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| A/O Global Intelligence Weekly: Bolton Might Be The Shot In The Arm We Need |
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News this week of John Bolton's ascendancy to the White House has been the topic of much conversation as of late. With the dust settled and the air cleared, I wanted to offer some clear-sighted and sober thoughts as to what Bolton's leadership as National Security Advisor means for Washington and the world.
First and foremost, John Bolton is a person a great intelligence. He has deep experience, including his appointment as Ambassador to the United Nations. Personally, I met him there when I attended the U.N. to monitor the discussions on a proposed international treaty on the control of small arms. He stepped out of a meeting to greet me, and with great courtesy.
My summation of the man's character? Bolton is a patriot, one who cares deeply about the future and safety of the United States.
Meanwhile, the American left is desperately seeking to cage and define the role of the National Security Advisor, judging Bolton's appointment against their manufactured definition. The role they describe is found in the White House Transition Project of the Moody Foundation, one where Bolton's role would be demoted to that of an honest broker of policy options rather than an advocate for his own policy agenda.
Of course, this attempt to cage Bolton is utter nonsense -- the President alone defines the role of the National Security Advisor in any way he wishes, and will make the final and sole determination whether an official like John Bolton meets his own requirements.
More specifically, Bolton recognizes the grave dangers we face in today's world, and is unlikely to advise a passive foreign policy. We here at American Opportunity, in our foreign policy essays previously published to our web page, recognize these dangers. We advocate a strong forward posture in Conservative Internationalism, one which advocates a policy of diplomacy backed by the American capacity to use force, one which makes a successful diplomatic solution more likely.
Bolton is likely to help the President define the true threats to the United States, urge the preparation of force as necessary -- but not necessarily the use that force if the national security of the U.S. can be achieved through diplomacy. Concerns about a return of "cowboy diplomacy" under Bolton are dealing more in hyperbole than honesty, and perhaps fear a repudiation of Obama's eight year fumbling of American power.
More after the jump. . . |
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