Credit Where Due

I vociferously opposed the nomination and confirmation of John Bolton to be America's ambassador to the United Nations. But I will say, I strongly support his statement (discussed best here by Joe Gandelman at TMV) opposing UN Development Program funding of materials to be sent to Palestinian territories bearing the slogan "Today Gaza, Tomorrow the West Bank and Jerusalem." T-shirts, mugs, bumper stickers and banners were to be produced with that wording and the UNDP's logo.

Bolton rightly said "Funding this kind of activity is inappropriate and unacceptable. We plan to raise the issue with UNDP and with others."

Could some other ambassador have said the same thing? Sure. But whether we like it or not, Bolton is our envoy there now, and this is the right statement to make. So, credit to him.