U.S. Sen. Kohl: Statement on the Nomination of John Bolton ..

[struggle4progress]

.. to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

Once again I come to the floor to voice my concerns regarding the appointment of John Bolton to an important office in this Administration. This time he is being promoted to a government position with high international profile, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. I believe his appointment to this post will harm our interests at the UN and hamstring our international cooperation efforts.

Mr. Bolton, whom I opposed when he was nominated to be the Under Secretary for Arms Control, did not distinguish himself in his last job. His comments about the North Korean regime during sensitive negotiations almost derailed our efforts there. This is not just my opinion. After his remarks, Mr. Bolton's superiors recalled him to the United States and sent a replacement. This blunder is not the only black mark on Mr. Bolton's record. He also failed in another highly critical negotiation - our unsuccessful attempts to convince Iran to curtail its nuclear activities.

Mr. Bolton also has publicly and often expressed his disdain for the United Nations - the very institution the President has chosen to send him presumably to represent us and pursue our interests. How can he do that when his public criticism of the UN has been, not constructive or thoughtful, but heavy handed and destructive? He has advocated not paying our UN dues and, in a moment of high arrogance, said he thought there should only be one permanent member of the Security Council - the United States -- to reflect today's international power structure. Statements like these make our allies believe that we do not value their cooperation and effort - and perhaps Mr. Bolton does not. His remarks create ill will and make it harder for us to lead in the international community - and perhaps Mr. Bolton believes the United States needs to play no role in that community. He has a right to those views. But we in the Senate have a right not to consent to the appointment to the Ambassador to the UN of a man whose views would, in my opinion, keep him from being able to do his job.

There is an old saying that "you gather more flies with honey, than with vinegar". I am afraid that we are sending a big bottle of vinegar to the UN, and it will attract us no friends. Diplomacy requires tact. It requires being able to use both the carrot and the stick, rewards and sanctions. Mr. Bolton seems to be focused entirely on the stick, believing that by wielding our power and the threat of force like a cudgel, we can bring the international community into line. I do not agree.

Senator Voinovich was right when he said the United States can do better than John Bolton. There are so many bright, gifted people in the Administration that would do a better job and be a better fit. I regret the President did not send one of those people to us for this high profile job. Mr. Bolton's presence at the UN will do little to build our prestige around the world, and may well hamstring our efforts in the war on terror. I urge my colleagues to vote against this nominee, and I yield the floor.

http://www.wisdems.org/index.php?display=ReleaseDetails&id=535566

[bemildred]

1. Faint though it is, let's give credit where it is due. nt