News-Record.com

Bully? Tough as nails and not one to take a lot of bull hardly makes one a bully. Perhaps it is the right time to put someone with some gonads in the UN that will tell folks it's time to put up or shut up and stop with the dancing around the Maypole and do the work they were established to do instead of depending on the US to do it for them and then condemning them when they do.

I actually think Bolton may behave himself in the U.N. job -- and Bush ought to assign him a minder to keep him out of trouble. But, because of his temperament, I never would have selected him for this post. The president could have come up with better choice.

You know they said the same thing about me when I was made 1st Sgt of Recruiting Gp Hq. They said my temperment was not good for the job of dealing with detachment Hq's and the Officer grades and Sr. NCO's that were there. It was my temperment that allowed me to work efficiently with those same people who so feared it would work against me. I had the hardness necessary to say what I expected of them and the ability to set the screws tight if they failed to meet expectations.
I suspect that Bolton is very much like that in many respects.
After my tour in that capacity I was applauded as one of the best all around 1stSgt's ever. Commendations from AF Recruiting Hq and awards from AF Hq were the icing on the cake. The real honor was see that the mission was accomplished and accomplished well.
I still have the temperment of Peter and the boldness of Paul and both serve me well to this day.

My hat's off to you for your accomplishments and your service to our country, mrp.

I wonder if a military manner is not always well suited to the diplomatic arena. George Marshall and Colin Powell bridged those worlds, of course, but perhaps not everyone could.

Bolton isn't a military man, but at times he's been known to treat people like a drill sergeant barking at recruits.

I concur with your opinion on John "Yosemite Sam" Bolton.

I understand that the President must be a leader. I don't understand why he has to be right at all costs.

Instead of putting forth a person who, after some handwringing and gnashing of teeth, would be confirmed, the President chose someone who was virtually X-ed the first day.

Just because Bolton may have hurt someone's feelings some years ago (and what subordinate who failed to perform has not had his feelings hurt at some time, real or imagined?) does that mean he is no good?
I know folks on the President's Secret Service detail, the way Ted Kennedy treats people should be a criminal offense, but he's still loved and revered by many. And I don't think Bolton has drowned any women, either.

If you're saying John Bolton is no worse a character than Ted Kennedy, that's not a high recommendation.

Given the laxity of the UN perhaps someone with a bit of "drill Sgt. " mentality is needed.

Thank you Doug for your kind words. Yes, I was also able to bridge that gap as necessary. Often times working in Embassies and dealing with various diplomatic type's in part of my career with the military and as a civilian it was necessary to bite the lip a bit. However, I discovered that a strong word spoken at the right moment is often received well, if not at the moment of hearing perhaps after time to "chew on it" a bit.

To compare John Bolton's behavior to that of a drill sergeant is to do a disservice to drill sergeants. With drill sergeants -- good ones -- it's never personal; it's all about toughness in pursuit of a higher goal of benefit to not only the sergeant and the recruits, but the unit, the service and the country.

I'm with Doug. I caught hell from bullies growing up because I was willing to say what I thought of them, so I know them well. And "bully" is certainly how Bolton comes across, although I'm willing to be persuaded by evidence that that isn't the real Bolton.

Lex you failed to grasp the meaning of my statement about someone needed in the UN with the "drill Sgt" mentality. It was that mental toughness, which some called bulliness in the political arena, that is need to insure the stability of the unit and the service it should provide and is certainly not doing.
I understand the mentality of a DI Lex, since in my time I also served in that capacity. Tough job, and yes sometime one has to get in the face of an individual inorder to protect the unit and to insure the security and safety of the unit and point out the error of their way. I must have done something correct since I had many who contacted me in later years and thanked me for being tough but fair.

I can also speak as one who dealt with bullies in the schoolyard. I was not a supersized kid, just tall and skinny. I too stood up to bullies, not on my behalf but on behalf of those who were being tormented daily by the bullies. After a run in with the tall skinny boy they left the "little kids",( the weak, the timid) alone
I was very diplomatic about the situation. I simply asked them to leave the other kid alone and if they had a problem take it up with me as I was sure that we could reach a successful solution to the problem. Some choose not to listen to words and had to suffer humiliation at the hands of the tall ,skinny boy .
Because I made a choise to confront those who would bully the smaller weaker boy, did that make me a bully?