Originally issued as a CGS press release on June 20, 2005.
Citizens for Global Solutions Calls on President Bush to Choose a New Nominee
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate once again refused to confirm John Bolton today, citing failure by the Bush Administration to disclose important information regarding the embattled UN ambassadorial nominee. The Senate’s actions indicate that Mr. Bolton has neither the confidence of Congress nor the credibility to represent America at the United Nations. Citizens for Global Solutions calls on Mr. Bolton to withdraw his nomination, and urges President Bush to appoint a far more credible, trusted, and subsequently, effective nominee.
Charles J. Brown, President and CEO of Citizens for Global Solutions, noted: “Regardless of whether the President withdraws the nominations or acts over the heads of the Senate by making a recess appointment, John Bolton will forever lack the confidence of the U.S. Congress and the trust of the international community. This makes him all the more unqualified for the job of UN Ambassador. Mr. Bolton should recognize that he would best serve his President and his country by withdrawing his name from consideration.”
To this point, the Bush Administration has refused to make public the names of 36 U.S. officials that Bolton requested and received from national security intercepts. Nor has the Administration disclosed documents related to Bolton’s preparation of testimony about Syria’s weapons capability. It is widely believed that Mr. Bolton attempted to paint a much darker picture of Syria than the intelligence community was willing to support. By not making public this information the White House has fueled speculation that Mr. Bolton politicizes intelligence and lacks the diplomatic tact to represent the U.S. at the UN.
Prior to Bolton’s candidacy, the most negative votes ever received by a potential UN Ambassador was 16, for Richard Holbrooke, President Clinton’s third Ambassador to the UN. Both of President Bush’s previous choices for UN Ambassador, John Danforth and John Negroponte, were confirmed without any dissenting votes. In contrast, the Senate has now twice refused to vote on Bolton (the first time on May 26), while, on May 12, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee declined to offer Bolton its recommendation (marking only the third time this has happened in the past 20 years).
Citizens for Global Solutions contends that the U.S. Senate’s demonstrated lack of confidence in Mr. Bolton has irreparably damaged his nomination, and calls on Mr. Bolton to withdraw his name from consideration. In addition, CGS calls on President Bush to honor his second-term pledge to work “as far as possible within the framework of international institutions” by nominating a new UN Ambassador who will work for a reformed, more effective U.S.-UN relationship.
Don Kraus, Executive Vice President at Citizens for Global Solutions said, “John Bolton’s nomination is stalled. It seems clear that the Administration believes that releasing the information requested will kill Mr. Bolton’s nomination. It also appears increasingly likely that the Senate will not permit a vote on Mr. Bolton without this information. Rather than sending damaged goods to New York as a recess appointment, President Bush should offer a new nominee to the Senate as soon as possible.”
