Originally issued as a CGS press release on March 7, 2005.
Citizens for Global Solutions is deeply dismayed by President Bush’s choice of John Bolton to succeed John Danforth to the post of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and strongly urges the Senate not to consent to his nomination. Throughout his career in foreign policy, Bolton has demonstrated hostility and utter disregard not only towards the United Nations but also towards international law. His nomination as Ambassador to the UN comes at a time of much-needed reconciliation within the international community and will undermine President Bush’s recent declaration of “a new era of transatlantic unity.”
“John Bolton has long made clear his disdain for all international institutions, particularly the United Nations. Important issues face the new U.S. Ambassador to the UN, including immediate action to stop the genocide in Darfur and ensuring international support for rebuilding Iraq. The individual who holds this position must be someone who is well respected in the international community and possesses strong diplomatic skills. So far, Bolton has demonstrated neither the finesse nor the tact that such a position requires. His nomination is tantamount to putting a fox in charge of the hen house,” said Charles J. Brown, President and CEO of Citizens for Global Solutions.
“We are not alone in being appalled by this nomination,” said Heather B. Hamilton, Vice President for Programs of Citizens for Global Solutions. “At a time in which we need our allies and the UN more than ever to succeed in Iraq, the Bolton nomination sends the wrong message to the world and will severely undermine President Bush’s December assertion that his administration ‘is determined to work as far as possible within the framework of international organizations’.”
In a November 1998 article that ran in the Washington Times, Bolton disparaged the UN, declaring that the majority of Congress “not only do not care about losing the General Assembly vote but actually see it as a “make my day” outcome. Indeed, once the vote is lost, and the adverse consequences predicted by the U.N.’s supporters begin to occur, this will simply provide further evidence to many why nothing more should be paid to the U.N. system.”
When Bolton was confirmed by the Senate as Under-Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security in 2001, more Senators (43) voted against him than against Attorney General John Ashcroft or any prior Bush nominee.
Citizens for Global Solutions is exploring whether to re-launch its Stop Bolton Campaign, which generated thousands of letters to Senators opposing his confirmation as Under-Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. The campaign lasted approximately three weeks from when the web site was created until the confirmation vote. On May 8, 2001, Bolton was confirmed by a vote of 57-43. Fifty Republicans were joined by seven Democrats, including Evan Bayh (IN), Russ Feingold (WI), Mary Landrieu (LA), Joe Lieberman (CT) and Ben Nelson (NE).
