A grateful veteran's salute…

…to Senator Christopher Dodd.

...the first Senator to make clear his plan to reject Fox's nomination.

"I strongly oppose the nomination of Sam Fox to be U.S. Ambassador to Belgium. U.S. Ambassadors need to be both responsible and credible, and Mr. Fox's support for an organization known to have spread falsehoods illustrates neither," said Dodd, a candidate for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, in a statement.

"Moreover, the fact that Mr. Fox refused to apologize for his behavior during his nomination hearing reinforces my belief that he would not be an acceptable representative for the position of U.S. Ambassador."

Kerry can't do it without making Fox seem like a victim of sour grapes, but there's no reason that every one of his colleagues shouldn't have his back on this one. I'd argue that it's a, if not the, valid test for Democratic Senators with, ahem, ambitions.

I admit that I'm specially interested in what Hagel and McCain have to say from the other side of the fence. No high expectations, of course. Just an interest.