Senators Question Bolton's Qualifications to Be U.N. Envoy [View All]

[UpInArms]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/11/international/middleeast/11cnd-bolt.html?hp&ex=1113278400&en=ee778b9130cbdee5&ei=5094&partner=homepage

(free registration or try www.bugmenot.com)

WASHINGTON, April 11 - A series of senators aggressively questioned John R. Bolton today about his qualifications to become the United States ambassador to the United Nations, challenging his past blunt criticisms of the organization, his policy positions, his reported effort to have intelligence analysts reassigned when they disagreed with him, and even his temperament to be one of the country's most visible ambassadors.

Mr. Bolton, the undersecretary of state for arms control since May 2001, sought through hours of tough questioning at his nomination hearing to soften his past criticism of the United Nations. He said, repeatedly and in many ways, that he would take its importance, and his role there if confirmed, most seriously. He said he had an amicable relationship with Secretary General Kofi Annan.s. He said, repeatedly and in many ways, that he would take its importance, and his role there if confirmed, most seriously. He said he had an amicable relationship with Secretary General Kofi Annan.

<snip>

Through hours of tough questioning, Mr. Bolton sought to avoid confrontation, saying some of his controversial comments had been taken out of context or were made when he was out of government. He remained unapologetic, however.

But Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in the first day of hearings scheduled to continue at least into Tuesday and to include some witnesses hostile to the nomination, were almost unanimously harsh in their judgments.

"Quite frankly, I'm surprised that the nominee wants the job, given the many negative things he's said about the U.N.," said Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, the ranking Democrat on the committee.

...more...