Bush names Bolton ambassador to United Nations

By Tom Strode - Mar 31, 2005

President Bush has nominated John Bolton to be the new ambassador to the United Nations.

Bush’s selection of the outspoken Bolton has drawn criticism and opposition, but many who support a strong stance for the spread of democracy and reform of the United Nations have welcomed the move. Bolton’s nomination requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

Bolton has served nearly four years as under secretary of arms control and international security at the State Department. He also has served as assistant secretary for international organization affairs at the State Department and assistant attorney general at the Justice Department.

In 1991, Bolton helped with the successful bid to rescind the U.N.’s resolution condemning Zionism as equivalent to racism, thereby aiding Israel. He has called North Korea’s Kim Jong Il a “tyrannical dictator” and recently criticized China publicly for permitting its firms to sell missile technology to the repressive Islamic state of Iran.

Further Learning

Learn more about: Citizenship, National