John Bolton

Fire of Liberty

This past week, I've been reading a bevy of articles and commentaries on the nomination of John Biolton as our Ambassador to the UN. While Bolton has irked a considerable amount of the Democrats and liberals, he still shouldn't be derided as "unilateralist hawk." Instead of being a psycophant at the throne of Kofi Annan, Secretary Bolton would present the United States view to the UN. Yes, he's called the UN ineffective but he is willing to help the entity recover from its morass. We can think of Bolton as the head of a family intervention and the UN as a troubled alcoholic. Unless you have strong willed individual who says how things are and presents a solution to the problem, the alcoholic will never get help. So these Senators can loudly protest Bolton's nomination but he would be good medicine for the much vanted institute that they always laud when international problems spring up. Instead of dabating, let's just see what the man can do. Maybe the Secretary has some can write some good perscription's to this collic ridden institute. It sure needs it.

Anyway, here's several articles and commentaries on the good secretary. First, here's a piece in The Times by Gerard Baker. Second, here's another piece on Bolton by Stephen F. Hayes over @ The Weekly Standard. Third, here's a piece by Robert D. Novak from The Union Leader in Manchester, New Hampshire. Fourthly, here's a piece by Andrew Sullivan in The Sunday Times which offers a slightly differing opinion on Secretary Bolton. And finally here's an article by Eli Lake over @ The New York Sun on the conformation fight ahead for Secretary Bolton. I particularlly liked this paragraph in which Senator Hagel voiced his support of Secretary Bolton:

Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Hagel, a Republican, said in a statement to the press, "I intend to support John Bolton's nomination to be Ambassador to the United Nations. His experience and knowledge will serve him well as he represents America's interests in the U.N. at a critical time. Mr. Bolton's commitment to consult with members of Congress on a regular basis will be essential in helping him strengthen the U.N. and moving it toward reform."

The endorsement by Mr. Hagel, who last year voted with Democrats on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to expand the Iraqi war inquiry to include the activities of the Pentagon's office of special plans, is a blow to a new coalition of conservatives and progressives intent on derailing the Bolton nomination, which was announced last week.

When Hagel, a vocal thorn in the sideof President Bush, starts voicing his support, the squishy Charlie Rose friendly types also will fall in line. Don't be surprised if Hillary or Schumer vote for Secretary Bolton.