Bolton, minus Kenny G

He looks like a cross between Wilford Brimley and Janet Reno. He also shares his last name with one of the greatest heads of hair in the 1980's. His name: John Bolton.

And he is President Bush's nominee for the new head of the United Nations. Going into this post I didn't know much about this guy. Then I read this post by Larry David and I vowed to learn more about this UN situation.

John Bolton is a Yalie who has served in many governmental organizations throughout his career including the State Department, the U.N., Justice Department and USAID. He is currently a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has been the Undersecretary of State for Arms Control since May 2001. Most notably Bolton had made enemies of two rising nuclear powers, Iran and North Korea. He's vehemently opposed by Democrats in Congress for his nomination to the UN. He is blunt and has a no nonsense, to-the-point attitude. Bolton has said, "The Secretariat (UN) building in New York has 38 stories. If it lost ten stories, it wouldn't make a bit of difference." Needless to say Bolton will give this place a No. 1 haircut.

The UN has been marred with scandal for the past few years, tarnishing the reputation of the world's preeminent international body. There was the sex trade scandal in Kosovo, sex abuse allegations in Burundi, the documented abuses of young Congolese girls. The glaring failure of the Oil for Food Program in Iraq, where UN money intended for humanitarian use was ciphoned off by Saddam Hussein and other high-ranking government officials. There was yet another scandal implicating Kofi Annan's son, Kojo, in profiteering from the Oil-for-Food debacle.

So drastic reform is needed badly. Cuts in administrative spending and strict reforms in the conduct and oversight of UN employees are pressing issues. Like other large bureaucratic institutions, these cuts will probably not be recieved well and possibly resisted.

Is Bolton the right person for the job? There's no doubt he will get the job done but he doesn't possess the tact that is necessary for dealing with foreigners- especially Europeans. Prevailing UN protocol consists of careful tip-toeing and sugar-coated diplomacy. The brash, aggressive style of Bolton will ultimately clash with the relaxed culture of the UN.

The most important issue is ensuring that the UN retains its effectiveness in the future. Relations are one thing but progress is another. If that means ruffling a few feathers, then so be it. His message won't be as pretty as When a Man Loves a Woman , but it will surely be heard loud and clear.