U.N. Ambassador John Bolton To Step Down

Controversial Envoy Was Unable To Win Senate Confirmation

(CBS/AP)  Unable to win Senate confirmation, U.N. Ambassador John Bolton will step down when his temporary appointment expires soon, the White House said Monday.

Bolton's nomination has languished in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for more than a year, blocked by Democrats and several Republicans. Sen. Lincoln Chafee, a moderate Republican who lost in the midterm elections Nov. 7 that swept Democrats to power in both houses of Congress, was adamantly opposed to Bolton.

In a statement, President Bush expressed "deep regret" at Bolton's decision and accused senators who blocked a vote by the full Senate on Bolton's confirmation of "stubborn obstructionism."

"They chose to obstruct his confirmation, even though he enjoys majority support in the Senate, and even though their tactics will disrupt our diplomatic work at a sensitive and important time," Mr. Bush said.

Senate Democrats welcomed Bolton's departure.

"President Bush has made the right decision in accepting Ambassador Bolton's resignation," said Democratic Senate Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. Reid said the president "should now nominate a U.N. Ambassador who is ready and willing to work with our allies around the world, and who understands the pressing need to change course in Iraq."

Senator John Kerry, who lost the 2004 White House race to Mr. Bush, won't miss Bolton. The Massachusetts Democrat said America needs a U.N. ambassador who has "the full support of Congress." Kerry said Bush ought to pick a replacement who, in his words, "can put results ahead of ideology."

The White House had argued in recent weeks that Bolton had demonstrated his value and professionalism in the job and deserved to be confirmed. But even a Senate still in Republican hands didn't have the numbers to make it happen, CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reports.

Critics have questioned Bolton's brusque style and whether he could be an effective bureaucrat who could force reform at the U.N.

"Ambassador Bolton failed to secure confirmation because of his criticism of the U.N. itself, his role in arms intelligence before the Iraq war, as well as his negotiating style," said CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk.

"But by all accounts he grew into the job, negotiating support for some tough resolutions supporting the administration's position on North Korea and Iran," Falk said.

Mr. Bush gave Bolton the job temporarily in August 2005, while Congress was in recess. Under that process, the appointment expires when Congress formally adjourns, no later than early January.

The White House resubmitted Bolton's nomination last month. But with Democrats capturing control of the next Congress, his chances of winning confirmation appeared slight. The incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, said he saw "no point in considering Mr. Bolton's nomination again."

While Mr. Bush could not give Bolton another recess appointment, the White House was believed to be exploring other ways of keeping him in the job, perhaps by giving him a title other than ambassador. But Bolton informed the White House he intended to leave when his current appointment expires, White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino said.

Mr. Bush planned to meet with Bolton and his wife later Monday in the Oval Office.

"He served his country with extraordinary dedication and skill, assembling coalitions that addressed some of the most consequential issues facing the international community," the president said. "During his tenure, he articulately advocated the positions and values of the United States and advanced the expansion of democracy and liberty.

"Ambassador Bolton led the successful negotiations that resulted in unanimous Security Council resolutions regarding North Korea's military and nuclear activities. He built consensus among our allies on the need for Iran to suspend the enrichment and reprocessing of uranium," Mr. Bush added. "His efforts to promote the cause of peace in Darfur resulted in a peacekeeping commitment by the United Nations. He made the case for United Nations reform because he cares about the institution, and wants it to become more credible and effective."

Bolton, who pushed strongly for U.N. reform, has had strained relations with many in the U.N. Secretariat, led by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and has repeatedly called for all top U.N. officials to leave when Annan steps down as U.N. chief on Dec. 31 and is replaced by Ban Ki-moon.

"I think Ambassador Bolton did the job he was expected to do," Annan said Monday morning when asked about Bolton's resignation. "He came at a time when we had lots of tough issues from reform to issues on Iran and North Korea. I think as a representative of the U.S, government, he pressed ahead with the instructions he had been given and tried to work as effectively as he could."

As late as last month, Mr. Bush, through his top aides, said he would not relent in his defense of Bolton, despite unwavering opposition from Democrats who view Bolton as too combative for international diplomacy.

[laurieleemoo]

Goodnight oh ones who seem to know all......all that the media tells them anyway!

[laurieleemoo]

Huskerarmy...you are really brainwashed by the media aren't you...

Yes....well did you know that the sky is falling....don't look now. I'm just kidding Huskerarmy....no need to run for cover.

And did you know that the word gullible is not in the dictionary?

Fools!

[laurieleemoo]

Read my lips HUSKERARMY.....
it is all related and if you can not figure that one out my friend, then I suspect you also having a hard time tying your shoelaces!

[laurieleemoo]

Yes...you mark my word.....you all will be eating your words someday.

Yes...and I will serve them to you all in dog bowl...on the ground...where you belong with all your little terrorist friends.

Its always amazing to me just how little, itty, bitty your brains are. In case you have not noticed, the biggest part of this war has been a PR campaign by the terrorists and you people are just too *** stupid to realize that you have fallen into their trap and have been caught up in it. Yes...the terrorists have you right where they want you....hating GW and helping them with their hate campaing against our president. They absolutely love that you are encouraging them and furthering their cause.

In fact...just the other day...I saw a telegram ....it was for you and it was thanking you for all your help and it was signed by the terrorists. I forwarded it to your leader, Nancy. Yes..she should be handing copies out to you tomorrow.

Oh...and little Miss Sandy5274. No matter how many numbers you put behind that 52....52 will always be your IQ. Sorry!

