The Confirmation Battle Proves Controversial for Senate Leadership as
Campaigns Reveal Bolton's Failures
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Diverse organizations are taking a
stand to stop the re-nomination of John Bolton as U.S. Ambassador to the
United Nations. On Thursday, September 7 the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee will vote whether to recommend Bolton's consideration by the full
Senate. Senator Frist announced early last week that Bolton's confirmation
is among his top priorities for the short September Senate session.
However, the re-confirmation process is proving controversial as various
campaigns highlight Bolton's failures during his short tenure.
Recognizing Bolton's failures and the importance of the top UN post to
advance U.S. interests, groups as diverse as Catholics United for the
Common Good and Citizens for Global Solutions have launched campaigns to
stop the nomination. These efforts include but are not limited to:
* More than 60 former diplomats opposed the nomination in a statement that
asserts, "On many occasions Mr. Bolton's hard core, go-it-alone posture
prevented an outcome that would have better served US interests." The
diplomats have banned together in a campaign that includes a sign-on
letter, website and paid media program. Visit
http://www.diplomatsagainstbolton.com to view the full statement.
* Catholics United for the Common Good has also called on the Senate to
oppose the nomination. In a campaign that includes a website, petition
and paid media, Catholics United for the Common Good asserts, "Mr.
Bolton is a champion of a failed foreign policy in Iraq, North Korea,
and Iran, which puts our nation's strategic and moral authority at risk.
This approach of arrogance, unilateralism and militarism is also
incompatible with Catholic teaching on global community and war." The
full ad and statement can be viewed at http://www.catholics-united.org/
* Nearly 12,000 concerned individuals joined the movement to oppose Bolton
by signing a petition to reject his nomination. The petition asserts,
"It is time to tell the world that the U.S. needs the U.N. -- and the
U.N. needs the U.S.! By stopping this re-nomination, we will make way
for a new Ambassador that will advance U.S. foreign policy, improve the
U.N., and respect America's time-honored tradition of working with
others to solve global problems." The full text can be found at
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/267593899
* Twenty organizations joined a letter to Senators Lugar and Biden (and
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee) urging them to vote "no" on
Bolton. The letter asserts that, "The United States needs someone at
the U.N. who can work diplomatically with allies and neighbors to share
the burden of resolving conflicts. As revealed in the New York Times
and the Washington Post, Amb. Bolton has lost the trust and support of
other envoys. His inability to build consensus and broker agreements
will continue to undercut U.S. foreign policy objectives. Ambassador
Bolton has repeatedly failed to accomplish what he set out to do." The
letter was signed by such diverse groups as Africa Action, Americans for
Informed Democracy, Arms Control Advocacy Collaborative, Center for
American Progress, Citizens for Global Solutions, the Open Society
Policy Center, The Washington Note and Union of Concerned Scientists.
The letter can be viewed at
http://www.opensocietypolicycenter.org/pub/doc_119/September%205%20Bolton%2
0Or g%20Sign-On.pdf
* Over 15 organizations joined the Stop Bolton campaign's September 6th
National Day of Action sending e-alerts urging constituents to contact
their Senators and/or to take other grasssroots actions.
* A series of documents outlining Bolton's record of failure at the UN can
be found at http://www.stopbolton.org/ Quotes from over 20 diplomats
that have served beside Bolton at the UN, scholars, former colleagues,
and media outlets are available at http://www.stopbolton.org/quotes.html
Background
Last August, President Bush granted Bolton a recess appointment after
the Administration and Senate leadership was unable after many months of
deliberation to persuade 60 Senators to allow an up or down vote on Bolton
-- twice, Senator Frist called for a vote to end a filibuster, and twice
Frist was defeated.
Many of the Senators that blocked Bolton's confirmation last year
normally allow the President his choice of political appointees.
Nevertheless, Democrats and Republicans alike agreed that the top UN post
was too important to U.S. foreign policy and Bolton's record was too
questionable to cede their constitutional responsibility of advise and
consent. Much of the opposition surrounded concerns about Bolton's
disregard for the United Nations and his bullying, go-it-alone style that
has been known to undermine fragile negotiations. Bolton's year-long tenure
has borne-out the Senate's concerns. Bolton has been unable to work with
U.S. allies to meet U.S. objectives on North Korea, Iran, Sudan and UN
reform. Instead, Bolton has further isolated the United States.
SOURCE Open Society Policy Center
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