So much for morality
Listening to a defiant John Bolton reassert the case for military action against Iran in - of all places - Blackpool, was surreal. Here was George Bush's leading hawk reaffirming the case for intervention in the Middle East as if the war on Iraq had been a roaring success.
Bolstering his case with a blistering attack on the European Union and its four years of failed diplomacy with Tehran, may have warmed the cockles of many a Eurosceptic Tory, especially those concerned with moves to create a single European foreign policy. But few were entirely convinced that this hard line neocon approach to foreign policy challenges was the right answer. For after the fallout in Iraq jaw-jaw looks decidedly more appealing to most of us - regardless of party - than more war-war. And especially if the war is in a far off country about which we either know nothing or want to know nothing.
And yet, listening to Mr Bolton it was like listening to Margaret Thatcher. Here was a man of destiny, a man of iron certainty and will power guided by deep unflinching principles that appear neither susceptible to challenge nor change. As such, he was an electrifying speaker. Yes, it's true. For today's Tories are tiring of the bland diet of centrist, consensual speak that is the speciality of David Cameron's Conservatives.
Here was a man ready to go on a limb and fight his corner no matter how unpopular the cause.
In contrast, Douglas Hurd - the ex-diplomat-turned foreign secretary - served up a mild rebuke of Mr Bolton.
What is required, Lord Hurd argued, was to maximise sanctions against Iran, not forceful intervention. "The use of military force would be premature at this stage," he said. We need "sceptical analysis" above all, especially "after years of Bush/Blairite rhetoric." That's why "we must apply a much greater dose of distrust than we have in the past."
Was Lord Hurd right? Possibly. But to some of us it seemed a timid response. And just typical of the Foreign Office. Yet who could disagree with Lord Hurd when he said our foreign policy should be ethical?
When asked what it would take to get the west to intervene in Zimbabwe - a regime headed by an evil dictator guilty of starving his people and murdering many thousands - how did Lord Hurd respond? He poo-pooed any suggestion that intervention could be justified by the British. "We should leave it to the South Africans to sort out."
In contrast, Bolton said it would never be in the interests of the United States to topple Mugabe no matter how evil his regime. Foreign policy should be guided above all by national self-interest.
So much for morality in foreign policy.
For more Comment is free coverage of the 2007 Conservative conference, click here.
For all our conference coverage, click here.