Danforth gets an earful on value of United Nations

Former U.S. Senator John Danforth is still considered a shoo-in for the post of U.N. ambassador, but his old political colleagues are putting him through the confirmation process with strong hints of what they expect him to do, news reports say. Strong praise for Danforth from both Republican and Democratic senators marked a two-hour Foreign Relations Committee session earlier this week, reported the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Friday. Members -- eight of whom had served with Danforth when he represented Missouri in the Senate for 18 years -- cited his integrity, independence and intellect. But senators stressed those very traits in calling on Danforth to fight within the administration to improve U.S. relations with the United Nations and with countries that have soured over the American-led war with Iraq.

"I hope, because of who you are, that you will stand up and take it to the mat - use the moral force of your position to make this thing work, Jack," said Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., the committee's most senior member.