Bush to nominate UN critic Bolton as envoy to UN

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, announcing the nomination at the State Department, said on Monday: "The president and I have asked John to do this work because he knows how to get things done. He is a tough-minded diplomat."

Bolton, a leading hawk against Iran and North Korea as the top U.S. arms control policies diplomat, has complained U.N. bodies fail to take strong enough action against such nations and has strongly criticized some international treaties.

Bolton's nomination, which shocked some diplomats at the United Nations, must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, where Democrats were expected to bring up previous harsh criticism Bolton has aimed at the world body.

Bush clashed with the United Nations in his first term and launched a war against Iraq despite failing to secure support from the 15-member Security Council.

Since the invasion, the United States has worked more closely with the United Nations -- especially over Iraqi elections -- but it has been less supportive of Secretary-General Kofi Annan than other major powers during a scandal over the Iraq oil-for-food program.

Bolton would take up the U.N. post that was left vacant when former Sen. John Danforth resigned in December.

Several officials from U.N. Security Council member states expressed astonishment that Bush would name someone they believed had a known antipathy towards the United Nations.

From 1989 to 1993, when Bolton was an assistant secretary of state dealing with the United Nations and other international bodies, he irritated diplomats who felt he lectured them what to do rather than negotiated with them.

But one senior council envoy, speaking on condition of anonymity, also spoke of the value of Bolton's high standing in the administration. "It's like the Palestinians having to negotiate with (Israeli Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon. If you have a deal, you know you have a deal," he said.

BLUNT DIPLOMAT

Bolton, 56, has a reputation for speaking bluntly -- a style that at times has caused friction with allied diplomats. State Department officials sought to allay concerns his style could create similar problems at the United Nations.

"Both (U.S. political) parties have had strong personalities as U.N. ambassadors before. Sometimes these people have been controversial, sometimes not -- but it is important the president has someone who will strongly support his agenda," one of the officials said.

One potential flashpoint is over Bolton's leading role in U.S. efforts to oust Mohamed ElBaradei as head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Bolton has spearheaded the Bush administration's criticism that he could acted more toughly against Iran's programs but the Egyptian is generally well-regarded around the world for his work.

Bolton, who is admired by American conservatives, often clashed with former Secretary of State Colin Powell as he resisted his boss' efforts to negotiate with North Korea over its suspected nuclear weapons development, according to U.S. officials.

Bolton represented a wing in the first term of the Bush administration that advocated confronting and isolating nations such as Iran and North Korea with U.N. sanctions if necessary. He complained that to offer them incentives in talks would be rewarding bad behaviour, according to U.S. officials.