Middle East News: Bolton Resignation - 2 Takes

[Middle East News Service comments: The departure of John Bolton from the UN has generally been welcomed in both the United States and elsewhere. Opinion polls and the US mid-terms elections indicate falling support for everything Bolton stood for from supporting torture to the War on Iraq. In a final twist of irony even the people Nicaragua voted for his nemesis Daniel Ortega only a week or so ago. (Bolton was directly involved in the running of the Contras who used terrorism against the then government of Nicaragua.)

Unfortunately this is not aspect that the (right-wing) Jewish Telegraphic Agency chose to highlight. One can only assume that the editorial of the New York Jewish Forward was not available in time for the Australian Jewish News. (The AJN has exchange arrangement with both the above news services. You can judge for yourself which is the more sensible and even-handed account – Sol Salbe.]

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(AJN 8 December 2006 Page 15 No URL)

Regret at Bolton’s bolt

NEW YORK – Israeli officials and American Jewish leaders are expressing regret at the resignation of tough-talking US ambassador to the UN John Bolton.

Recently described as “Israel’s secret weapon” by his colleague, Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman, Bolton was a staunch defender of Israel and fierce foe of Iran and the “anti-Israeli majority” at the UN. He helped shape UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the Israeli-Hezbollah war on terms Israel could accept.

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Bolton was forced to resign after losing hope that the newly Democratic US Senate would approve his candidacy.

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Dear John

Fri. Dec 08, 2006
http://www.forward.com/articles/dear-john/

John Bolton’s resignation as American ambassador to the United Nations is an important and welcome step in the national healing process that began on Election Day, November 7. Bolton’s presence at the U.N. for the past 15 months, despite the Senate’s refusal to confirm him, has been a daily reminder of the Bush administration’s arrogant, willful style of governance, of its contempt for the meaning of democracy and the separation of powers. Bolton’s performance at the world body, his stubborn flaunting of American exceptionalism, has been a perfect metaphor for this administration’s ideological high-handedness in coping with the problems of the nation and the world.

President Bush, in his decision to resubmit Bolton’s name to the Senate last month despite the clear statement of the national will, as expressed by the voters, managed to demonstrate once again the deep capacity for denial of reality that guides him as a leader. Bolton, at least, had the wisdom to see the midterm election for what it was: a national repudiation of the Bush governing style. His decision to pack his bags is an occasion for a national sigh of relief and even gratitude.

Alas, one major constituency on the public stage has chosen to greet Bolton’s resignation not with relief but with regret. In a noisy, tin-eared outpouring of sycophantic unanimity, a phalanx of America’s most influential and respected Jewish organizations has flooded cyberspace this week with heartfelt salutes to Bolton and laments of his departure. At last count, the list included the American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, the World Jewish Congress, B’nai B’rith International, the Orthodox Union and the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs. In statement after statement, the agencies hail Bolton for his supposed effectiveness and passion in defending Israel and advancing the causes of democracy and U.N. reform.

SEE FULL STORY:
http://www.forward.com/articles/dear-john/

[The independent Middle East News Service concentrates on providing alternative information chiefly from Israeli sources. It is sponsored by the Australian Jewish Democratic Society. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the AJDS. These are expressed in its own statements.]

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