John Bolton: A Diplomatic Rock

Fire of Liberty

Max Boot has an interesting column in yesterday's Los Angeles Times on the Bolton nomination fight which has broken out in the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee. While he admits he doesn't see eye to eye with some of Bolton's policies or choices, Boot still recognizes that Bolton possesses the qualities that most effective diplomats need to have in order to get things accomplished. I'd say Boot compiled a pretty good column especially after reading these paragraphs:

But do we really want to add nastiness to the list of disqualifications? If we did, America's most effective diplomatists would have been kicked out of office. Dean Acheson, Henry Kissinger, Jeane Kirkpatrick, James Baker III and Richard Holbrooke, among others, were all tough customers. Those are exactly the qualities you need in dealing with the hard cases who rule much of the world. No milquetoast need apply for the post of U.N. ambassador, or any other demanding diplomatic job.

Bolton has been an effective diplomat and bureaucratic operator precisely because he has not tried to win any popularity contests. He has fought for his beliefs, and usually prevailed. In 1991, for instance, he helped push for repeal of the U.N.'s infamous "Zionism is racism" resolution. More recently, he has marshaled an impressive coalition behind the Proliferation Security Initiative designed to stop the spread of nukes. And he did it not by being polite but by being forceful and persuasive.

As I noted yesterday, this continued Borking of Bolton will provide a strong message to future political appointees and current individuals in places like the State Department and the Defense Department not to step out of line or push tough ideas that go against the grain. Luckily, we have individuals like Max Boot who are always mindful of past US diplomats and how they were deemed too bold but made a great career out of being so bold. I just hope the blokes in the Senate will push Bolton through for a floor vote because we truly need a forceful but competent Ambassador like Secretary Bolton. Hurry up though, we're burning daylight.

Also, here's an article from the Winter 1997/98 issue of The National Interest by John Bolton, which gives you some insight in how he views our role in foreign policy. You might be surprised.