Replies

For instance, I have a letter from former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to John Bolton expressing her strong support for Mr. Bolton. It is fitting that she should support John Bolton, particularly in light of the comments that he is too tough, too outspoken, too frank, too blunt. Those same criticisms were made about Lady Thatcher in 1975, earning her the nickname the Iron Lady. She embraced that nickname, famously asserting:

If you lead a country like Britain, a strong country, a country which has taken a lead in world affairs in good times and in bad, a country that is always reliable, then you have to have a touch of iron about you.

She was absolutely right, and the same holds true in this case. If our ambassador is going to represent the world's great superpower in the United Nations, an organization, unfortunately, that has been riddled with corruption and strong opposition by certain members to the values we hold dear, he must have a touch of iron about him, and he does.

Say what you will about John Bolton, weakness is not one of his weaknesses.

I ask unanimous consent that the letter from Lady Thatcher be printed in the RECORD.

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:

May 4, 2005.
Hon. JOHN R. BOLTON,
Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.

DEAR JOHN: I am writing this letter in order to let you know how strongly I support your nomination as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. On the basis of our years of friendship, I know from experience the great qualities you will bring to that demanding post.

To combine, as you do, clarity of thought, courtesy of expression and an unshakable commitment to justice is rare in any walk of life. But it is particularly so in international affairs. A capacity for straight talking rather than peddling half-truths is a strength and not a disadvantage in diplomacy. Particularly in the case of a great power like America, it is essential that people know where you stand and assume that you mean what you say. With you at the UN, they will do both. Those same qualities are also required for any serious reform of the United Nations itself, without which cooperation between nations to defend and extend liberty will be far more difficult.

I cannot imagine anyone better fitted to undertake these tasks than you.

All good wishes,

Yours ever,
MARGARET.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, this letter of April 5, 2005, is signed by 13 giants of American diplomacy, including five Secretaries of State and two Secretaries of Defense in support of John Bolton. I ask unanimous consent that this letter be printed in the RECORD.

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:

Washington, DC, April 5, 2005.
Senator RICHARD G. LUGAR,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: We write to urge that the Senate act expeditiously to confirm John Bolton as our ambassador to the United Nations. This is a moment when unprecedented turbulence at the United Nations is creating momentum for much needed reform. It is a moment when we must have an ambassador in place whose knowledge, experience, dedication and drive will be vital to protecting the American interest in an effective, forward-looking United Nations.

In his position as Undersecretary of State, John Bolton has taken the lead in strengthening international community approaches to the daunting problem of the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD). As a result of his hard work, intellectual as well as operational, the

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G-8 has supported U.S. proposals to strengthen safeguards and verification at the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Proliferation Security Initiative was launched and established within three months--a world speed record in these complex, multilateral matters. Moreover, Secretary Bolton led the successful effort to complete the negotiation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540, adopted unanimously in April, 2004. UN 1540 called on member states to criminalize the proliferation of WMD--which it declared to be a threat to international peace and security--and to enact strict export controls.

Secretary Bolton, like the Administration, has his critics, of course. Anyone as energetic and effective as John is bound to encounter those who disagree with some or even all of the Administration's policies. But the policies for which he is sometimes criticized are those of the President and the Department of State which he has served with loyalty, honor and distinction.

Strong supporters of the United Nations understand the challenges it now faces. With his service as assistant secretary of state for international organizations, where he was instrumental in securing the repeal of the repugnant resolution equating Zionism with racism, and as undersecretary for arms control and international security, we believe John Bolton will bring great skill and energy to meeting those challenges.

Sincerely yours,
Hon. David Abshire, former Assistant Secretary of State, Hon. Kenneth Adelman, former Director, Arms Control Disarmament Agency, Hon. Richard Allen, former Assistant to the President for National Security, Hon. James Baker, former Secretary of State, Hon. Frank Carlucci, former Secretary of Defense, Hon. Lawrence Eagleburger, former Secretary of State, Hon. Al Haig, former Secretary of State, Ambassador Max Kampelman, former Ambassador and Head of the U.S. Delegation to the Negotiations with the Soviet Union on Nuclear and Space Arms, Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, former Ambassador to the United Nations, Hon. Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State, Hon. James Schlesinger, former Secretary of Defense, Hon. George Shultz, former Secretary of State, Hon. Helmut Sonnenfeldt, former Counselor, Department of State.