[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 113 (Wednesday, August 4, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S10217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      AMBASSADOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I have lost track of how long it has been 
since the President nominated Ambassador Richard Holbrooke to be the 
United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
  What I do know is that in the intervening months we have fought a war 
in Kosovo that I supported, but which harmed our relations with Russia 
and China.
  We have watched as tens of thousands of students demonstrated in the 
streets of Tehran; seen further signs that North Korea is preparing to 
test a long-range missile that could reach our shores; entered a new 
and hopeful period in the Middle East peace process; watched the 
Northern Ireland peace process reach a dead end once again; and seen 
India and Pakistan, armed with nuclear weapons and the missiles to 
deliver them, clash over Kashmir. All of this has occurred while 
Ambassador Holbrooke has been waiting to be confirmed.
  So, Mr. President, it is possible for the United States to carry on 
without a UN ambassador. We have managed to do that. The world has not 
come to an end, although not a day has passed without a crisis that we 
have an interest in. But does anyone here think it is a sensible way 
for the world's only superpower to conduct itself?
  Every day, we face threats to our security interests, our economic 
interest, that affect the health and welfare of the American people, 
and which require the intensive attention and intervention of skilled 
diplomats. Aside from the Secretary of State, there is no diplomatic 
position more important than our UN Ambassador.
  Yet month after month after month, we have seen this nomination 
delayed by the Majority party. First it was due to allegations of 
financial irregularities, which Ambassador Holbrooke resolved months 
ago. Months had already been lost waiting for a hearing.
  Then, shortly after the Majority Leader said the Senate would vote on 
his nomination, a hold was placed on it and more weeks have passed 
without a vote being scheduled--a vote that is certain to confirm 
Ambassador Holbrooke overwhelmingly. In fact, he would have been 
confirmed easily months ago, if the Senate had been permitted to vote.
  This is the last week before the August recess. There is absolutely 
no justification whatsoever for delaying this further. There are no 
political points to be made here. On the contrary, we hurt ourselves 
each day that we are without a UN Ambassador. It is, frankly, 
ridiculous to be acting as if this position can remain vacant for month 
after month, without weakening our influence around the world.
  So let us hope this is the week that Ambassador Holbrooke will be 
confirmed, and that he can get started on the difficult job that we, 
the American people and the President, need him to do.

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