Bolton no doubt noticed that Rumsfeld is gone and replaced with Robert Gates, a very different sort of secretary of Defense

Bolton no doubt noticed that Rumsfeld is gone and replaced with Robert Gates, a very different sort of

secretary of Defense. He will have observed that the worst of the neocons (including himself) are now

writing books and spending more time with families and friends, cheer-leading for more BOOTSBUY by

writing op-eds from the outside rather than pursuing their strategies in policy meetings in the White

House.

He will have seen the gradual shift of the policy center of gravity from Dick Cheney to Rice and Gates.

He will have been listening when the Chairman of the JCS and others have said as clearly as they

realistically can that the military option, though never renounced as a theoretical possibility, is the

least attractive option available to us and in fact is close to impossible given our over-stretch in

Iraq and Afghanistan.

In other words, Bolton, as someone whose policies (in my view) are certifiably insane, recognizes real

pragmatism and moderation in Washington when he sees it. And he does not like what he sees in this lame

duck administration.