Democrats Criticize Bolton as Ineffective

President Bush named John R. Bolton as U.N. ambassador during a recess appointment last year; his term expires this fall. Some of the same issues that derailed the nomination last summer -- Bolton's criticism of the United Nations and his outspoken style -- came up again at yesterday's hearing. (By Nikki Kahn -- The Washington Post)

"What steps did you take to put on the agenda the two parts of 1559 that seemed to be totally ignored?" Biden asked.

Bolton said: "In each case we reaffirmed 1559, and that's part of pressuring Syria . . . to continue the diplomatic efforts that we're able to do. There's no U.N. force that's going to make Syria do any of those things."

Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee (R-R.I.) challenged Bolton's claim that "the root cause" of the renewed Israeli-Hezbollah conflict is terrorism.

"You're a brilliant man," Chafee told Bolton. "That statement doesn't make any sense. Terrorism is a device. There's got to be something deeper for the root cause."

Bolton replied: "I think the real root cause is the absence of a fundamental basis for peace in the region."

Dodd renewed a complaint that was central to last year's opposition, demanding to know more about Bolton's delving into the identities of U.S. officials who were mentioned in conversations that were monitored by the National Security Agency. Dodd said Congress has the right to know such information, and Bolton said he did not object. But the Bush administration repeatedly has refused Dodd's request.

Bolton told the committee that the past year in New York has not changed his views of the United Nations, which he often has portrayed as ineffective and corrupt. That did not sit well with Dodd, who said the ambassador "clearly has an aversion, in my view, to being diplomatic or to building consensus for U.S. positions. And that is deeply troubling to me."

Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) defended Bolton, saying countries such as China and Cuba have thwarted his efforts. "You tried to get the United Nations, particularly the Human Rights Council, to be reformed," Allen said. "I know you tried as best you could."

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) showed no such sympathy, at least at first. The Republicans' call for Bolton's confirmation in the name of continuity at the United Nations is "reflective of a very weak and subservient Senate," she said. But she paused in the middle of a blistering critique of Bush's policy in Iraq to say: "Now, Mr. Bolton, this has nothing to do with you. I'm not putting this on you. As a matter of fact, I'm saying to you: You've got a tough job here."