Splain to us how this isnt an example of you engaging in dishonest argumentation. It is abundently clear from Malloch Brown’s statement, and from obvious common sense, that he is taking the Bush administration to task for not making clear to the American public the extent to which this adminsitration, as well as all others for the past half century, have used the UN and worked together with the UN for much positive things around the world.

Rather, the Bush administration seems if anything to encourage, or to at least leave the field open for their political supporters to carry on the mindless, dishonest, nativist UN bashing that is so common on the right, including here. The result is that the Congress sees no political benefit to acting like grownups on UN related issues, and this undermines not only the UN, but American foreign policy objectives.

It is ludicrous to claim that Malloch Brown is asking for a “crackdown”, or a silencing of the critics. He is asking, quite rightly, for the administration to stop playing political games and admit to their knuckleheaded base the value that the UN is to American foreign policy.

But of course, speaking honestly about a complex reality, and stepping away from redmeat political game playing is outside the comprehension of the modern Republican party, isn’t it now?

You know, a liberal democrat friend of mine backpacked across Africa and came back with a hatred for the UN officials he saw in action.