Bolton's Objections

As we mentioned literally a week ago our rep to the UN, John Bolton, raised a number of objections to proposed UN reforms. The WaPost is now giving more details on the letters (there are six apparently) sent UN delegates outlining American concerns. Among the issues raised were:

• An insistence that the UN Security Council already has sufficient authority to dispatch troops.
• "The deletion of language calling on nations to prevent 'incitement' of mass atrocities..." (it violates the First Amendment)
• "That the 'scope' of the terrorism provision should be limited to 'terrorist actions,' not 'military activities that are appropriately governed by international humanitarian law.'"
• Defer any discussion on a definition of terrorism to the General Assembly, which is negotiating a convention on terrorism.

Bolton responded to criticism that objections were raised late in the game by noting that the first suggestions were made on June 25. As I stated in the previous post if Amb. Bolton would have been focused on his job rather than his confirmation hearings then we would not be going through this now.