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April 29, 2005
John Bolton, Neocon Action Hero
I haven't written about the current nominee for US Ambassador to the United Nations. I guess I thought it was a bad dream and I would wake up. Well, after hearing the President last night I have awakened. Here's want he said,
John Bolton is a blunt guy. Sometimes people say I'm a little too blunt. John Bolton can get the job done at the United Nations. It seemed like to me it makes sense to put somebody who's capable, smart, served our country for 20 years, been confirmed by the United States Senate four times, and who isn't afraid to speak his mind in the post of the ambassador to the U.N.
Well, John Bolton is not just a "blunt guy" who can get the job done. John Bolton is abusive to subordinates, the press and fellow diplomats. But that is not all, his abusiveness is part of a political strategy. I quote Robert Perry,
Bolton may be – as former State Department intelligence chief Carl Ford Jr. said – "a quintessential kiss-up, kick-down kind of guy" who bullies those below him who come up with inconvenient facts. But Bolton’s abusive tendencies are not just a personality flaw; they are part of a broader political strategy.Since his early days as a protégé of Sen. Jesse Helms, Bolton was part of a new aggressive breed of conservatives, who came of age during the Vietnam War and who thus understand the importance of keeping a lid on public dissent.
In practical terms, that means influencing or controlling what the public perceives as reality, often exaggerating threats to stampede the people in a desired direction. That need to manage information, in turn, requires discrediting individuals who can effectively challenge the factual constraints.
If you have doubts about Perry's analysis read the many articles he cites and ask yourself if they can all be wrong.
As Barbara Boxer said in a letter to Arthur Silber of The Light of Reason,
But with the Senate out on recess next week, I need you to keep the pressure on the White House. We can’t stop now.Email George Bush and tell him to withdraw John Bolton’s nomination now!
It’s clear that the right-wing Republicans aren’t going to back down on Bolton without a fight.
You can email the President by following this link and filling out the form. I just did.
Posted by Duane Smith at April 29, 2005 3:13 PM | Read more on Current Events |
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