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Foreign Ambassadors & Dignitaries on Bolton
“All too often… [Bolton's] high ambitions are cover-ups for less noble aims, and oriented not at improving the United Nations, but at belittling and weakening it." - Swiss Ambassador Peter Mauer
“My initial feeling was, let’s see if we can work with [Bolton], 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.” - An Ambassador with close ties to the United States.
“[Bolton] is not an easy man to get close to…Some people have the possibility to build consensus. Others operate in other ways." - Greek Ambassador Adamantios Th. Vassilakis
“We are all like cooks, and the U.S. is sitting on the sidewalk and when we have this platter cooked, the U.S. comes in and says it was the wrong dish, you were cooking chicken and we wanted meat.” - An Ambassador with close ties to the United States.
“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?” - A European diplomat.
...[W]e couldn’t call Condoleezza Rice every day and say ‘do you know what your guy is doing?’” - Stephen Steadman, former advisor to Secretary-General Kofi Annan, on Bolton's loose-cannon diplomacy.
“We almost had an agreement with the G-77…He came in and said ‘I want more, I want much more, and I will get it in direct negotiations with individual nations...We got new objections from all the tough guys in the G-77 – Pakistan, India, Iran, of course – because after he did what he did, they obviously thought they had nothing to lose by going through every line too.” - An Ambassador with close ties to the United States.
“I can’t remember a meeting where Ambassador Bolton participated...Maybe if he did participate he didn’t say anything, and you know I’d have remembered it." - Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo of South Africa on Bolton's participation in U.N. Human Rights Council negotiations.
Bolton. Even a Republican-held Senate woudn't vote for him.
Cheers
Elroy
Elroy -
Back to signing your name, what? Good for you, matey.
WOWWWW! You actually named FOUR ambassadors who have at one time or another found themselves at the wrong end of John Bolton...funny how you can make my case for me sometimes! 
I don't count that anonymous stuff...might as well not even include that.
Look, his job is NOT a popularity contest...it is about results. Regardless of what some whiny Ambassadors from Switzerland or Greece have to say, the man is doing his job very well by getting those results.
He is a diplomat with a backbone, teeth and a strong agenda...exactly what he is supposed to be.
U.S. Officials on Bolton
“[Bolton] marches to a different drum and the drum is out of tune." - Ambassador Charles L. "Jack" Pritchard, President Bush's former Special Envoy to North Korea.
“I differ from a lot of people in Washington, both friend and foe of Under Secretary Bolton, as to his ‘brilliance.’ I didn't see it. I saw a man who counted beans, who said, ‘98 today, 99 tomorrow, 100 the next day,’ and had no willingness -- and, in many cases, no capacity -- to understand the other things that were happening around those beans. And that is just a recipe for problems at the United Nations.” - Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, Colin Powell’s chief of staff, on Bolton’s ideological approach.
“He is incapable of listening to people and taking into account their views. He would be an abysmal ambassador.” -Wilkerson.
“He is a quintessential kiss-up, kick-down sort of guy. There are a lot of them around. I'm sure you've met them. But the fact is that he stands out, that he's got a bigger kick and it gets bigger and stronger the further down the bureaucracy he's kicking.” - Conservative Republican Carl Ford, Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research, on Bolton’s abuse of employees.
“That's simply not good government. It's not excellence in government. It's a serial abuser.” - Ford, on Bolton’s management style.
“He was so far over the line that he’s one of the, sort of, memorable moments in my career.” - Ford, describing the “tongue lashing” Bolton meted out to an analyst with whom he differed.
“He was yelling and screaming, and red in the face, and wagging his finger. I'll never forget the wagging of the finger. That's perhaps his style.” - Christian Westermann, intelligence analyst, on Bolton’s demeanor when Westermann told him the intelligence community did not agree with his language on Cuba’s weapons.
I teach my kids that bullying is bad, Timmer. How about you? People don't like being bullied. Even my pal BO'R says bullies must be handed over to the authorities, that the bullied have rights too. Bolton is a thug. Might is NOT right. Sigh. Wht do I have to explain this to adults too?
Cheers
Elroy
John Bolton and Dan Gillerman: they're like a set. The two most undiplomatic ambassadors to the UN. But Bolton takes the biscuit: what a despicable little man... I hope he goes soon.
Someone is going to call me an anti-Semite (again) (no, not you Timmer).
