But Bolton’s nomination stunned many in Washington and at the United Nations because he has been one of the Bush administration’s fiercest critics of the United Nations. In 1994 he said '’if the UN secretariat building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn't make a bit of difference.'’ He has also called for the US to stop paying dues to the United Nations. On Monday, Bolton said this is now a time for the UN to achieve reform. “I have consistently stressed in my writings that American leadership is critical to the success of the UN–an effective UN. One that is true to its original intent of its charters framers,” Bolton said. “This is a time of opportunity for the UN, which likewise requires American leadership to achieve successful reform. ” According to journalist Jim Lobe, who has closely monitored the rise of the neoconservatives in Washington, Bolton was widely considered the most unilateralist and least diplomatic of senior U.S. officials during Bush's first term. He has repeatedly opposed major global treaties including the anti-ballistic missile treaty and the formation of the International Criminal Court. He described Bush’s decision to pull its support for the court as “the happiest moment of my government service.” More recently Bolton unsuccessfully led a campaign to oust Mohamed ElBaradei from his post as head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, because he has not ruled Iran in violation of its international obligations. The Guardian of London reports Bolton’s nomination may signal that the US intends to push Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons ambitions to the top of the security council’s agenda.