Many thanks for the kind remarks. Just one thing -- I wrote a follow-up post on the important role the UK has been playing in the original drafting. As was clear at Gleneagles, Mr Blair and Mr Bush don't see eye to eye on a lot of stuff like development and the environment. The UK is pretty clearly going back over ground where they couldn't make progress at the G-8.

As the negotiations have continued -- and the various objections on a range of topics have emerged from a number of quarters -- it's clear that the US is not the only one raising fundamental issues. I'll try to write on this over the weekend.

As CKR points out, it's also quite clear that the disputes aren't Bolton-driven but rather a reflection of long-standing US policies -- some distinctly Bushian, but others that cross political parties and administrations.
 

Hey Mark!

Support it ain't. I'm just trying to set the record straight. A lone wolf couldn't get away with what Bolton's doing.

Uh, unless his bosses are looking the other way, buying shoes and riding bicycles with Lance Armstrong.

CKR
 

Hi Nad,

Many thanks for your efforts on this issue - your post was also a good illustration on how the NGO/Trans-Prog network is continually trying to grab unaccountable ( if diffuse) power from established institutions and states

CKR

Your caveat of Bolton non-defense is noted and accepted along with your already recognized rep for intellectual honesty.