Reply #26: "Bolton’s office was responsible for the placement of the Niger uranium ..

[understandinglife]

... claims in the State Department’s December 2002 “fact sheet” on Iraq’s WMD program; claims that have since been exposed as baseless.

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The reason is straightforward. According to reports from MSNBC, John Bolton has testified to the grand jury investigating the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame. Not only is it possible that Bolton may have lied about this testimony in a questionnaire he filled out for his confirmation hearing, but the linkage to the Plame affair places Bolton, yet again, into a scenario in which intelligence was doctored for the sake of political gain. In fact, according to an investigation by the State Department Inspector General, Bolton’s office was responsible for the placement of the Niger uranium claims in the State Department’s December 2002 “fact sheet” on Iraq’s WMD program; claims that have since been exposed as baseless.

For the Bush administration, this means prolonged attention to the Karl Rove saga and yet another member of its “inner circle” associated with an emerging conspiracy. For Bolton — whose credibility is already so damaged it couldn’t possibly be made worse — the Plame linkage is yet another reason why he would do more harm then good at the United Nations. Undoubtedly, Bolton’s primary diplomatic asset — his proximity to the president — will be diminished as the administration distances itself from those involved in the leak.

And yet, as reported in The Washington Post and all but confirmed by Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, the White House will likely go ahead with a recess appointment of Bolton, potentially as soon as this Saturday (July 30, 2005). Such a course of action, now more than ever, will be an utter blow to U.S. foreign policy interests and America’s position within the international community.

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The dangers of a recess appointment are clear. The additional damage that such a course of action would cause to Bolton’s credibility will handicap him at the United Nations and damage the United States’ negotiating capacity at a time when the future of the United Nations is at stake. Emerging stories of Bolton’s less-then-honest recounting of grand jury testimony and association with the Plame investigation simply add to the problem. America needs an ambassador who can help fix what’s wrong with the United Nations without abandoning what’s right; an ambassador who can champion American policy without damaging America’s reputation, an ambassador who has the ability to build alliances without resorting to doctoring intelligence. Bolton was not that ambassador to begin with. A recess appointment only makes him worse.

From Bolton's Abscess Appointment by Don Kraus and Sam Stein

July 29, 2005

Link:

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050729/boltons_abscess_appointment.php

A recess appointment will make it absolutely clear that lawless Bush is maniacally focused on destroying the UN. All part of destroying any mechanism for holding him accountable for his vast and expanding rap sheet of capital crimes.


Peace.

www.missionnotaccmoplished.us