Bush names hard-liner as ambassador to UN

John Bolton

WASHINGTON - President Bush has nominated one of his most controversial and hard-line officials to become the new US ambassador to the UN.

The nomination of John Bolton, the under-secretary of state for arms control and international security, sends a clear and forceful message that Mr Bush remains more interested in getting his way at the UN than he is in diplomacy.

Whereas previous US representatives at the UN have always strived to be diplomatic - despite whatever policy they were promoting - the 56-year-old Mr Bolton has a reputation for bluntness.

His outspoken statements on North Korea's nuclear programme caused the leaders in Pyongyang to describe him as "human scum".

Last month, for instance, in a strongly worded speech in Tokyo, Mr Bolton condemned China before an international audience for not stopping munitions companies selling missile technology to Iran and other nations that the US deems "rogue states."

One White House official acknowledged Mr Bolton's reputation but framed it as an asset.

"The president and (Secretary of State) Condoleezza Rice have chosen Mr Bolton because he knows how to get things done. He is a tough-minded diplomat," said the official.

But critics of Mr Bolton, who has played an important role for Mr Bush in strengthening the alliance between the Christian right and the neo-conservatives, point out that he has previously condemned numerous international treaties and bodies including the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and the International Criminal Court.

Last month, his fingerprints were on an ill-fated attempt to prevent the Egyptian head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohammed el Baradei, from serving a third term.

In 1994, he was quoted as saying: "There's no such thing as the United Nations....If the UN building in New York lost 10 storeys, it wouldn't make a bit of difference."

During Mr Bush's first term, Mr Bolton was among those who advocated confronting and isolating nations such as Iran and North Korea. Often clashing with his direct boss, Colin Powell, he argued that offering incentives to such states was a reward for bad behaviour.

If confirmed, Mr Bolton will replace John Danforth, a former US senator from Missouri, who served for just six months. He left in January, saying he wanted to spend time with his ailing wife. The post of US ambassador has been temporarily filled by Anne Patterson, a career diplomat.

- Independent