Former Israeli diplomat praises Muslim likely to be Bolton replacement
by Chad Groening
February 14, 2007
(OneNewsNow.com) - - Author and former Israeli ambassador Dore Gold says he's well acquainted with Zalmay Khalilzad, the man expected to be picked as America's next ambassador to the United Nations. And, the Israeli author adds, he has absolutely no problem with President Bush picking the Muslim diplomat for the post.Sources within the White House say President Bush will nominate Khalilzad to succeed John Bolton as America's next ambassador to the U.N., an office that carries Cabinet-level rank. If confirmed as ambassador, the Afghanistan native would be the first Muslim member of the U.S. Presidential Cabinet.
Khalilzad, who has been serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, actually took part in the criticism of Gold's doctoral dissertation at Columbia University years ago. Gold, who directs the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JPCA), feels he knows the diplomat well and can confidently vouch for his complete loyalty and impeccable qualifications.
"I think he's a highly talented individual," the JPCA official observes. "No question about it," he says; "that's my impression -- that's how I have always understood him. I'm sure he'll be a great ambassador of the United States at the U.N."
Based on his meetings with Khalilzad years ago, Gold says Bush's presumed choice is not only smart but is "a loyal, patriotic American" as well. And based on the ambassador's tremendous amount of diplomatic experience, especially having "sat in Afghanistan and ... in Iraq," the Jerusalem Center spokesman asserts, this seasoned statesman "understands the challenges [Americans] face better than most people."
For these reasons, Gold says, Americans need not be concerned about the likelihood that Bush will nominate the Muslim official as America's ambassador to the United Nations. "Frankly, I know Zalmay Khalilzad," the Israeli scholar adds. "I wouldn't be worried about him at all."
