Ari Berman: Inflate and Intimidate

A major showdown looms large this week, with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee scheduled to vote Thursday on John Bolton's nomination as America's new UN ambassador. The Bush Administration, with Chairman Richard Lugar's assistance, is withholding crucial information describing how Bolton tried to spy on colleagues through National Security Agency intercepts and how he skewed intelligence on Syria. The lack of cooperation may prompt Democrats to postpone the vote.

One thing is certain: a flurry of new allegations has surfaced since the Foreign Relations Committee postponed a vote on Bolton three weeks ago. Each has reinforced his reputation as a unilateral uber-hawk who intimidates subordinates, ignores orders, exaggerates intelligence and consistently favors ideology over expertise. Here's a rundown of the most recent allegations. For the backstory, read here, here and here.

** Bolton repeatedly exaggerated the extent of Syria's weapons capabilities and threat to the United States and the greater Middle East, clashing with the CIA and other intelligence agencies.