Bush: Bolton Not Credible
Here’s a wacky story — hard-core neocons confront George W. Bush about him having abandoned their fringiest ideas:
Boot remained unimpressed. He cited a column in that morning’s Wall Street Journal by John Bolton, who was Bush’s ambassador to the United Nations, lacerating the administration for betraying its own principles by lifting some sanctions on North Korea in exchange for an incomplete accounting of Pyongyang’s nuclear program. “Nothing can erase the ineffable sadness of an American presidency, like this one, in total intellectual collapse,” Bolton wrote.
Bush grew more agitated at the mention of his own former senior diplomat. “Let me just say from the outset that I don’t consider Bolton credible,” the president said bitterly. Bush had brought Bolton into the top ranks of his administration, fought for Senate confirmation and, when lawmakers balked, defied critics to give the hawkish aide a recess appointment. “I spent political capital for him,” Bush said, and look what he got in return. The president went on to defend his North Korea decision, saying his “action for action” approach held out the most hope of getting rid of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons.
Of course Bush is right, Bolton isn’t a credible thinker on national security issues. But Bolton is also right — the inherent unworkability of the Bush doctrine has persuaded Bush to substantially abandon it in the waning days of his administration. But before Bush subscribed to the “Bush doctrine” it was John McCain’s doctrine, and he shows no sign of having left the true faith.
30 Responses to “Bush: Bolton Not Credible”
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August 31st, 2008 at 10:38 am
What’s funny about this is that this must be the one occasion in which Captain Kangaragnarok is more accurate than his former boss & cheerleader — at least Bolton detects the change in the Bush Jr. approach to North Korea (even while Bolton consistently backs a wrong and lunatic policy), whereas Bush Jr. still seems to think that if he barks pissily enough, things are whatever he characterizes them as.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:40 am
I note Bush’s tone; it’s all too familiar. He sponsored Bolton, and so he owns him. It’s not a rejection of his ideas [at least not explicitly]; it’s an attack on a turncoat.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:56 am
it really pissed me off that the nyt writer never challenged the lie that the ’surge has worked’.
he does gives us the pieces to show it has not worked: the fact that its sole point and purpose was to foster political reconciliation. none of the reconciliation has happened. and if the politics didn’t work, the surge didn’t work.
but baker still spouts the easy republican line that it was a glorious success.
August 31st, 2008 at 12:24 pm
“Intellectual collapse” is an interesting formulation, and telling. Government isn’t an intellectual exercise–it’s about muddling through as best you can. Ideological purity is a strange metric.
August 31st, 2008 at 2:27 pm
It’s nice to hear him say that and all, but it begs the question of why Bolton ever had such an influential position in his administration in the first place.*
*Okay, it’s not hard to guess at the answer, but it would still be swell to hear some intrepid journalist actually vocalize that question.
August 31st, 2008 at 4:48 pm
El Cid wrote:
“.. in which Captain Kangaragnarok”
Thanks El Cid, I now have a new nickname for He is the Walrus. Well done, laddie!
September 1st, 2008 at 4:35 am
Bush grew more agitated at the mention of his own former senior diplomat. “Let me just say from the outset that I don’t consider Bolton credible,” the president said bitterly.
Hubby: What!? (blink)(pause) This is The Onion, right?
Me: No! Bwaah-hah-hah! It’s The New York Times!
Hubby: (blink) (blink blink) (stare)
September 1st, 2008 at 8:08 am
Report from the Netherlands that a bombing attack on Iran is imminent.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3590336,00.html
Dutch newspaper reports intelligence service recently suspended successful operation in Islamic republic following estimate that US army will decide to launch airstrike against Iranian targets in coming weeks
September 1st, 2008 at 8:29 am
“Let me just say from the outset that I don’t consider Bolton credible,” the president said bitterly.
And yet you appointed him undersecretary for arms control and ambassador to the UN. What does that say about you, George?
September 1st, 2008 at 8:32 am
Wow. Bush gets one thing right in eight years and the christofascists attack him for it. Just can’t catch a break, can ya chimpy?
September 1st, 2008 at 10:53 am
In this case I think the ancient Romans had the proper remedy: Put both Bush and Bolton into a canvas sack that is sewn shut, and then throw the sack in the Tiber.
September 1st, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Re: Bush gets one thing right in eight years and the christofascists attack him for it.
??
What Cristofacists? Bolton’s just a plain old fashioned Neocon imperialist. The Christianist wing of the GOP still adores Bush as the second coming of King David.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:28 pm
whatever Bolton is, don’t worry, what about Bush who set acountry alight with fire killing over amillion, beleive me he is worse than Osama, but who will hold him accountable?
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:29 pm
whatever Bolton is, don’t worry, what about Bush who set acountry alight with fire killing over amillion, beleive me he is worse than Osama, but who will hold him accountable?
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