John Bolton, the US's ambassador extrordinaire to the UN is an interim appointment because many Senators, led by the soon to be ex—Senator John Chafee (R—RI) opposed him.  Known for his bluntness, Bolton definitely lived up to his reputation last week in what a Calcutta newspaper labeled an "extraordinary outburst," "a scathing attack," "a blistering attack."  You get the idea.

And what triggered Bolton's behavior?  The usual UN behavior——hypocrisy. The Arabs initiated still yet another UN resolution condemning Israel, this time for the accidental death of 19 Arab civilians as Israel was trying to stop Arab rocket  attacks against its citizens.  These deliberate Arab attacks against civilian targets have killed and maimed many Israeli and foreigners in Israel; the UN has been silent.  Bolton was definitely not silent.

"Many of the sponsors of that resolution are notorious abusers of human rights themselves, and were seeking to deflect criticism of their own policies," he said.

"This type of resolution serves only to exacerbate tensions by serving the interests of elements hostile to Israel's inalienable and recognized right to exist."

"This deepens suspicions about the United Nations that will lead many to conclude that the organization is incapable of playing a helpful role in the region," Bolton continued.

"In a larger sense, the United Nations must confront a more significant question, that of its relevance and utility in confronting the challenges of the 21st century. We believe that the United Nations is ill served when its members seek to transform the organization into a forum that is a little more than a self—serving and a polemical attack against Israel or the United States," he said.

"The Human Rights Council has quickly fallen into the same trap and de—legitimized itself by focusing attention exclusively on Israel. Meanwhile, it has failed to address real human rights abuses in Burma, Darfur, the DPRK, and other countries," Bolton charged.

"The problem of anti—Israel bias is not unique to the Human Rights Council. It is endemic to the culture of the United Nations. It is a decades—old, systematic problem that transcends the whole panoply of the UN organizations and agencies," he continued. 

Wow!  Unfortunately many members in Congress don't like that straight talking, proud US truth.  Bolton's term will expire soon; if Bush submits his name to Congress for a full appointment he will probably be rejected.  Therefore here is a creative plan to work around Congressional approval and retain him.

If Congress is absolutely determined to reject the best UN ambassador the world has seen in about a quarter of a century — John Bolton — then the only alternative if President Bush wants to keep him is another recess appointment. For that, Bolton would have to work without pay. It's enough to make a person want to suggest that if you really care about trying to do some good in the world via the UN, stop sending your kids out to collect for UNICEF, and start sending them out to collect donations to keep John Bolton in office. Bolton, from everything I have seen, is far more honest and competent on every level than UNICEF, any of the other UN agencies, or most of the senior staff walking the halls of the UN, let alone many of the UN ambassadors whose limos cruise the streets of New York.

The US desperately needs Bolton's talents and skills not to mention his bluntness at the UN so if this is what it takes to keep him at the UN this is what we must do.
 
Ethel C. Fenig    11 20 06