I have searched, but sadly cannot locate anywhere in my being an even minute shred of comfort – cold, luke-warm, or hot-hot-hot – at the news of John Bolton’s resignation. All I find is despair at the widening wreck of our country, at the quiet dismantling, by almost unseen hands, of the freedom of spirit that has made America unique, at the quick-blossoming treachery, urged on all sides, that would reward our enemies and betray our friends. John Bolton’s resignation is emblematic of the surreal transformation that has been under way in our foreign policy since last spring and earlier. President Bush may still have the captain’s hat, but others are at the wheel and plotting the course, and it’s a course that will see us founder all too soon.
I take some courage at finding one hopeful and undaunted soul amongst this smoldering wreckage, even though I cannot myself make this leap of faith. My fear and expectation is that Bolton will not be replaced by a Nero in diplo clothing who will let the UN just burn down to be replaced eventually by something better; but rather by a smooth enabler who will further the the UN’s relentless desire to chip, and chip, and chip away at the sovereignty of nations the better to put itself forward as a world government. (Bill Evans is just playing “Here’s That Rainy Day”. I have the feeling that Ambassador Bolton’s resignation is the occasion of just one of many rainy days to come.) The faction currently in charge of our foreign policy is fervently PRO-UN. Thus, if anything, I think we will see an even greater emphasis and reliance on working through and for the UN, not less.
As for cutting off funding to the UN, it is, of course, the best possible course of action to start controlling their financial profligacy, the tyranny of despots that currently holds sway there, and the UN’s generally unholy aspirations. However, even in the face of the OFF horrors, and the dozens of other scandals at the UN, no serious move has been made to cut off funding. With Republican majorities in both houses, and a Republican President, American taxpayer dollars have continued, unabated, to flood the UN coffers. If, in those circumstances, this excellent idea was not put into action, I don’t think that there is any chance at all of seeing the upcoming Democratic congress seek to curtail US funding for the UN. I will even go out on a limb, and predict that the Democratic congress will attempt to INCREASE funding to the UN. And we can forget about any further congressional investigations of OFF after January.
We’re in deep water here, and it looks more and more as though we lack the proverbial paddle — or the will to use it. I’m sorry I can’t be more positive and hopeful about the situation. I yearn to be totally incorrect about all this. Please convince me I’m wrong! Any ideas about who the new nominee will be for the Turtle Bay torture seat?
