US News
Bush's contentious UN envoy calls it quits (Roundup)
Dec 4, 2006, 17:36 GMT
Washington/New York - John Bolton, US President George W Bush's contentious and outspoken choice as United Nations ambassador, has given up his post in the face of stiff opposition in Congress, the White House said Monday.
A critic of the United Nations and a prominent conservative, Bolton was named by Bush in August 2005 in what was billed as a US push for reform at the world body. Bush used his constitutional authority to appoint Bolton, 58, to the job during a legislative recess after Senate Democrats blocked the nomination.
Bush said he was 'deeply disappointed' and accepted Bolton's decision to withdraw his nomination 'with deep regret.' Bolton's term expires with the current session of Congress, which ends in January.
Bush accused Democrats of disrupting US diplomatic efforts as his administration tries to win Security Council consensus on crucial issues, including Iran's nuclear activities.
'This stubborn obstructionism ill serves our country, and discourages men and women of talent from serving their nation,' Bush said.
Any chances that Bolton, an ally of Vice President Dick Cheney, might win confirmation evaporated when the Democrats won control of both congressional houses in November 7 elections. Bolton would have had to be confirmed by the Senate to remain on the job into the next session of Congress.
Democrats opposed Bolton over allegations he verbally abused employees at the State Department and tried to sack individuals who disagreed with his views. Democrats also portrayed Bolton as hostile toward the United Nations and too temperamental for the sensitive diplomatic job.
Bolton's retreat was the second setback for Bush in less than a month. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the chief architect of the US war in Iraq, announced his resignation the day after the elections.
In a letter of resignation released by the White House, Bolton said he had served 'in a time of peril and challenge' and reached his decision 'after careful consideration.'
Bolton helped lead US diplomacy on a series of critical issues at the United Nations, including resolutions designed to counter nuclear activities by Iran and North Korea. He was involved in efforts to press Sudan to allow peacekeepers into war-torn Darfur.
Bolton also was Bush's point man in pushing for UN reform after an inquiry into the Iraq oil-for-food programme exposed corruption and mismanagment. The UN's main human rights body was overhauled during his tenure, though the US disagreed with details of the reform.
'I am deeply disappointed that a handful of United States senators prevented Ambassador Bolton from receiving the up or down vote he deserved in the Senate,' Bush said in a prepared statement.
It was not immediately clear who would replace Bolton, formerly the State Department's top arms control official.
Outgoing UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, with whom Bolton often clashed, spoke of the US envoy in ambivalent terms.
'Ambassador Bolton did the job he was expected to do. He came at a time when we had lots of tough issues,' Annan said. 'As a representative of the US government, he pressed ahead with the instructions that he had been given and tried to work as effectively as he could with the other ambassadors.'
In New York, UN diplomats portrayed Bolton as effective in pushing for reform at the world organization. Japanese ambassador Kenzo Oshima, whose country mostly shared Bolton's tough stance on North Korea, said he was 'very grateful' for the ambassador's work.
'He has been exceptionally skilful diplomat at the United Nations at a time when the UN faced very challenging issues, like reform,' Oshima said.
'I had always great admiration for his diplomatic skills and the reservoir of knowledge that he easily brought to bear on the deliberations,' he added.
Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya, who was often at odds with Bolton over Iran and human rights issues in Sudan and Myanmar, offered praise for his American counterpart.
'I regret that he's resigning, he works very hard and has his own style,' Wang said.
Argentinian UN Ambassador Cesar Mayoral concurred with Wang that Bolton work hard to change the UN. 'I work very well with him,' he said.
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
page: 1
How would that help the US you vindictive jerk!
Now that Bolton's gone the UN can return to happily spending US billions while getting nothing important done at all. Free of Bolton, UN members can return to making deals with dictators,
to bribing and be bribed, to filling their private coffers with impunity. In the absence of the
one honest voice and uncompromising nature, the danger to America will grow.
The UN's well-deserved reputation for non-action when it is essential will guarantee that.
Instead of supporting an institution that neither supports us nor democracy around the world in
any meaningful or effective way, we should leave the UN and focus on our own advantage and protection through other institutions.
Mary
Yes, you mean like 'take my ball and go home' attitude. That's a very mature and adult way to handle problems.
Mark may have to explain the meaning of 'vindictive' to a writer who uses 'absent' and 'blank' for 'vacant.'
