NEWS: 59 American Ex-Diplomats Oppose Bolton, page 1

Fifty-nine former American diplomats have joined together to oppose the nomination of John R. Bolton to be the US Ambassador to the United Nations. The reasons cited include his opposition to arms control, support for Taiwan, and his outspoken criticism of UN peacekeeping efforts. Those who support Bolton cite his tough-mindedness and his history of multilaterism.

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Challenging the White House, 59 former American diplomats are urging the Senate to reject John R. Bolton's nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

"He is the wrong man for this position," they said in a letter to Sen. Richard Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Indiana Republican has scheduled hearings on Bolton's nomination for April 7.

"We urge you to reject that nomination," the former diplomats said in a letter obtained by The Associated Press and dated Tuesday.

The ex-diplomats have served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, some for long terms and others briefly. They include Arthur A. Hartman, ambassador to France and the Soviet Union under Presidents Carter and Reagan and assistant secretary of state for European affairs under President Nixon.

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Frankly, I know nothing of Bolton, other than what I have read in the last few weeks. It would seem that given the long history of ineffectiveness and outright corruption that has plagued the UN that it is time we got an Ambassador who will "play hardball" and advocate for significant change within the multinational body. Our history of playing "patty cake" with the UN really hasn't yielded much more than continued fraud, corruption, and such farces as having Libya chair the Human Rights Commission.

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Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
Bush picks Bolton for UN job

[edit on 05/3/28 by GradyPhilpott]

[edit on 29-3-2005 by Spectre]