Bolton to the UN
Under Secretary of State John Bolton is to be the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. I can’t help but laugh a little. Not sure why.
Perhaps it’s his past exchanges such as this one reported by the AP:
Two years ago, Bolton denounced North Korean leader Kim Jong Il as a "tyrannical dictator" and described life under the ruler as "a hellish nightmare."Bolton will be an excellent ambassador to the UN. Like the President, he speaks directly and isn’t likely to soften his words just for the sake of those less willing to accept reality.A North Korean spokesman fired back that "such human scum and bloodsucker is not entitled to take part in the talks" on North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
This also provides yet another great opportunity for the left in the Senate to show their vitriol for the President in April when Bolton goes before them for confirmation hearings. His last appointment received an almost party line vote of 57 – 43 to support his nomination as undersecretary of state.
Senator Harry Reid has already expressed his lack of support for Bolton. He called the nominatin "disappointing." "At a time when President Bush has recognized we need to begin repairing our damaged relations with the rest of the world, he nominates someone with a long history of being opposed to working cooperatively with other nations," Senator Reid said, before adding his view that Bolton "flawed proliferation policy" and "will have much to answer for" in confirmation hearings.
Former Senator Jesse Helms liked Bolton saying he's the "most qualified man for the job" during a previous confirmation hearing. The NY Times, in what was clearly an attempt to paint Bolton as unacceptable, quotes Bolton as saying of the UN - "if the U.N. secretary building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn't make a bit of difference" and "there's no such thing as the United Nations." Preceded, of course, by calling Bolton, a former protégé of Senator Helms.
Excellent choice Mr. President. Excellent.
