UN Reform

Writing in Bloomberg News, Amity Shlaes argues that the opposition to Ambassador Bolton’s re-nomination is born from a conviction that he does not possess the right temperament for the job. “Doesn’t play well with others,” writes Shlaes. “That’s the charge against John Bolton…. Other UN diplomats don’t like him. They complain about him the way preschool teachers complain about an irritating child — too loud, too pushy.”

With respect to Ms. Shlaes, Bolton’s temperament is not the issue here. Among the many reasons to question the wisdom and utility of Bolton’s re-nomination, the fact that he does not possess the social graces typical of other diplomats in Turtle Bay is beside the point. Rather, questions about Bolton’s nomination are grounded in profoundly substantive critiques of his one year tenure as Ambassador. READ MORE

“The United States will drop its insistence that rich nations withhold funds from the U.N. budget next month unless management reforms are enacted, U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said on Friday.” [Full story] READ MORE

UPDATE: From the Better World Campaign: The Partnership for a Secure America, a bi-partisan group of former high ranking foreign policy officials, ran an advertisement in The New York Times calling for strong U.S. leadership at the UN to build consensus on reforms and for continued funding of the organization at this critical time, addressing the vital role the UN is playing to confront global problems and in foster peace. See the advertisement. (pdf) READ MORE

In case you missed these:

Strained relations between U.N., U.S. are bad for everyone

“During the late 1990s, congressional conservatives led by Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., vowed to starve the U.N. unless it acceded to a long list of “reforms.” In September 2002, President Bush asserted that the United Nations would become “irrelevant” should it fail to join the U.S. in disarming Iraq. You have to wonder why the U.N. is still in business. The short answer is: Because the United States can’t do without it. READ MORE

Sebastian Mallaby: “Last month President Bush issued a rare apology. “Saying ‘Bring it on,’ kind of tough talk, you know, that sent the wrong signal,” he confessed. “I think in certain parts of the world it was misinterpreted.”

Well done, Mr. President, you’ve understood that bluster can backfire. Now how about sharing this insight with your ambassador to the United Nations?” READ MORE

In his recent testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ambassador Bolton announced that the U.S. is “prepared to consider” a 90-day extension of the spending cap that threatens to disrupt invaluable UN operations at the end of this month.

However, he also acknowledged that “it hasn’t met with a lot of support,” and that “it’s an indication … that we’re not trying to force this to an issue on the 30th [of June].” READ MORE