Bolton somehow isolates himself...and us

Surprise, surprise! While I agree with John Bolton that -- theoretically -- unilateralism is not isolationism, an isolated unilateralist makes the two a distinction without a difference. Via Steve Clemons, it looks like Bolton's tactics at the United Nations are managing to alienate America's most steadfast partner. The Telegraph:

Britain has rebuffed a Bolton move to join him in refusing to pass the organisation's 2006 budget until member states approve wide-ranging management reforms.

While Britain is all for the reform package, which would introduce needed management restructing at the United Nations, that doesn't mean that Bolton will get the accompanying pleasure of bullying it through the UN, rather then finessing it through.

"He gets results," was the administration mantra that never quite sold John Bolton to America or to the US Senate, forcing Bush's recess appointment. If one's "style" can't even keep Great Britain from being alienated, the evident absurdity ought to be some getting attention from Congress.

But then again, as Steve Clemons puts it:

Hopefully, the recess-appointed U.S. Ambassador to the UN will drop the feuding theatrics and get back to diplomacy -- but in the words of one high-ranking State Department official with whom I spoke on Wednesday, "We are lucky Bolton is no longer here (at headquarters)."

Comments

[M. Douglas Wray]

I still say Bolton looks like Captain Crunch on crack.

Acts like it too.