News Media, Scholars, and Observers
"...American interests at the U.N. have suffered from Mr. Bolton's time there, and will suffer more if the Senate confirms him in the job. At a time when a militarily and diplomatically overstretched Washington needs as much international cooperation as it can get --on Iraq, on Iran, on North Korea and now on the latest fighting between Israel and Lebanon --Mr. Bolton is a liability, not an asset at the United Nations...Mr. Bolton, by temperament and conviction, is far too dismissive of the results that can be achieved by this kind of traditional diplomacy. That is what makes him the wrong man for the job." - The New York Times
“I actually agree with Bolton on what has to be done at the U.N., but his confrontational tactics have been very dysfunctional for the U.S. purpose…To be successful at the U.N., you have to build coalitions, and if you take unilateral action the way Bolton has, you’re isolated, and if you’re isolated, you can’t achieve much.” - Dr. Edward C. Luck, Professor of International Affairs, Columbia University.
...Bolton's arrogant, abrasive and bullying ways have set back U.N. reform substantially...In his time at U.N. headquarters, he has thoroughly alienated pretty much everyone. Even America's close allies express incredulity at his flame-thowing approach, and wonder if his true goal is to produce failure so the United States can more easily write off the United Nations." - The Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune
"Bolton's sledgehammer diplomacy has poisoned an already tense relationship between the U.S. and other countries, including our most important allies. U.N. members see American reform proposals not as ways to improve the organization but as hidden attempts to enhance U.S. power. This helps explain why Bolton has largely failed to achieve his stated goals — or much of anything else." - The Los Angeles Times
"We see little evidence here that Mr. Bolton is good at "working multilaterally." Rather than building support at the United Nations, Mr. Bolton has more often solidified the anti-American coalition." - The Washington Post
Much as you love to deny it, America cannot regress to its isolationist past. The awful truth for Conservative Republicans is that need the world more than it needs you.
What cannot go on for ever won’t, but you, the American people, have a choice as to how your fall occurs, and sending this bully-boy sociopath will only hasten your demise as a world power.
Cheers
Elroy
It's not looking good for Mr. Bolton. And its all Politics by the Dems. Sad...
Maybe some good luck will come our way and we can get an up or down vote on him. But... time is running out fast.
AubreyJ.........
Gert -
No - I would not pin such a label on you, mate. But I have stated my reasons for supporting Bolton, and his accomplishments speak for themselves.
As I have told our Elroy, it is not a popularity contest at the U.N. In a "club" where the President (of any country) can be called "The Devil" from the podium - amid cheers from the "diplomats," that president needs a strong and fearless representative.
Elroy -
Wow! You actually drudged up some dirt from none other than the most liberal newspapers in this country! And a Columbia Professor! Gee, you should get Researcher of the Month for THOSE finds, mate!!!
You are dead wrong, friend. While I do not wish for it, the U.S. could easily live without the rest of the world...more easily than any other single nation on the planet. Hey, you could be writing these comments in German! (I know, you just hate it when we say that kind of thing!).
Sadly, you are right about one thing...all nations fall. The U.S. will be no different - its time will surely come one day. But I doubt that Mr. Bolton will be the catalyst...indeed I submit that he (and you and I) will be dust when it happens.
Aubrey J -
I fear that you are correct, my friend. But look at the bright side....they will have just two years to show what they are NOT capable of, and then we get to pick up the pieces in 2008!
Of course, I have gone on record to state that I hope they can pull off a partnership of multipartisan problem solvers and get some results, but I will not hold my breath on that one for too long!
Claudia Rosette, one of the author/investigators into the Oil for Food scandal, says Bolton is arguably the best U.N. Ambassador the U.S. has ever seen.
I love the guy. He's right on the money.
I post these comments to show you what others think about him. Naturally, being a conservative, you attack the speakers and not what they say. Typical.
Doncha think, though, that having a whip-round to keep Bolton on the case would be, er, circumventing democracy somewhat? I mean, I know that Republicans are only for democracy when they are the ones doing the democraticng
but really! Isn’t this just a bit overt even for you?
Of course, Aubrey, Bolton’s failure to be confirmed is all the Dems fault. Why, them propagandarin' propagandarers! I hate to mention that his confirmation was rejected by a Republican controlled Senate. True he was good an’ filibustered by a Dem but also, don’t forget, by a Republican, one George Voinvich of Ohio.
Meanwhile, at the UN, The US proves it can dish it out but can’t take it. How many have you now called ‘evil’ etc? And Chavez gets up, turns the tables and it’s waah waah waah all the way home! Grow up. Think about WHY. And why everyone agreed (what IS your problem with Chavez, anyway?). Getting mad is no solution.
