The non-diplomat John Bolton

In our article of November 8, "Our Foreign Policy: the latest, latest faux pas", we have explained why John Bolton, our Ambassador to United Nations, at the time, should be fired, along with a few other non-diplomat US representatives abroad.

The deplorable behaviour of John Bolton at the Jon Stewart Daily Show on Tuesday night, reveals, once more, the ignorance and arrogance of the White House, by imposing him as our representative to the UN.

A long time ago, a distinguished US Ambassador to Great Britain, Walter Hines Page, said: "The more I find out about diplomatic customs, and the more I hear of the little-big troubles of others, the more need I find to be careful about details of courtesy".
That was really the good old times, when we were respected in the world. See our article: Respect must be Earned. (Archive of September).
As explained by the philosopher, Henry James: "Nothing is more friction-making, than the complacency with which some people assume that what is good for them, must be good for, and should be imposed upon, everyone else". We have previously commented in the article "How to promote Democracy (1)", that democracy is not for everyone. (September Archive).
For a communication to take place, we need two people. For a communication to be effective, we need two listeners. Monologue is the language of the primitive-brained man who thinks he is the centre of the universe.
The art of diplomacy is being able to disagree, without being disagreeable, being able to express our position, but also, to understand the other's position, and, if possible, to reach a consensus on certain points, to the mutual benefits of both parties. But, whatever the difficulties and disagreements, always apply the Chinese doctrine of face-saving.
Names calling, insults, arrogance, ignorance, and superior attitude become the perfect recipe for failure, losing credibility, trust and friends.
An Ambassador is a spokesperson for the Government, in place, but also, a representative of 300 million people. The behaviour of an Ambassador contributes to positive or negative feelings into the host country.

An Ambassador is also a PR person. Public relations is about nine—tenths doing and one—tenth talking.
Xenophon, who was a Greek general and an historian of around 400 B.C., remarked sagely that it is far easier to march up a steep hill without fighting, than along a level road with enemies on each side. An environment made up of good friends is beyond price. As Lincoln put it: the best way to destroy enemies is to make them your friends.

It seems that Bush-Cheney-Bolton-Rice-Negroponte, did not read too much about our American history. Forget the rest of the world. It does not exist for them.

According to Arnold J. Toynbee (Study of History), the material of human nature within our civilization is the same as that with which the Stone Age men and women had to work. Our environment is different, but basically we are primitive people in a modern world.

Intelligent public relations must be built upon a solid foundation of knowledge. The person of culture must know both sides before he can judge or talk or act with wisdom. Needless to write about such importance for our Ambassadors (and our Leaders?).

Egocentric people, including certain political leaders, are convinced that the only sensible way to go through life is by getting their own way, getting the best of every bargain, getting ahead at the expense of other people, and/or other countries.
The self—centred person is an unpleasant personality, quite unfitted for public relations, and surely not a good reference to be Ambassador.

We hope members of Congress will, in the future, be more vigilant about our representation abroad. We should start right away by calling our non-diplomat ambassadors to Venezuela, Nicaragua, Canada (hey!), and a few others, as explained in the said article of November 8.

It was a disgrace to see Mr. Bolton interviewed by Jon Stewart. Mr. Bolton was not only impolite, pompous, but wrong about President Lincoln. How can we expect him to know something about other countries. Jon Stewart has been a much greater diplomat than Bolton.

Future nominations should be based on knowledge of the host country, manners, education, culture and savoir faire, not on friendship. If the President can not do his job properly, the Congress should have the guts to do it, in the interest of the nation.

The Facilitator