John Bolton for Secretary of State
I have just finished reading John Bolton’s book Surrender is not an Option: Defending America at the United Nations. And while I found it (at times) a difficult book to read, in reading it, I became convinced that the former UN Ambassador should be our nation’s next Secretary of State.
I intend to review the book either later today (or tomorrow) together with another book I just read, Norman Podhoretz’s, World War IV: The Long Struggle Against Islamofascism. But, I thought I’d begin by reflecting in brief on what I learned about this good man in read his book.
To write an honest review, I will have to criticize some of the writing. Yet, despite my criticism of the book’s style (and length), in reading it, I found my admiration for the man continually increase. While others have faulted him for his short temper, I grew to appreciate his sense of restraint. If I had had to deal with the constant give-and-take (and duplicity) that goes on at the UN, I’d lose my cool on a regular basis.
As Botlon describes the endless negotiations with diplomats representing other nations when he served as our Ambassador to the United Nations and when he served in various positions in the State Department, we learn how hard he labored to advance the interests of the United States (and other democracies) and promote the policies of its elected government.
A writer John Bolton may not be, but a diplomat who understands the mind-set of international organizations and the globalist attitudes of the State Department bureaucracy he certainly is. Not just that. He recognizes the job of the diplomatic representatives of the United States is to advocate for our great nation, not to curry favor with (what he would describe as) the “High-Minded” representatives of the international bureaucracy and academic and media élite.
With that knowledge, he is the ideal man to reform the “accomodationist” culture at the State Department and represent our nation to the world. In short, John Bolton for Secretary of State.
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What if Bolton is assimilated by State? Every time a reformer goes in, they quickly become drones promoting the State line.
Comment by Crow — April 9, 2008 @ 4:54 pm - April 9, 2008
Crow, read Bolton’s book, especially the last chapter. He’s aware of the dangers of such “assimilation” and had the attitude and intelligence to avoid “accomodationism.”
Comment by GayPatriotWest — April 9, 2008 @ 4:56 pm - April 9, 2008
If were making 2008 Cabinet nominations and Bolton’s SecState, then I’d nominate Thomas PM Barnett as SecDef.
http://www.thomaspmbarnett.com/weblog/
He literally wrote the book on the “Gap” outlining both the Pentagon and State’s challenges both the the rising powers of India and PRChina, and on the need for a “Dept. of Everything-else” to assist the Gap Nations using both American assets and those of our current and future allies.
Still need cracker-jack-smart nominees for Treasury and Commerce; and let’s just get rid of Homeland Security entirely as both a suspect-idea-gone-sour and an aweful name.
Comment by Ted B. (Charging Rhino) — April 9, 2008 @ 6:55 pm - April 9, 2008
Any chance in hell a Democrat Senate would confirm him?
Comment by American Elephant — April 10, 2008 @ 3:25 am - April 10, 2008
[...] John Bolton for Secretary of State [...]
Pingback by GayPatriot » Norman Podhoretz & John Bolton Offer Essential Books on Struggle Against Islamofascism — April 10, 2008 @ 2:19 pm - April 10, 2008
#4
Nah. They’d be too busy conjuring up more lies about him rather than getting around to that.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — April 11, 2008 @ 5:37 am - April 11, 2008
[...] an excellent talk from future Secretary of State John Bolton and current California Governor Arnold Schwarzengger. BoifromTroy has more on what the latter had [...]
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