A book from Bolton – Five cardinal sins

Jan 29, 2020 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,

I learn that Mr. John Bolton did unsheathe the sword that is his knowing pen and spilled blood all over Capitol Hill. His unpublished manuscript, shared with the National Security Council, tells the story that protectors of the president do not wish to see the light of day.
Well, it is in limelight and spotlight, and sure to be highlighted repeatedly in scorching detail before a world no longer shocked at the lengths to which a leader would go to get his way. What could be shocking is if Republican senators put party loyalty (and fear of the president) ahead of their conscience and constitutional responsibility, for the disclosures are from one of their very own.
There is no shooting of this particular messenger, as detested as he is now. For he is as American as they come: Rock-ribbed, red-blooded, red meat Republican, bedrock Republican.
John Bolton is, if anything, still an archconservative and ultra-hawk, one of the founder Vulcans, who believe in the expression and projection of American power as a foreign policy tool to compel subservience to American interests and objectives. For him to do what he did, take the stands that he has, says so much of what has gone wrong in the White House.
I say this because John Bolton is not the kind of man to go against his president, especially a Republican one. No Judas is he. So for him to proceed down this hill of dissent conveys the depths of his torments, the sharp disillusionments with his leader, who has failed the Republic, the high office held, the people who believe in him and trust in him, through one subterfuge after another.
Let it be said, and I say it, as an American citizen, it has been one low betrayal and sellout and conspiracy after another through things un-American with people not American.
Mr. Bolton’s book pinpoints and channels the glare of unwanted publicity, necessary publicity, from an insider, a loyal and respected one. There were five failures in leadership acumen, in leadership judgment, in leadership character; five cardinal sins, that are best sought pardon for, instead of the rages, improprieties, and buffooneries that make utter fools and laughingstocks of lawmakers who support him uncaringly, blindly, inexplicably.
There they are as identified in the New York Times on January 26th.
First, the suspended and dangled quid pro quo of aid withheld on the condition of delivery of what would damn and destroy a political opponent. Second, ignoring and overpowering advisers on the same issue for unacceptable and unconstitutional ends; the wrong issue prioritized in the wrong way for the worst of expected results.
Third, the corruption of the once law and order mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, to fell unjustly an ambassador, and to perpetuate more crookedness. Fourth, muzzling Mr. Bolton from testifying before the Congress and to the truths of the matter; if there was no failure, then there is no fear.
And fifth, this still unpublished manuscript of the former National Security Adviser, which lays all of it out, and now ties the impeachment trial into knots, while turning it on its head, along with the diehard senators, who hold the fate of the presidency, maybe the Republic, in their hands.
Things are so bleak that even the Wall Street Journal, that erstwhile defender of the faith relative to mantras conservative and the excesses of a troubled president was forced to come to terms, through grudging and guarded acknowledgement of the Bolton book development, as allegedly leaked to and released by the New York Times.
The Journal’s headline of January 7th spoke to its uncertainty, its uneasiness: “Bolton claim set to scramble impeachment proceedings.” The customary secondary sub-caption elaborated, “Draft of his book says that Trump sought to keep aid to Ukraine frozen over Biden probe.” Indeed, the waters are further muddied, through the believed insider and authoritative authorship of Mr. Bolton.
I believe him. I note also that not many Republican stalwarts are rushing forward to attack Mr. Bolton and what is sure to be polemical, endlessly divisive. If one thing only, it leaves a number of senators in the unrelenting and remorseless glare of unforgiving searchlights. What will they stand for now? What can they deny or defend or rationalize now, given this development?
Whatever dignity and character they have left will be hung out for all to behold and either hold their noses and turn their faces in horror and disbelief. Or be gratified and applaud that America and its supreme legislative organ still has a certain kind of man and woman in its ranks. And those that would be for the benefit of the nation, and not merely for the paramountcy of the party.
There is a message there for Guyanese political campaigners and would-be governors.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall

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