What's Next for Bolton -- The Peace Prize? (Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize!)

The Washington Post ^ | February 13, 2006 | Al Kamen

[neverdem]

Controversial U.N. Ambassador John R. Bolton , who got a recess appointment in August after the Senate wouldn't confirm him, has been on something of a roll -- topped off last week with news of his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Bolton, who had been undersecretary for arms control and international security, was nominated by Sweden's former deputy prime minister, who lauded Bolton for his efforts to thwart proliferation of nuclear and other weapons, leading to the breakup of Pakistan nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan 's nefarious nuclear weapons dealings.

Back in April, Sen. George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, called him "the poster child of what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be." Last week, while saying Bolton still needed "to be watched," Voinovich said he was "pleased with the progress" Bolton and his team have made in reforming U.N. management.

Unless he gets confirmed, Bolton's appointment would expire at the end of this year. Well, no problem, that's when they award the prize, worth a cool 10 million kronor -- or $1.3 million. There are usually 140 or so candidates.

Smaller Hughes Convoy

Never let it be said that Bush administration officials don't learn from experience. In September, Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy Karen Hughes -- who's adopted a somewhat low profile amid the furor over those Danish cartoons -- took 16 reporters on her first trip to the Mideast. We all know how well that trip turned out. So this time, Hughes, heading later this week for Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Germany, has reduced the media contingent a bit. To zero.

Don't Forget to Tip

Whatever happened to Larry Franklin , a former Pentagon analyst and Mideast hard-liner who was sentenced last month to more than 12 years...

[Denver Ditdat]

Controversial U.N. Ambassador John R. Bolton , who got a recess appointment in August after the Senate wouldn't confirm him, has been on something of a roll -- topped off last week with news of his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

It would be sweet to see him win and refuse the prize on the grounds that Nobel awards to Carter and Arafat have rendered it meaningless. I like to refer to Jimmuh's award as the "No Balls Putz Prize".

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

A Pence prize would be much better, the Nobel Peace prize should be refused by any Conservative.

[ConorMacNessa]

If I were John Bolton, in the unlikely event I won, I would decline the prize. I wouldn't want to be associated with some of the scoundrels (Carter, et al.) who have gotten it.

[lesser_satan]

You have a point, but it would be worth it to see the left's reaction. I can just imagine the incoherent, shrieking, frothy invective spewed by those Jacobin crackpots were one of Chimpy McHitlerburton's evil minions to take his place among their pantheon of gods (Mandela, Jimmah, Arafat, Kofi Anan, etc).

[FreeLuna]

Voinovich is such an embarrassment. He is the epitome of the republican who listens too closely too liberal critics and becomes embarrassed that he might be called heartless for standing by conservative principles. He's one of those guys who never realized republicans won...he has no idea how to govern as a winner. He makes me ashamed to be from Ohio,He and Taft...Go Ken Blackwell!!!!

[LibertarianInExile]

As I understand it, ANYONE can be nominated for the prize...by ANYONE.

Which explains a lot.

[lesser_satan]

Really? We should nominate JimRob!