NYT (Friedman): The Best Man for the U.N.

[Hand]

Tommy has outdone himself with this one... quite possibly the absolute stupidest thing he's ever written.

If President George W. Bush wants a die-hard Republican at the U.N., one who has a conservative pedigree he can trust, who is close to the president, who can really build coalitions, who knows the U.N. building and bureaucracy inside out, who can work well with the State Department and who has the respect of America's friends and foes alike, the choice is obvious, and it's not John Bolton.

It's George H. W. Bush, a k a 41. No one would make a better U.N. ambassador for Bush 43 than Bush 41...

...It's not a disaster that we went into Iraq without the U.N., but life would probably have been a lot easier (and cheaper) had we been escorted by a real U.N. coalition.

In short, I don't much care how the U.N. works as a bureaucracy; I care about how often it can be enlisted to support, endorse and amplify U.S. power. That is what serves our national interest.

:dunce:

Link

[YEM]

1. I have no problem with this.

He is a Republican so we assume he would appoint a Republican. I would rather his father then these other nut casses he surrounds himself with.

[On the Road]

3. I Agree, It Makes Perfect Sense

and the idea is calculated to drive GWB up the wall. "Appoint my father?" He wants it all for himself, and his Daddy is one person he can't dominate.

[IrateCitizen]

2. Didn't he hold this position once before???

Forgive me if I'm off-base on this, but I believe that GHW Bush was a UN Ambassador during the Nixon administration, and cast a vote against recognition of Red China as a member state in place of Taiwan.

In any case, he'd be WORLDS better than anyone in the current administration.

[bemildred]

4. Little pink pigs will fly out of my butt singing "Cum bah yah" first. nt

[Beetwasher]

5. As Long As He Promises Not To Throw Up On Anyone Important

I'd be ok w/ this.

[MISSDem]

6. Good idea.

41 or 43 would be good.

[Hand]

8. I think you mean 42

which is the Big Dog. Actually, I wouldn't mind seeing 43 (Chimpy) in the UN position. Some of those veteran diplos would love to tear him a whole new one! :evilgrin:

[MISSDem]

9. Yes I did mean 42. Got my numbers switched.

Actually I hear that President Clinton might be the next head of the UN.

[davidinalameda]

7. actually, it does make sense

Bush is still well known around the world and would hopefully be a moderating influence on Dubya's cowboy mentality

Poppy isn't quite as stupid as Dubya so maybe it could work

[FourStarDemocrat]

10. Tom Friedman is so predictable..only a few months ago he wrote that

he was going to cast his presidential vote for Bush Sr. The man believes that all problems can be solved with Bush Sr. I agree though that Bush Sr. would be world's better than Bolton, but Georgie Jr. is in too deep right now with Bolton to consider replacing him.

[OETKB]

11. Regression city

Tom Friedman's position I understand, but even thinking Bush senior is a rational choice at this moment in history is ludicrous. This is the guy who made up the first Gulf War to get himself out of a jam. There is the blood of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis on his hands. I do not think it would go over too well in that region. Pat Buchanan would probably be a more suitable choice. At least that would put him into the arena where we could agree sometimes.

[idlisambar]

12. nope

... quite possibly the absolute stupidest thing he's ever written.

not even close.