John Bolton at the U.N. Wrong man for the job( Philly op ed)

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http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/11094859.htm
Posted on Thu, Mar. 10, 2005

Editorial | John Bolton at the U.N.

Wrong man for the job


John Bolton is the wrong person to serve as the United States' representative to the United Nations. The Senate should reject President Bush's nomination of him. Sending Bolton to the U.N. is a little like appointing Michael Moore to run the Bush Presidential Library.


Getting the U.N. to shape up is enormously challenging. But the United States should want a strong United Nations - it is the institution best positioned to act on issues from environmental degradation to the financing of terrorism.


What credibility will the United States have in marshaling international support for critical initiatives when its U.N. ambassador has consistently pushed for the United States to act alone, in defiance of international law?

Which of the allies whom Bush recently encouraged to talk with Iran about stopping its nuclear weapons program will want to work with the hawkish Bolton, who has been so dismissive of those negotiations?

Unless Bush instructs him otherwise, Bolton is more likely to work to weaken the U.N. than to bolster it.