Ambassador Bolton: Reforming The U.N. Singlehandly

But of course he's not for all people of good will are behind him. What, you say, all three of us? Yeah, seems that way sometimes doesn't it. The U.N. is corrupt and loving it, but take heart that the man you voted for has selected an ambassador that is, if not kicking ass, then at least taking names.

WSJ.com - The Bolton Edit

"On foreign aid, for example, he wants to stress not just the amount of assistance, which is the main concern at the U.N. Mr. Bolton wants the U.N. to acknowledge what leaders of the G-8 nations recently agreed to, which is that the aid should go "particularly for countries that are making efforts to use resources wisely, strengthen governance, and reduce poverty through sustainable economic growth."

There's more. In the section on nonproliferation, the U.N. draft offers a windy sentence on the need for progress in disarmament. Mr. Bolton rightly wants to strike that language, which is often used by Iran and other rogue states as an alibi to skirt their nonproliferation commitments. In its place, he suggests: "The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, and the possibility that terrorists might acquire such weapons, remain the greatest threats to international peace and security." As Henry Kissinger likes to say, that has the added advantage of being true.

Some of Mr. Bolton's edits seem small but are literally worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The U.N. draft "commends" the Secretary General "to modernize the United Nations, in particular its headquarters." Mr. Bolton deletes the language about headquarters. Why? The U.N. is seeking to move into temporary Manhattan real estate as it renovates its Turtle Bay facility. Government auditors fear a billion-dollar boondoggle there, and believe millions in savings could be realized if the U.N. alters existing plans."

Lots more and stay tuned. Too much happens for one person to cover but I'll do my level best to send a story ot two about John your way whenever possible. Will leave you now with part of a statement from Kofi Annan on his vision of reforming the U.N.

"We are encouraged by recent commitments to substantial increases in official development assistance, while recognizing that a substantial increase in ODA is required to achieve the internationally agreed goals including, by 2015, the MDGs."

Where's an interpreter when you really need one...