[randalds]

I see several disparaging remarks about Bolton's mustache. But he has to have a large 'stache like that because, as my wife says, otherwise you'd be able to see him talking out both sides of his face at the same time.

[abbe7]

Red, red whine, don't stay close to me.
Just let us alone;
It won't tear apart
Our blue, blue hearts.

Red, red whine, just like rummy.
we'd rather see you gone;
It won't tear apart
Our blue, blue hearts.

[antoniof123]

Some really great comments. To bad you have to read past the bashing and stupidy of some comments. To the conservitives you have spent the last 12 years yelling and now the liberals are yelling back. What did you expect them to just sit and take it. To the liberals if you can not keep it up then stop. I like the comedy it makes reading some of the long posts that say something easier to read becasue I know in a few moments I get a laugh. Please make no mistake the American people are not stupid we will make changes when it is needed and not until. This change was needed not becasue we think that the next bunch will do better but becasue they will do better and not doing as much in such a short time. I mean 6 years of being in complete control and you sent the country to hell please give me a break. Let's see how long it takes the Dem's to do the same.

[huskerarmy]

"One of the greats like Nixon before impeachment."

That's an interesting analogy. I remember the righties saying exactly the same thing about how history would remember Nixon at the time of his resignation. Unfortunately, for the right, history has only revealed Nixon as even more sinister then we knew then. I suspect that once all the partisan fervor dies down, people will come to realize just what a scum bag W truely is.

[huskerarmy]

"...not even realizing we are in a war on terror. Idiots!"

No Laurieleemoo, the idiots are the ones who will support an attack on anyone with a remote genetic heritage in common with the 911 terrorists. Read my lips... Iraq had nothing to do with 911. Now say it back to me slowly. You can get this if you try. I know you can.

[huskerarmy]

"Someday, I guarantee you that in hindsight GW will be considered one of the greatest Presidents america has ever had and John Bolton will also be proven to be the best UN rep we have ever had."

Put down the Koolaid and walk slowly away before somebody gets hurt.

[nothappyatall]

"Someday, I guarantee you that in hindsight GW will be considered one of the greatest Presidents america has ever had and John Bolton will also be proven to be the best UN rep we have ever had."



BWHAHAHHAAAA!!!

One of the greats like Nixon before impeachment. Just look at Bolton's scowling face with that wisk broom of a mustache in that picture here, he looks just like the SOUR, SOB he is, his best career option is night JANITOR at a school somewhere.

[sandy5274]

It's too bad that Liar in the Oval Office George
W Bush & His Vice Liar *** Cheney & Karl Rove
didn't follow that Looney Tunes John Bolton
Advise And Resign With Him!

[alphaa10-2009]

bellaL said, "John Bolton was not the one who stood up in front of the entire UN a few months back and made a complete *** of himself. That fellow was just elected Pres. of Venezuela..."
---

Chavez made no points for diplomacy, but he is surely no more offensive for his rude behavior than Bush for open prevarications to the world about Iraq and alleged WMDs to the UN Security Council.

Bush and his brazen defiance of world opinion, his bull-in-the-china-shop unilateralism, basically trashed what was left of the global leadership role of the US.

We cannot control Chavez, but must better control who claims to be POTUS. Bush not only made a spectacle of himself, but dishonored the office of president with his high crimes and misdemeanors.

In November, 2005, in Washington, DC, Bush, facing an assembly of party members critical of his NSA spying program, bristled like a teenager caught drinking after curfew-- "Stop throwing the Constitution in my face! It just a GD)((#@*! piece of paper!"

[alphaa10-2009]

Ironically, Bolton had a better reputation leaving the UN than when he arrived. His quasi-humorous jabs at the UN gave the strong impression he did not expect much of the organization-- but neither did the UN of him. Some of that accumulated animosity had to be a serious problem for Bolton, and by comparison, Negroponte was a statesman.

No accident Bolton got his appointment during a congressional recess, when none was looking, and not surprisngly, from the same guy who periodically lifts his middle finger in salute to the august world body.

When are the adults coming back?

[frankly6]

What will this guy's next job be?

[hermit22]

Hi TexasKos_com,"checks and ballances" has nothing to do with it. Harry Reid reminds me of that Norm on Sat.Nite Live....He gave me the major crawls too. Very handsome, always a smile on that pretty face of his, but he GAVE ME THE CRAWLS! its very rare someone gives me the crawls. If we could open up those heads and look right in....I'd be keeping my space with a leary eye focused....Pastor Haggard,BEFORE the news,gave me a sense of something off, whatever it was, too.

[agnim]

Italy Pulls Out Final Troops From Iraq
Italy has pulled out its last troops from Iraq - weeks ahead of schedule. At one point Italy had 3,000 troops in Iraq and was Washington's second largest coalition partner, after Britain.

[bellal-2009]

John Bolton was not the one who stood up in front of the entire UN a few months back and made a complete *** of himself. That fellow was just elected Pres. of Venezuela, oops I mean, dictator until death.

[jn122736]

It is so interesting to read all the posts about the democrats having only two years to straighten out the mess it has taken this completely republican controlled government 6 years to get the country into. The democrats will not have that kind of control until at least 2008.

But don%u2019t bet the farm that the voters will forget the betrayal so soon. It takes a long time and a lot of injury to get them stirred up enough to take action but it just may take a long time for them to forget too.

My dad used to say: Even a mule will listen if you get his attention. All you have to do is hit him over the head with a club a couple of times. I think the voters have been hit enough lately to last for a while.

[laurieleemoo]

okay...see ya....have a good night mrththornman