USA/UN: Jon Bolton resigns post as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton announced on Monday (Dec. 4) he would soon give up his job after being unable to satisfy Senate opponents concerned he would pursue a unilateral U.S. foreign policy. Bolton's attempt to hang on to his diplomatic post, already tenuous, became even more problematic after Democrats who had blocked his nomination won control of the Senate in November elections. Bolton was appointed on a temporary basis. He had a history of angering diplomats and colleagues in his previous State Department job and could not gain sufficient support from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to stay on despite winning praise from some envoys at the United Nations. Surprising some White House officials still searching for a way to keep him in his job, Bolton submitted a resignation letter to President George W. Bush on Friday. Aides said Bush thought about it over the weekend before reluctantly accepting it. While there was much speculation in Washington that Bush might give Bolton another position that did not require Senate confirmation, Bolton's departure letter appeared to close the door on that option. He is to leave the U.N. post when the current session of the U.S. Congress ends, possibly at the end of the week. Democrats take control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives when the new session begins in January. Bush appointed Bolton largely because of a commitment to reform the world body. He is leaving at a time when U.S. foreign policy is fraught with global challenges, from the Iraq war to the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran. Bush bypassed the Senate in August 2005 by appointing Bolton to the position when the lawmakers were in recess, avoiding the confirmation process and angering senators concerned that Bolton had a temper and intimidated intelligence analysts to support his hawkish views while at the State Department.

ITN Source | December 5, 2006

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