The Daily Sandwich

"We have to learn the lesson that intellectual honesty is fundamental for everything we cherish." -Sir Karl Popper

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Location: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

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Sunday, April 17, 2005

The poop on Bolton

I haven't linked to Flak Magazine in a while, which is sad. This piece remedies the situation, and brings to attention not only some quotes we've all heard from Bolton, but some info that might be new to many from his confirmation hearings.

BIDEN: You said that the peace enforcement operations and nation building should, quote, "be relegated to history's junk pile at the first opportunity," end of quote, because they result in, as you said, quote, "American personnel and resources being committed to UN operations far removed from America's vital interests," end of quote, even though they wouldn't be there unless we — if we didn't want them there, we could veto the effort.

It gets worse. Recommended reading. There's still time to lean on Republican senators like Chafee and Hagel, who appear to be toying with the idea that doing the right thing for America might be wise.

UPDATE: The WaPo has even more disturbing revelations about Bolton.

John R. Bolton -- who is seeking confirmation as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations -- often blocked then-Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and, on one occasion, his successor, Condoleezza Rice, from receiving information vital to U.S. strategies on Iran, according to current and former officials who have worked with Bolton.

In some cases, career officials found back channels to Powell or his deputy, Richard L. Armitage, who encouraged assistant secretaries to bring information directly to him. In other cases, the information was delayed for weeks or simply did not get through. The officials, who would discuss the incidents only on the condition of anonymity because some continue to deal with Bolton on other issues, cited a dozen examples of memos or information that Bolton refused to forward during his four years as undersecretary of state for arms control and international security.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61304-2005Apr17.html?nav=rss_politics