John R. Bolton, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, will leave that post when his recess appointment expires, the White House announced today. His action is the latest aftershock to hit the Bush administration since the Democratic party's victories in the mid-term elections on November 7.
Bolton has long been a controversial figure in diplomatic circles. "There is no such thing as the United Nations. There is only the international community, which can only be led by the only remaining superpower, which is the United States," Bolton told members of the World Federalist Association in 1994.
Prior to his nomination by President George W. Bush to the post of US Ambassador to the United Nations, Bolton served as Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. In that position, he faithfully served the ultra-right's agenda, but garnered extensive criticism for his habit of spinning facts to suit his own ideological purposes and for his treatment of subordinate employees.
"I've never seen anybody quite like Secretary Bolton. ... I don't have a second, third or fourth in terms of the way that he abuses his power and authority with little people," said Carl W. Ford, Jr., former Assistant Secretary of the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research to in a hearing on Bolton's nomination to the UN post. He called Bolton a "serial abuser."
Bolton, whose nomination to lead the US delegation to the United Nations was announced in March of 2005, faced substantial opposition from Democrats (and some Republicans). This led President Bush to rely on a recess appointment that expires when Congress reconvenes in January.
Bolton was renominated by President Bush on November 9, two days after the mid-term elections. However, it quickly became apparent that Bolton would not win confirmation from the Democratic majority.
