser on national security.

Earlier, Trump sent Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to resign, nominating CIA Director Mike Pompeo for the post. Bolton, who does not need approval of the Senate, will take a new post on April 9 and will become the president's third national security adviser for 15 months of Trump's stormy presidency. Bolton has a reputation for being a "hawk" and an uncompromising conservative, one of the organizers of the war in Iraq and a hardliner for the DPRK.

Change of horses in the crossing

The White House explained the departure of McMaster, like Tillerson's earlier dismissal, the need to renew the foreign policy bloc of the administration on the eve of Trump's historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-no, to be held before the end of May. In addition, McMaster's departure was accelerated to end speculation, the White House maintains, although this explanation looks strange: confirmed rumors of McMaster's resignation could not in themselves be the main reason for this resignation.

"They (Trump and McMaster) have been discussing this (resignation) for some time." The timing was accelerated, because both believed it was important to appoint a new team instead of permanent speculation, "the White House said in a statement.

Also, the White House hastened to state that there was no conflict between Trump and McMaster, which only fueled suspicion. "This (resignation) was not associated with any one moment or incident, it was the result of ongoing conversations between them (Trump and McMaster)," the White House reported.

Decency was respected: Trump thanked McMaster for the work and gave him two and a half weeks to transfer the cases. Previous adviser Michael Flynn Trump fired with a scandal almost overnight.

Bolton, whose candidacy was considered by Trump as an adviser before, is considered to be Trump's like-minded person, who will try not to contradict him, like Mike Pompeo as secretary of state. Thus, Trump more and more confidently pursues his line, getting rid of those who wanted to control him, contradicted him or even just made a similar impression.

Academic General

McMaster was perceived as a member of the "triumvirate" of generals who occupied key posts in the administration. McMaster, Chief of Staff of the White House John Kelly and Defense Secretary James Mattis are well aware of each other for the wars of the United States in the Middle East and in many ways can be seen as like-minded people. For all the American society's allergy to military (even former) in power, these generals were perceived as a disciplining force that would keep Trump in a generally accepted framework. Indeed, at first with the advent of McMaster and especially Kelly the discipline recovered, but soon the annoying leaks appeared again. This week, a leak spewed out that Trump's advisers recommended him not to congratulate Russian President Vladimir Putin on winning the election during a phone call, and Trump did not listen to them. It was reported that McMaster is extremely indignant at this leak (the content of which the White House did not refute). However, despite the extremely narrow circle of persons involved in the call, the source does not seem to have been found.

McMaster was distinguished by his academic style even against the background of well-educated American generals. His book criticizing the military leadership of the Vietnam War, written two decades ago, is still widely read in the military environment. He taught military history and worked in expert centers before returning to a military career and gaining the reputation of an intellectual in form. He has a reputation as a much more cautious advisor than Bolton. Apparently, it was McMaster who discouraged Trump from taking the harshest steps on Iran and North Korea, while Bolton's record does not allow him to accuse him of restraint - neither in advice, nor in statements.

Militant General

Bolton has made a career in the State Department and the Justice Ministry under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush. His finest hour came when George W. Bush, when he became deputy secretary of state. Bolton was one of the main apologists for the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 on the basis of intelligence about the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Baghdad. The intelligence has turned out to be false, and instability in Iraq continues to this day, and the US can not completely withdraw its troops from there and get rid of the onerous support of a weak Iraqi government. Bolton does not believe that he was wrong about the need to invade Iraq.

In 2005-2006, Bolton was a permanent representative of the United States to the UN - an organization to which he was generally very negative. According to him, "there is no UN", and all countries should follow the "real leader" in the person of the United States. The appointment of Bolton Bush was succeeded only bypassing the Senate during the parliamentary vacations. It is no wonder that Bolton has not achieved any successes in the complex multilateral formats of the United Nations and has not raised the prestige of the United States within the organization.

After his resignation, Bolton again returned to the career of a conservative expert and commentator. From year to year he defended a tough line against alleged opponents of America, including Iran and the DPRK. From the embassy of North Korea in Moscow, he even deserved a characterization of "lost mind like a beast."

Bolton's "hawkish" rhetoric on the verge of defending the war against Pyongyang will be tested in the near future. It is assumed that the DPRK is ready for some concessions, since the US proposed a denuclearization summit. Trump is inclined to attribute Pyongyang's concessions to its tough rhetoric and threats against North Korea. Bolton will be Trump's like-minded in this matter, and his appointment can further tighten the US position and reduce the likelihood of a peaceful outcome of the confrontation.

Link: https://ria.ru/world/20180323/1517079070.html