And another one bites the dust

This was entirely predictable.

Unable to win Senate confirmation, U.N. Ambassador John Bolton will step down when his temporary appointment expires within weeks, the White House said Monday.

He should never have been allowed to set foot on the floor of the UN in the first place. Bolton had already done enough damage at the US State Department to last a decade, but to release him on the diplomatic world, outside the Beltway, was an act of insanity.

George Bush, who wouldn't understand diplomacy if it kicked him in the ass, was understandably upset with the need to remove Bolton's nomination.

Bush, in a statement, said he was "deeply disappointed that a handful of United States senators prevented Ambassador Bolton from receiving the up or down vote he deserved in the Senate."

"They chose to obstruct his confirmation, even though he enjoys majority support in the Senate, and even though their tactics will disrupt our diplomatic work at a sensitive and important time," Bush said. "This stubborn obstructionism ill serves our country, and discourages men and women of talent from serving their nation."

How utterly bi-partisan. A handful? Republicans were calling Bolton the worst possible choice for US ambassador to the UN. The man doesn't have a diplomatic bone in his body.

John Bolton made sure the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention could not be enforced claiming it would harm US national security by allowing international inspections of US sites, even though the US claimed not to have an active biological weapons program.

John Bolton, without the support of his boss at the time, Secretary of State Colin Powell, had the head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Jose Bustani, squeezed out of his position, an act the UN later condemned as an unacceptable violation by the US and particularly Bolton. Colin Powell was furious since he had strongly supported Bustani's nomination and election.

Then, of course, there is the six-party talks on North Korea which saw Bolton as the US State Department representative. He so lacked the ability to restrain his outwardly rude behaviour that he endangered the talks and eventually had to be pulled off.

That's just a few items although it should be mentioned that Bolton is reknown for spinning intelligence to suit his own needs. In fact, it goes beyond spin. Bolton outright lies.

And, I don't know about you, but when I hear Bush utter words like this, I smell a Medal of Freedom:

"He served his country with extraordinary dedication and skill, assembling coalitions that addressed some of the most consequential issues facing the international community," the president said. "During his tenure, he articulately advocated the positions and values of the United States and advanced the expansion of democracy and liberty.

I would say, "Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out." But honestly, I want to see Bolton receive some serious damage for his behaviour. The fact that he's scum and therefore fits into the Bush administration perfectly shouldn't excuse him for being the root of great damage on the international stage.

Bush can say anything he likes. The house of cards is coming down.