On Monday, with on-going fighting in the Middle East as a backdrop, the U.N. Security Council took its first look at the candidates to succeed Kofi Annan as Secretary General.

The forum was an informal straw vote. The council's fifteen members were asked to mark one of three boxes for each candidate: encourage, discourage or no opinion.

According to an Associated Press report, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon and India's Shashi Tharoor, U.N. undersecretary-general of public affairs did best. Ban received twelve positive votes against only one negative. Tharoor was next with ten positive votes.

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai got seven votes of encouragement while U.N. disarmament chief Jayantha Dhanapala got five votes of encouragement against six negative ballots.

From the current field, the South Korean, Ban, seems to be the most interesting and the most likely to be helpful to the United States. However, given China's historical animus towards South Korea and the latter nation's close relationship with the United Stats, the smart money is betting that the one negative vote against Ban was from China, a veto-wielding council member. That would sink Ban's candidacy.

The other three candidates are, in a word, unacceptable. Tharoor and Dhanapala are both of and from the U.N. bureaucracy, and Annan has demonstrated all too well where that background takes us. The U.N. needs fresh blood at the top; someone with an outside perspective who is dedicated to starting the world body back down the path towards relevance.

Sathirathai started off strong, but his government in Thailand is battling domestic political problems and his chances seem to have waned, though he may have the support of China.

But in the end, like most activities at the U.N., this first straw poll was essentially pointless. Winning candidates are rarely brought forward until the very last moment, and often emerge as the result of negotiations between the veto-holding permanent members of the Security Council. Indeed, there's no reason to think that any of the currently declared candidates will even be in consideration when the time comes for the Council to make its choice.

Whoever ultimately comprises the final field, we hope the U.S. will stand firm for a candidate committed to real reform of the troubled world body. More importantly, we hope Ambassador Bolton and his staff can identify a candidate who can command the respect of the world while still maintaining a good relationship with the U.S.

The U.N.'s record of anti-Americanism is well-known and well-documented. And just as he has with corruption and scandal, the current Secretary General has raised America bashing to previously uncontemplated levels.

Now more than ever, John Bolton's strength and firmness are essential national assets. And that's yet another good reason for the Senate to get on with his confirmation.