John Bolton Goes to the U.N.

John Bolton has been nominated by the Bush administration to be the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

According to the Los Angeles Times, "In 2000, Bolton told National Public Radio that the U.N. Security Council needed only one permanent member, the United States, 'because that's the real reflection of the distribution of power in the world.'"

I had hoped that Bush would try to "mend some fences" with Europe (and the rest of the world) during his last trip but now with this nomination he is basically telling the world to "piss off."

David Corn writing an editorial for, "The Nation" said that this nomination was Bush basically giving the U.N. the middle finger (which for non-Americans is a symbol saying "Fuck off"). This from Corn's editorial:

If you were sitting in the Oval Office and George W. Bush asked, "Hey, tell me, who could we appoint to the UN ambassador job that would most piss off the UN and the rest of the world," your job would be quite easy. You would simply say, "That's a no-brainer, Mr. President, John Bolton." And on Monday Bush took this no-brain advice and nominated Bolton to the post.

Bolton is the rightwing's leading declaimer of the United Nations (news - web sites). He once said, "If the UN Secretariat building in New York lost ten stories, it wouldn't make a bit of difference." (GOI: Which is VERY disturbing given the events on September the 11th). And when the Bush administration failed to persuade the UN to back its war in Iraq (news - web sites), Bolton observed that was "further evidence to many why nothing should be paid to the UN system."

But what message does it convey to the UN and the world to send to the UN a fellow who has essentially called for total defunding of the institution?

GOI: It tells the world that America still sees the rest of the world as "minor players." It also shows that America plans to do whatever it likes despite objections from the rest of the world and from the U.N.

Bolton is yet another Bush loyalist who was appointed to another high position. Bush keeps nominating "yes men and women" who will do his bidding. He is further isolating himself from the world and his own country.

The most disturbing to me, however, is that there are many important issues that are mostly likely going to be before the U.N. (Syria/Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, China-Taiwan) and our representitive going to the U.N. has made it clear that he could care less about the opinions from the other nations who make up the international governing body.

Bolton's nomination to the U.N. is like nominating a HUGE peace activist as the head of our military. It just does not make any sense.

Another bad choice by the Bush administration.

*sigh*

And I was just starting to think that maybe Bush and his circle were actually figuring out how to "play well with others."


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