United Nations Vital to U.S. Security Interests

United Nations Vital to U.S. Security Interests

August 2 , 2005

President Bush’s recess appointment of John Bolton for U.N. Ambassador raises numerous difficulties for the U.S. as it tries to repair years of diplomatic damage inflicted by an arrogant and tone-deaf administration. Lacking congressional approval, Bolton heads to New York with little authority and stature to lead the international community’s efforts to combat extremists and tackle major global economic and ecological crises. Progressives should use Bolton’s appointment to remind Americans of a better way forward with the world’s leading body.

• The United States should firmly commit itself to the United Nations as a vital part of our own national security. Progressive leaders helped to create and develop the United Nations as cooperative means for addressing major global problems. Although the recess appointment of Bolton signals the administration’s clear disrespect for the U.N., progressives should take this opportunity to remind people that the U.N. remains the most critical player in our efforts to fight terrorism, nuclear proliferation, global warming, poverty, genocide, and violations of human rights. No one nation can combat all of these challenges on its own and America should recommit itself to making the U.N. work for us and other nations.
  
  
• The United States should push for genuine reform to ensure the U.N’s legitimacy and effectiveness going forward. This is not just about Bolton; it’s about the U.N.’s capacity to be a force for positive change with global authority. First and foremost, the U.N. must correct its budgetary problems and implement real financial responsibility and personnel efficiency. Second, the U.N. must reform the human rights system to take stronger action against human rights violations and genocide. Finally, the Security Council must be made more representative of the global community and be reorganized to allow a fair division of labor and resources in providing global security.
  
  
• Bolton must be monitored and held accountable for advancing our interests and engaging world allies effectively. The Bush administration and its right wing allies feel comfortable giving Bolton a free ticket to one of the government’s most important posts, but progressives will not. Americans should scrutinize Bolton’s year and a half tenure vigilantly to ensure that he does no further damage to America’s moral authority and that he advocates effectively and diplomatically for U.S. interests.