Bolton Bashing Part Deux

I thought no one on the web had spilt more code on how wrong John Bolton is for the job at the UN than Fred Kaplan at Slate. You can see Kaplan's Bolton bashing here, here, here and here. Steve Clemons of the New America Foundation does not like Bolton either and I'll only give you one link, because his entire blog seems to be dedicated to Bolton. Clemons either has TiVo or has not gone to the bathroom since the Bolton hearings started. Too much analysis in there for me to review, but he does have some different points that are not in Boxer's talking points.

Wolfie Redux - The Bashing of Bolton

I thought the world could not hate anyone more than Wolfowitz, I stand corrected. John Bolton is getting near universal condemnation. The only paper to tepidly support Bolton sort is one in the United Arab Emirate that I had never heard of before.

Bolton does deserve the scrutiny, but I do have to defend one of his statements. I don't see anything wrong with his proclamation that no one would miss the top ten floors of the UN. The UN has never been confused for a proficient professional well run organization. If anything Bolton's comment should be applauded. We all need a better UN. A UN that fulfills the promises of its charter and its missions. That can only happen if it waves off its wastrel ways and recommits itself. Kofi Annan is now making the right noises maybe Bolton can keep him honest.

Rushdie Criticizes US Policy

Salman Rushdie has criticized US foreign policy! Let us pause for a moment as I catch my breath. Rushdie whose only major accomplishment in his lengthy literary career has been to race to the protective embrace of the very government and system that he had tirelessly disparaged after raising Ayatollah Khomeini's ire. I never wanted anything to happen to Mr. Rushdie, but I could not forget or forgive his paen to the Sandinistas, The Jaguar Smile. So when the Iron Lady, whom he had criticized incessantly, shielded him from potential assassins I could not help but note the sweet irony.

Rushdie's criticisms are hardly original and seem to be drawn from leftover talking points from Kerry/Edwards 2004. We are encouraging terrorism, we are going it alone blah, blah, blah. On the former we have made some progress and if the Iraqi government holds and we can leave we may actually reduce the threat of terrorism. Let those aimless, over-educated (in their own way), under utilized youth take out their frustrations on those that rule them and not on us. On the going alone bit some progress has been made but much more work needs to be done. In Iraq we are going to be that much more alone. On Lebanon and Darfur we have worked better with others although Darfur needs a great deal more assistance than we have provided.

Iraq the British View

I've been reduced to scanning the globe to find something to pique my interest. The Independent says that the tide is turning in Iraq. In a premium rejoinder that I don't have access to The Independent says that even if things are better we should not have gone in there anyway. Writing in the Guardian ex-Python Terry Jones says that things are still lousy.

A Tie at the OAS

Is it obvious that I am bored by everything out there? After five tries no one came out on top in the race to lead the OAS. Mexico's Foreign Minister Ernesto Derbez and Chile's Interior Minister Jose Miguel Insulza. As I mentioned before the southern cone was backing Insulza and N. America was backing Insulza. I haven't read it anywhere, but I wonder what role ideology plays in all this. Both Chile and Mexico maintain good relations with the US, but Insulza is a socialist and Derbez is a conservative. One solution to breaking this deadlock is selecting a consensus candidate. Before we get to that however there is bound to be some horsetrading.

Around the World in Half a Minute

LA Times notes millions are being wasted in Iraqi utilities. Iraqis control over 40 water plants and 19 electrical facilities and not one is run properly according to Bechtel. Chinese youth attacked the Japanese embassy. They're upset about the Japanese claim the Spratleys and their campaign to get a seat in the Security Council. The boot-looking WaPost says that the Chinese gov't "appeared" to allow the violent demonstration. Hutus are fleeing Rwanda for Burundi to avoid to avoid trial for genocide. The current Syrian imposed Lebanese gov't seeks to delay the promised elections; Druze leader Walid Jumblatt is less than thrilled. Our candidate to head the OAS is out it is now a duel between the north and south with the Caribbean playing tie-breaker. The WaPost has an interesting piece on how AMLO builds support among the lower classes. One of his programs helps elderly sex-workers. Another good WaPost story tells us why the Turks hate us.