The UN isn’t a popularity contest. Its a forum to ensure world peace. It needs reform – but not the way you would like it.
That you think you could survive without the world just shows how arrogant the USA has become. It needs us. Really.
The US time WILL surely come one day, and I assure you that Mr Bolton will help. There are other factors that will help, like when the world wakes up to the ‘US Dollar as world currency con’. Then you’ll have to EARN money! What a laugh!
You might think I ‘hate America’ – I don’t. I have visited your country. It was very nice. The people are very nice. My niece lives in The People’s Republic of Minnesota, and she is very nice. But I am worried about what America’s Governments have to done the world done in the name of their citizens, what they continue to do and the blatant hypocrisy with which they do it.
What happened to the old America? Golly! I’m sounding more Conservative than YOU!
Cheers
Elroy.
Elroy,my man
You have a fan club? count me in! haha
PH -
Hey, long time there fella! Where you been hiding these days?
You really SHOULD joing the Elroy fanclub...he reminds me of a more educated and witty, yet equally misguided and self-admiring, YOU! (Just messin', matey!)
I have a fan club? Ooooh! Goody! "Bout time, too!
Now, where do I join?
Cheers
Elroy
PS. And talking of long times, Timmer, where have YOU been hiding these days? The dawn of this new age of democracy it bit to hard to bear, huh? Crazed neocon rantings a tad hard to muscle now that your idols hae been exposed for being the flip-flopping, back stabbing, opportunistic, carpet-bagging hypocrites they always were?
I guess there's gonna be a dark times ahead for Junior and his apologists, but hey! You ain't gonna quit now are ya? Now, what did Thomas Paine say?
'These are times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman'
Don't let us down now!
E.
Hey, Timmer, have you retired or something? C'mon buddy, we miss you!
I Hope everything is OK. (There's that caring sharing liberal in me again. When will I ever learn?)
Cheers
Elroy
Whoops! Bye bye, Johnny! NEXT!
Ah, the grown-ups are back! What a relief! I can start getting out of bed again!
Cheers
Elroy
Timmer how are you ?. Get a grip man and join the good side, there was something in a post below where you were praising Gingrich of all people who is now saying your first ammendment needs to be vanquished. Can't you see what these people are doing to your great country ?
Actually kind of on this topic, here's another gift for you:
http://kurtnimmo.com/?p=657
Federal Hate Bill, start lobbying against it now, apparently it's actually secretly aimed at good conservatives like yourself. Don't wait call your representative now.
Rumsfeld, Bolton... who next?
And now the Rumsfeld memo...
Oh dear, poor Timmer. First those nasty Dems take the Senate and Congress, then Rummy goes south, then Bolton wields to the that pesky democracy bizzo (Grrrr! Stoopid democracy!), then Rummy's paper trail comes back to bite him (Rule No. 1, Donny: Don't write anything down.)
and then Elroy, Gert, Jultra and even the AWOL Purplehaze start ganging nu on him! Wah! No fair!
Ah well, at least Timmer's taking it like a man and defending his position to the last, ain't you, Timmer?
Timmer? TIM-MER! Are you there? Tim-tim-tim-tim-TIMMER!
Ah, the right. So...brave.
Cheers
Elroy
http://mp3.rbnlive.com/Piper/
061...5_Tue_Piper.mp3
Newt Gingrich; starts about 2/3 through, well worth a listen.
http://mp3.rbnlive.com/Piper/
061...5_Tue_Piper.mp3
Piper quoting an old Washington Post article:
"For the ultra-right Gingrich is just a tool of the world government plot, anyone who glances at the Spotlight, the weekly newspaper of the far-right Liberty Lobby, knows that Gingrich is hardly the leader of their movement. In their eyes he's actively working to subvert it"
Piper: 'In other words what the Washington Post was telling its hotshot readers here in Washington DC was don't worry about Newt Gingrich, he's not one of these ultra-right wing patriotic conservative types, he's in on the deal.
And then the post when on to say, "Those with a paranoid bent are convinced that the Georgian (that's Gingrich) is in cahoots with President Clinton, the Rockefellers, the Freemasons, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the entire eastern establishment to abrogate the Constitution and forge a New World Order under the thumb of Jewish central bankers in the United Nations."
Piper: 'Well that isn't exactly what the Spotlight said, but essentially the Washington Post's assessment was on the mark..'
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