Bolton's dishonor...

I used to be upset that John Bolton was not confirmed as UN Ambassador.

After reading this, I'm not upset any more.

John Bolton undercut Colin Powell's efforts to deal with the Iranian nuclear program. It was insubordination - or its kissing cousin.

Quite frankly, even though I disagreed stringly with his position, I feel that General Anthony Zinni handled his opposition to the liberation of Iraq with far more honor than John Bolton handled his disagreement with the approaches chosen by his superiors.

Why the North Korea deal isn't a sellout...

There have been some comparisons of the recent deal by the Bush Administration to the 1994 deal cut by Jimmy Carter on the Clinton Administration's watch. These comparisons fall flat, though, and there is one big reason: Missile defense.

I've covered this issue at Strategypage in the past (both the sea-based SM-3 and the land-based GBI). By the time the Bush Administration leaves office, we will have a system in place that will have neutralized China's strategic arsenal, to say nothing of North Korea's or Iran's. Theater missile defense systems also are mature, and ready to do their thing.

In 1994, we were drawing down, to the point that people were concerned about a hollowed-out force. In 2007, we have the means to stop any North Korean attack, and then retaliate in a manner of our choosing. This is the difference.