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Our nation preaches the gospel of democracy, yet when a democratically elected government opposes us, it seems we can't allow it. That's hypocrisy. We don't really care about freedom or democracy for all. We only care about freedom and democracy for ourselves.
The only way this Palestinian situation will work itself out is if we let them fix it themselves. Every time we intervene, we give them an excuse. Let's stop intervening so they have no more excuses. It won't happen overnight, though. We will have to stop intervening for decades.
Bolton also thinks we shouldn't be diplomatic with Iran. I'm sure there are people here who agree. The problem with that stance is that it offers no solution. It only offers permanent hostility (or war). The reason we're in this situation is because we chose to ignore diplomacy in the past.
Aqualung - What you say applies to the rest of the world as well. We should just provide the example by applying the principals in our Constitution to ourselves. We have no right to interfere in other people's democratic elections.
Wolfowitz is the one that should go to jail...not for using his influence to give his honey an influential position and perks at the World Bank... but more for his selection of partner. She is scary looking.
For what? Exercising free speech?
It is really worrisome when libs want to jail someone for disagreeing with them!
Wait a minute here, let's not forget the conservatives who wanted Cindy Sheehan, Rosie, Jane Fonda, Bill & Hillary, Michael Moore, etc jailed, tortured, sent to Guantanamo, sent to Iraq, sent to Cuba, shot, killed, etc.
Both sides are guilty of this horrible crime! And I consider it a horrible crime, completely unAmerican.
Last edited by mhouse2001; 06-27-2007 at 05:28 PM..
Bolton's single biggest problem is that he's a horrible compromiser who too often speaks precisely what is on his mind.
Not quite the kind of person you hire as a diplomat.
I know plenty of people out there will rail and complain about the UN, but the truth is one of the functions of government is diplomacy. Like attending state funerals and cutting ribbons and such, diplomacy is generally not regarded as enjoyable, but it is an essential tool of statesmanship. To use that tool requires adhereing to the rules of diplomatic engagement, frustrating though it may be. Diplomacy builds alliances, and promotes national interests. Like etiquette, it is the social lubricant of nations and has been since nations existed. The United States, in particular, must take part in diplomacy and do it well.
What happens if a government fails to use diplomacy well?
They lose support of other nations when seeking to achieve goals.
The policies of the administration becomes opaque.
Motives come into question.
Distrust of the government by foreign governments and nationals rises.
Treaties become difficult to create, coalitions can't be built.
Trade, tourism, and consular functions become compromised.
The nation loses prestige abroad.
Thank heavens the United States isn't facing any of those issues!
Bolton had to leave the UN because he effectively became ineffective. He was useless at parties, couldn't function in committees, and had such a repugnant personality in a branch of government where charm and charisma count a great deal, that he couldn't gain the trust of anyone else. He was simply shut-out, made redundant; leaving the United States no effective representation in the largest diplomatic forum in the world. A forum, for all its problems, from which we cannot afford to be absent.
There are those in certain conservative circles who believe the UN to be superfluous and diplomacy to be so much useless frippery. It is clear that Bush tends to believe the same thing. The policy of our Department of State appears to be, speak loudly over everyone else and carry a big stick. I submit that given the position of the United States in world opinion, our inability to negotiate deals with foreign powers including the, "Axis of Evil," nations, our inability to deter the spread of Islamic extremism, our alienation of South and Central America, our gross neglect of a comprehensive and constructive Russian policy, and the flight from our spehere of influence into regionalism, are largely due to our inept and ineffective foreign policy implemented (or misimplemented) by our diplomats; from Bush to Cheney to Rice on down the line.
Here is how Bolton represented the United States in the minds of his peers:
Quote:
Greece’s U.N. Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis: “He is not an easy man to get close to. … Some people have the possibility to build consensus. Others operate in other ways.”
Algeria’s U.N. Ambassador Abdullah Baali, after a disagreement with Bolton: “The U.S. stand that ‘you take it or you leave it is not helping the Security Council, and is not helping the cause of peace in the Middle East.’”
Peru’s U.N. Ambassador Oswaldo de Rivero: “He lives in another world, with this belief that he is morally superior and the U.S. is more moral than all the countries around the world. It is a pity.”
Michael Doyle, former special adviser to Kofi Annan: “Sometimes he [states U.S. policy] in a manner that is grating. But it is the policy that is most of the problem, even though the personality doesn’t help.”
An ambassador with close ties to the Bush administration: “My initial feeling was, let’s see if we can work with him, and I have done some things to push for consensus on issues that were not easy for my country. … But all he gives us in return is, ‘It doesn’t matter, whatever you do is insufficient.’ … He’s lost me as an ally now, and that’s what many other ambassadors who consider themselves friends of the U.S. are saying.”
A European diplomat: “A lot of us wonder what his real agenda is. First, we think maybe he wants things to fail because then he can say, ‘We cannot reform this place.’ The other question is, does he really reflect the position in Washington? That is always the question: Is it Bolton or is it Washington?” -Think Progress
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