Posted on 03/19/2005 4:47:45 AM PST by billorites
The latest example of in-your-face diplomacy by President Bush - the nomination of Iraq war architect Paul Wolfowitz to head the World Bank - is yet another declaration of independence from world opinion that the president professes to be courting. Coming after the appointment of a professed critic of the United Nations, John R. Bolton, to be the ambassador to the world body that Mr. Bush loves to twit, the message to supposed allies and friends is: Get over it.
What Mr. Bush wants the world, and the United Nations in particular, to get over is how he brushed aside their widespread opposition to his invasion of Iraq two years ago. He later seemed to go out of his way to fuel antagonism in "Old Europe," in Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's memorable phrase.
Mr. Wolfowitz, a former ambassador to Indonesia and Mr. Rumsfeld's deputy in running the Pentagon, undoubtedly has the paper credentials to take on the World Bank job. But his impetuous urging of the Iraq invasion, the unforeseen pitfalls and the colossal costs in men and treasure, question his judgment and credibility.
With the Wolfowitz and Bolton nominations, Mr. Bush is back to his nose-thumbing attitude toward his international critics after a period of seeking help from foreign leaders who opposed the invasion.
Mr. Bolton will go to the United Nations under a cloud of his own making, created by hostile statements about the organization's existence and U.S. financial contribution to it. From all indications, he will go as an enforcer, which may be needed. But the question is whether his anti-U.N. record makes him the best American to sell reform to the world body.
Mr. Wolfowitz's image as the dark eminence in the over-optimistic run-up to a supposed cakewalk in Iraq that turned into a quagmire...
(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...
Bahaha! I love it when they just WONT let go of their pet theories and feelings about an issue..
ROTFL! My guess is The Sun never shines in Baltimore.
Was this ghost-written by John F'n Kerry?
One has to wonder if - Jules - actually has any.
bump for later discussion
The Baltimore Sun shines where the sun doesn't.
These people are not living in reality; it's no wonder they're now the minority party.
As I recall, they thought Reagan's "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" statement was too provocotive as well.
You got that right. Why put printers ink on good toilet tissue?
It would seem to me that, without friction, there would be no pressure to change. If we sent a toady, like all the "libs" want, we would be sending a message that we could abide the current status quo.
the Left wing/MSM have been lying nonstop 24/7 for 2 years now and they still haven't convinced a majority of the people about Iraq being a quagmire. Imagine what most people would think if they managed to get a proportional amount of the good news that comes from our military's effort in Iraq.
Yet as the recent events show that not only is this not a quagmire, but that the planning and execution have been exceptional and that what President Bush has said all along "All people long to be free" is correct. The MSM still repeats their lame, tired mantra.
'World opinion' should just be happy Bush was in a good mood that day and didn't appoint either Newt Gingrich, Tom DeLay or Rush for UN Ambassador.
Like you, Jules, are brushing aside the many members of the Iraqi coalition? As if we are there totally alone. I'm sure Australia, Italy, the U.K., etc. appreciate your ignorant, asinine remarks.
...amusing that the fact that spread of Democracy in the Middle East is occurring as a result was ignored in this piece.
Someone put rat poison in their crab cakes...
IN THIS BIASED ARTCICLE, CONSIDER: DO YOU LIKE THE UN? IF YOU CONSIDER THAT THE WORLD BANK IS A "CLOSE SECOND" GIVE WOLFOWITZ A CHANCE, I'M UP FOR A CHANGE OF PACE AFTER A VERY STAGNANT AND NOT VERY FUNCTIONAL WORLD BANK (AND A VERY CONSERVATIVE ONE).
JOHN MILLER
FINANCIAL ADVISOR
DEMOCRAT
BOSTON
Maybe somebody who would promote the "new tone" and invite world leaders over for a movie and popcorn would be better.
"colossal costs in men and treasure,"
-With all due respect, colossal cost in men might be the millions lost by Russia in World War II or the Civil War losses here in the United States. I wish not a single soldier were lost in Iraq but in reality, 1,500 deaths is not a 'colossal loss'. Let's keep things in perspective.
Antietam Casualties, Approximate Numbers
Union Confederate Total
Killed 2,100 1,550 3,650
Wounded 9,550 7,750 17,300
Missing/Captured 750 1,020 1,770
Total 12,400 10,320 22,720
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