So Much For What "The People" Want

Bush uses loophole to send Bolton to UN

U.S. President George W. Bush used a legislative loophole on Monday to appoint John Bolton as his country's ambassador to the United Nations.

John Bolton (AP file photo)

In making the announcement in Washington, Bush praised Bolton as someone who "brought people together to achieve meaningful results at the United Nations."

Bolton's critics, including senior Democratic Party senators, had been holding up his confirmation on the grounds that he has long been one of the UN's most vehement critics. He has called the world body both irrelevant and corrupt.

Bush was able to bypass them by using a loophole that allows him to make what's known as a "recess appointment" when Congress is not sitting.

Bolton is currently the top arms-control official in the U.S. State Department.

On Monday, he struck a conciliatory tone in his remarks after the president's announcement, saying he was "profoundly honoured and humbled" by the appointment.

He said he intends to work hard as "an advocate for America's values at the United Nations."

During the confirmation hearings, Bolton was taken to task by such Senate heavyweights as John Kerry and Joe Biden.

"You have said there's no such thing as the United Nations," Kerry said to Bolton at hearings in April. "You've said if the UN building in New York lost 10 storeys it wouldn't make a bit of difference."

"You've said that the peace-enforcement operations and nation-building should, quote, be relegated to history's junk pile," said Biden.

While Bolton didn't deny or disavow his words, he said that many of the statements were made as a private citizen and that others had been quoted out of context.

CBC NEWS