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Bolton Takes Leave
December 5, 2006
In a Dec.1 letter to President Bush, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton wrote that, “after careful consideration,” he has decided to resign when his recess appointment expires in a few weeks. “I accept [the resignation]; I'm not happy about it,” Bush said yesterday. The president installed Bolton at the U.N. after his nomination ran into bipartisan opposition on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee over a series of complaints, including his efforts to manipulate intelligence, bully subordinates, and demean consensus-building efforts with a brusque and blustering style. Bolton began a full-court press through the media to whip up support for his nomination in recent weeks, but that effort failed to convince Sen. Lincoln Chaffee (R-RI), who despite being defeated in his bid for reelection, stayed true to his principled opposition to Bolton and said, “I'm not going to endorse something the American people have spoke out against.”
- Bush is at fault for picking such a controversial nominee. President Bush expressed disappointment at Bolton’s resignation yesterday, but by picking a nominee who could not muster bipartisan support, Bush has only himself to blame. Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) said in March 2005, “In these dangerous times, we cannot afford to put at risk our nation’s ability to successfully wage and win the war on terror with a controversial and ineffective Ambassador to the United Nations.” And yet, Bush attempted to thwart the will of the Senate over the past two years, first by recess-appointing Bolton, then by re-nominating him, and finally by suggesting he might be appointed to a position that did not require Senate confirmation, making him an “acting ambassador.”
- Bolton’s record as U.N. Ambassador was not a successful one. In addition to being an unabashed U.N. basher, Bolton’s record at the U.N. was not one of success. Bolton's one-year tenure at the U.N. has been marked by gridlock and strife as member-states sought to advance an agenda that Bolton repeatedly obstructed. For instance, because Bolton was unable to negotiate favorable terms on the creation of a new Human Rights Council, the U.S. was one of four nations to oppose the creation of the Council, while 170 nations voted for it. Bolton also blocked the Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide from briefing the Security Council on Darfur because he claimed the council should be “talking more about the steps it can take to do something about the deteriorating security situation” in Darfur. But he gave no new proposals. Even on the agenda items Bolton and the administration wanted to pursue—strengthening the Secretary General’s managerial authority, improving oversight mechanisms, revising old mandates, and changing personnel policies—there was little progress.
- Bolton’s resignation provides the administration with an opportunity for a fresh start. With the departures of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, his key ally Stephen Cambone, and now John Bolton, President Bush has an opportunity to fashion a new foreign policy of inclusiveness and bipartisan appeal. Early reports indicate that some promising candidates are being considered for the post, including Rep. Jim Leach (R-IA), former Sen. George Mitchell, and former 9/11 Commission executive director Philip Zelikow. “Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Rep. James Walsh (R-NY) are circulating a letter among colleagues suggesting Leach be named.”
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