Mary,
You are extraordinarily misinformed. Bolton is a neo-con (with an authoritarian leadership style) of the worst kind. Unfortunately, he isn't concerned one wit about democracy (or honesty), his rhetoric to the contrary being well marketed doublespeak. It's a positive step that the Democrats are forcing this recess (read 'backdoor, illegitimate') appointee to step down.
I'd like to add something about rats and sinking ships, but...well, you get the idea.
Bush can really pick 'em, can't he? Donald Rumsfeld, Condi Rice, Paul Bremer, Tom Ridge, Harriet Miers, Michael Brown, Michael Chertoff, John Bolton...
Dick Cheney actually picked himself for VP -- although we can blame Bush for asking Cheney to help him choose.
Now that we have no ambassador to the UN, perhaps we could completely extricate ourselves from the den of snakes. Invite the UN to move in the next six months to Brussels, or the appropriate place of their choosing outside the US. On the other hand, perhaps Madelaine Albright might take the job, and finish giving away the store!
Back when Colin Powell was Chairman of the JCS he had a plaque inscribed with a 2500 year-old quote from a famous Athenian general: 'THE MOST RESPECTED ATTRIBUTE OF POWER IS RESTRAINT'. In other words, when strength becomes a threat it will be feared and despised rather than admired. Without a doubt the US is the most powerful nation on earth and unfortunately John Bolton and his ilk believe that this power must be asserted and demonstrated in order to be respected. As a citizen of this great country which once gave hope to a world ravaged by the tyranny of the strong over the weak I am ashamed, disappointed and yes, angry about this administration's policies as personified by 'Big Stick' Bolton. Although he has recently somewhat toned down his rhetoric, his abusive and insulting first-impression has irreversably stuck in the minds of those he is supposed to work with. Good-bye, good luck and good riddance Mr Bolton.
Bolton was the only Tooth(Molar)in a toothless tiger that the UN is, Sorry to see him leave, Another mistake by a wishy-washy Senate,
Well Ted, unfortunately Bolton was only an incisor-wannabe, not even a lowly molar - very little evidence of rumination there. When you go into a give-and-take, even with a bunch of Lilliputians and chocolate-makers and you have an uncompromising and rigid agenda to advance, the little guys are going to tie you down just for your very bullying arrogance. This might be a definition of democracy.
...by the way, if you worship and sacrifice for democracy, do you have any objections to World democracy?
one more to go .and we all know who that is...
sooner the better
I wish each and everyone of you would go back and read all these letters and then ask yourself I wonder is this why our country is the way it is at this point in time. No one seems to care what is right for the country, just walk the party line right or wrong. I hope that third political party forms soon before america ceases to exist.
The Bush administration has been experimenting with diplomacy-free foreign policy. I consider this experiment a failure. Hopefully, we can start repairing the damage.
I still the historical bottom line of all this is the Democrat's abuse of the concept of filibuster. For a man to be put into office and 17 months later not have been voted on is anti-democratic.
John Bolton's job was to serve his employers surrogate. If you are the elected official, you hire and fire.
In this case, he was made a political football. He represented the ilk that see's the UN for what it is: a corrupt, irrelevant institution. He was correct to do so.
The UN is a despotoc Rulers Club. Given that, why even belong?
Bush should leave the post absent.
Sprintracer4,
Bolton resigned because he reconized he had no mandate. He didn't even have the support of his own party.
To suggest that Bush should leave the post unassigned is to admit that your head is buried in the sand.
Of the worlds 6.7Bn people, the US contributes only 4.5%. The remaining 95.5% would only be considered irrelevant by an idiot.
David
This article appears to be a translation from the Deutsche Presseagentur. The leading title is very prejudicial. While contentious is not the word I would use, he did stand up to many of our so called friends who really aren't. The Germans like to appease everyone now, so it's no wonder that he would be described as contentious.
Also, the majority of the senate would have supported him had his choice been brought up to the entire senate, but the roadblock was in committee where a few senators blocked his nomination being brought up to the entire floor of the senate.
Where is your objectivity here?
Contentious seems a fair enough description to me. Outside of the USA Bolton's appointment was seen as a snub to the UN. A man who despised the UN and no doubt was despised by most of the other members...even right wingers in the UK thought he was a poor choice.
page: 1
Leave the Post AbsentDec 4th, 2006 - 18:09:49
If you are an elected official, and they don't like your choice of employees, leave the post blank for the rest of your term, and see how they like it.
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