Alternet, John BoltonMiriam V

Leaked Document Exposes Bolton's Reforming Genius
(31 comments )

So the verdict seems to be in: John Bolton's charm offensive is proving
every bit as effective at the U.N. as it was with the Senate, which
President Bush
had to bypass to install him as ambassador.

As the London Independent
put it:

Block quote start
Any hopes that John Bolton, the new US ambassador to the United Nations,
would have been chastened by the way he was elevated to his position have
been
dashed by the emergence of a leaked document detailing his negotiating
demands for next month's UN summit.
Block quote end

No wonder that the leaked
38-page document
[pdf] gutting so many
proposed reforms has been causing great turmoil at the State Department. As
Steve Clemons
asked:

Block quote start
Condi -- When does the "supervision" promised to Senators Voinovich, Hagel,
and Chafee begin?
Block quote end

Virtually every change made in the reform document seemed designed to
undermine important goals.

Here is perhaps the most immoral deletion:
Block quote start
Provide, as a priority, assistance for HIV/AIDS prevention, care and
treatment in African countries on a grant basis, and encourage
pharmaceutical companies
to make anti-retroviral drugs affordable and accessible in Africa and ensure
increased support for bilateral and multilateral assistance to combat
malaria,
tuberculosis and other infectious diseases in Africa. (p.14)
Block quote end

Then there are the deletions in the climate change section intended to leave
the impression that the jury is still out on global warming. You know, we
really
shouldn't come to any hasty conclusions about this, or, god forbid, act on
any such conclusions.
Block quote start
...taking into account the Rio principles, inter alia the principle of
common but differentiated responsibilities. We recognize that climate change
is a
serious and long-term challenge that has the potential to affect every part
of the world..

[.]

Undertake concerted global action to address climate change, including
through meeting all commitments and obligations under the Kyoto Protocol.and
other
relevant international agreements, increase energy efficiency, technological
innovation, and to initiate negotiations to develop a more inclusive
international
framework for climate change beyond 2012, with broader participation by both
developing and developed countries, taking into account the principle of
common
but differentiated responsibilities. (p.8)
Block quote end

And here are just a few other highlights:
Block quote start
We rededicate ourselves to support all efforts to uphold, as enshrined in
the United Nations charter.and the right of self-determination of peoples
which
remain under colonial domination and foreign occupation... (p.1)
Block quote end

I can't imagine what could possibly be Bolton's problem with "colonial
domination and foreign occupation".

Block quote start
We reaffirm the vital importance of an effective multilateral system, with a
strong United Nations at its core, in order to better address.challenges and
threats confronting our world and to achieve progress in the areas of
development, security and human rights, and commit to spare no efforts in
promoting
and strengthening the effectiveness of the organization and implementation
of its decisions. (p.1)
Block quote end

I thought "strengthening the effectiveness of the organization and
implementation of its decisions" were the explicit reasons Bolton's
reforming genius
was so badly needed at the U.N.
Block quote start
We agree recognize that current developments and circumstances require that
we build consensus on major threats and challenges. We commit to translate
that
consensus into concrete action, including addressing the root causes of
those threats and challenges. (p.2)
Block quote end

We recognize, but god knows we don't agree with it, which, given Bush's
history of "consensus-building," is pretty consistent.

Block quote start
We pledge to make the United Nations more relevant, more effective, more
efficient, more accountable and more credible and to provide the
Organization with
the resources needed to fully implement its mandates. This is our shared
responsibility and our common interest. (p.2)
Block quote end

It takes a lot of chutzpah to pledge to make the United Nations "more
relevant, more effective, more efficient, more." while crossing out the line
about
providing it with the resources to achieve these goals.

The list goes on and on.

Clearly, Senator George Voinovich knew what was coming when he gave his
emotional speech
on the floor of the Senate:

Block quote start
"This appointment is very, very important to our country. At a strategic
time when we need friends all over the world, we need somebody up there
that's
going to be able to get the job done. I know, some of my friends say, 'Let
it go, George. It's going to work out,' I don't want to take the risk. I
came
back here and ran for a second term because I'm worried about my kids and my
grandchildren. And I just hope my colleagues will take the time and...do
some
serious thinking about whether or not we should send John Bolton to the
United Nations."
Block quote end