Posted on: Friday, May 13, 2005

EDITORIAL
Bolton's nomination should be withdrawn

Despite a resoundingly unenthusiastic reception from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the nomination of John Bolton to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is nonetheless headed for a full Senate floor vote.

Before that vote occurs, the Bush administration should do the wise thing and pull Bolton's name.

President Bush is entitled, of course, to have his own "team" and to decide whom he wants on it. This makes sense when it comes to Cabinet officers, key administrative advisors and the like.

But the problem with Bolton is his long history of public and sometimes vehement opposition to many of the very things the United Nations stands for. In fact, Bolton has made it clear that he has doubts about whether there is any utility in the United Nations at all.

Indeed, others might share that view. Clearly the United Nations is long overdue for serious reform.

But in an era in which international relations are at a delicate and unpredictable stage, the United States can hardly afford to so visibly turn its back on one of the few functioning international institutions with any clout or credibility.

Approving John Bolton to the ambassadorship would, in effect, be doing precisely that.

If the president does not decide to pull Bolton's name from consideration for this sensitive diplomatic post, the Senate should reject his nomination.