Bolton to the Finish Line Posted by Suzanne Nossel

I wrote back on April 23 that I thought Bolton's candidacy for UN Ambassador was doomed.  The fat lady still hasn't sung, but Bush seems to be faced with several unpalatable choices:  a recess appointment which - given public attitudes about the filibuster debate - will likely be highly unpopular; giving up the documents he has withheld for so long and promised he won't turn over; or throwing Bolton overboard.

My guess?  He turns over the documents and another fray erupts over what they mean and signify, dragging this thing out still more.  Faced with the choice of no ambassador during the crucial run up to this fall's UN reform debate or having John Bolton in office, I know my pick.

Comments

[Caitlyn Antrim]

If Bolton doesn't get confirmed or if he receives a recess appointment, then the White House will have to put him somewhere with enough prestige or policy input to make the conservative wing of the GOP feel they got something out of this. My guess would be an appointment at the NSC, possibly on multilateral affairs or arms control. I'm not sure that a recess appointment limited to 18 months accompanied with obvious lack of Senate support wouldn't be the lesser of the evils. I think the potential harm at the UN would depend upon how closely the issue is overseen by Condi Rice and her own team at State, not to mention the independence given to the ambassadors serving in other positions at the US Mission to the UN.

[Caitlyn Antrim]

woops - need a preview function. The first line of my preceding comment should be "If Bolton doesn't get confirmed or receive a recess appointment..."

[Dan Kervick]

Faced with the choice of no ambassador during the crucial run up to this fall's UN reform debate or having John Bolton in office, I know my pick.

So which is it? Do you pick "no ambassador" or "Bolton in office"?

[Suzanne Nossel]

I'd take no Bolton. Why? As I've written here, I think many of the stands the administration has taken on UN reform in recent months aren't bad. They oppose linking reform to dues payments and favor some of Annan's best proposals (on the human rights council, the peacebuilding commission and the terrorism treaty, for example). Reasoned people seem to be in charge on these issues, and we're better off with weak moderates than with an extremist who, by dint of a bruising confirmation battle, may feel he has even more to prove.

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