Byron Dorgan: “This is a terrible nomination. I indicated yesterday that I don't know Mr. John Bolton. I have not met him. But I have…”

“This is a terrible nomination. I indicated yesterday that I don't know Mr. John Bolton. I have not met him. But I have read a great deal about what he said about a number of issues. To nominate Mr. John Bolton to be Under Secretary of State for Arms Control defies logic. Arms control is a very important subject. The question of whether this country is going to assume the responsibility to lead internationally in stopping the spread of nuclear weapons is a very important question. Are we going to be a world leader in stopping the spread of nuclear weapons or not? Are we going to be a leader in trying to make this a safer world? Are we going to be a leader in trying to reduce the number of nuclear weapons that exist in this world? The answer from the President, it seems to me, in sending this nomination to the Senate is no; we don't intend to lead on anything. We intend to do our own thing notwithstanding what anybody else thinks about it, and notwithstanding the consequences with respect to the reduction of additional nuclear weapons and delivery systems. Mr. Bolton has virtually no experience in the field of arms control.”