WASHINGTON, 9 March 2005 — President Bush’s nomination of John R. Bolton, the tough-talking Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, known for his sharp criticism of the United Nations and international diplomacy, as the new American ambassador to the world organization, drew criticism on Monday.
The nomination shocked some diplomats in New York and left them wondering about the message President Bush intended to send the world body.
Bolton will replace John Danforth, who resigned after barely six months as ambassador there.
Critics say Bolton supported the Nicaraguan Contras, supported normalizing ties with Taiwan regardless of its effect on China-US relations, advocates “regime change” rather than negotiation with North Korea, led the effort within the State Department to “unsign” the US from the Rome Statute, sabotaged a 2001 UN bio-weapons conference in Geneva, and publicly accused Cuba of having an offensive biological warfare program — a charge which was contradicted by intelligence officials and the former head of the US Southern Command.
But his nomination has already caused controversy. Senate Minority leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, called the nomination “a disappointing choice and one that sends all the wrong signals.”
But Sen. George Allen, R-Virginia, a man with presidential aspirations, called Bolton’s nomination “an outstanding nominee.”
Throughout the Bush administration’s first term, Bolton was often at odds with the United Nations and related institutions, and is well known for his distaste of a number of international treaties and protracted negotiations.
Bolton, 56, is a lawyer who has worked mostly in the State Department, and mostly behind the scenes, for much of the past 25 years. His nomination could put him in the most visible US diplomatic jobs, behind Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
During his four years as Undersecretary of State, Bolton butted heads frequently with his boss, Colin Powell, who reluctantly accepted the hawkish Bolton as part of his team. But Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld viewed him as a loyal supporter of the president.
Former US ambassador to the UN, Jeanne Kirkpatrick called Bolton “one of the smartest people I’ve ever encountered in Washington,” and said much of his influence would depend on the personal relations Bolton has established in Washington.
Democrats acknowledge that Bolton is highly intelligent, but have questioned his judgment on international affairs.
An aide to one ambassador at the United Nations Security Council told journalists his boss considered the nomination “a disaster,” adding: “The real question is what is Bolton’s mission. Does he come here to attack the institution, or does he really come here to help the UN?”
Algerian Ambassador Abdullah Baali diplomatically told journalists that “outside the United Nations, you are able to have very strong views, but when he gets here, I’m sure he’ll adapt. He’s not here to destroy the UN.”
