Wolfowitz Gets EU Leaders' Support for World Bank Job

[Freddie Stubbs]

March 23 (Bloomberg) -- Paul Wolfowitz, President George W. Bush's choice to lead the World Bank, gained support from European Union nations as Italy and the Netherlands joined Germany in saying they'll back his nomination.

``Enthusiasm in Europe will be muted,'' German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said today. ``But Germany will behave very constructively, and the appointment of Mr. Wolfowitz won't be blocked by Germany. My impression is: also not by other European countries.''

Wolfowitz, 61, has sought to overcome concerns that he is the wrong person to lead the bank because of his involvement in organizing the Iraq war and his ambition to spread the U.S. brand of democracy and capitalism around the globe.

As deputy U.S. defense secretary since 2001, Wolfowitz was one of the most visible people in the Bush administration criticizing Germany and France for failing to support the Iraq war. Since his nomination, he's said people should recall his work in developing nations such as Indonesia before the Iraq conflict. In an interview on March 18, he said he wouldn't accept the job ``if I didn't believe in the mission.''

more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000100&sid=aIASbyYP_RXU&refer=germany

[ixion]

1. okay, I don't think this qualifies for support as much as appeasment

the EU seems to be rolling over for BushCo.

[ianrs]

4. sickening

When this sack of shit's nomination was announced I emailed my concerns to my elected Labour representatives (I'm British) telling them that this for me will be the straw on the camel's back. They clearly don't give a sod about this issue, as none has bothered replying to me, and as a consequence I will have to look elsewhere to cast my vote in our upcoming general election. This morning I heard our toady Foreign Secretary blethering on about this 'distinguished public servant' or some such bollocks, and if I had had any breakfast at that stage, I would have :puke: ed it.

Depressing, depressing, depressing...

[saigon68]

16. WOLFIE IS A GREASY FILTHY LITTLE MAN

Who licks his comb with spittle to wet down his hair for combing.

[Nikepallas]

2. I can't believe they would let him have such a job. He will steal/or set

up some sort or scam to mess that system up.

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. Spin much?

"...gets EU leader's support..."

"...Mr. Wolfowitz won't be blocked by Germany. My impression is: also not by other European countries."

IOW, we don't like it, we don't want it, but we know it is only short term and we won't fight it. Better than you having a hissy fit.

[Stephanie]

14. It's not short term - it's a ten year appointment

This is appalling.

[Demit]

5. "World Bank a better fit for Wolfowitz"

Trudy Rubin is a columnist for the Phila Inquirer and a Middle East expert. I really respect her opinions, so I was startled to open the paper last Sunday and see her column on why Wolfowitz isn't a bad choice for the World Bank. While a lot of it has a "it could have been worse" theme, I felt somewhat better after reading what she wrote:



http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/columnists/trudy_rubin/11180524.htm

Posted on Sun, Mar. 20, 2005

Worldview | World Bank a better fit for Wolfowitz
By Trudy Rubin

"
...
So, you ask, why reward such bad performance with the top spot at the World Bank?

Reason one: At least Wolfowitz appears to care about development issues. The President just picked as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations a man who openly despises the world body - John Bolton. The World Bank choice could have been far worse.

Reason two: Wolfowitz might just follow in the steps of Robert McNamara, who left the Pentagon at the height of the Vietnam War to become president of the World Bank. McNamara fought a determined battle against global poverty. Of course, he had reflected on the mistakes he made in Vietnam; so far, Wolfowitz hasn't admitted to any mistakes.

Reason three: In running the World Bank, Wolfowitz, the utopian visionary, may finally be forced to face facts. "Unilateral bullying," says Nancy Birdsall, president of the Center for Global Development, "won't work." The World Bank can certainly do with more accountability, and there is room at the bank for "a kind of vision," says Birdsall. That includes presidential pressure on lenders for democratic reforms - Wolfowitz's passion.

But a World Bank president can't just cram D.C.-made formulas down countries' throats or he will generate lender backlash and development failure. Wolfowitz now says he wants to listen. Let's hope he's finally seen the light."

[Iterate]

11. Look at his whole career, look what he's done

Thanks for posting the article.

I just don't see where anyone comes up with this McNamara analogy. I'd like to agree, I'd like to be an optimist, but in the end it still seems just downright nutty. Even usually good journalists seem to parrot it.

Look at PW’s past: the policy studies he’s completed, the institutional changes he’s put in place, the policies he’s implemented.

I don’t see McNamara anywhere, or incompetence, or someone who’s intellectually curious and ready for multi-lateral solution seeking.

Also look at the other recent bush appointments on the international scene –all of them hyper-loyal ideologues moved into influential positions.

Most of what PW has done in the past has somehow furthered his PNAC plan. Why would it be any different now? If anything, molding the pentagon with DR to fit their aims was more difficult. It’s not that much of a step to fashion the WB to more efficiently spread the radical right cheer to every nation.

[Demit]

12. I know. PW's singleminded ideology scares the bejeezus out of me.

Plus I can't get the image out of my head of him licking his comb x(

I don't know how the World Bank operates, really, but I'm hoping that Wolfowitz will be somehow constrained by having to interact with other powerful people who don't share his ideology. The better butter making the bitter butter better, so to speak.

[Iterate]

21. licked his comb??

ooh, Why would he do that? He has plenty of people he could hire for $.50 a day who would do it for him.

[w4rma]

6. Suckers! (nt)

[beam me up scottie]

7. If they wonder how well this administration and

it's supporters play well with others, just take a look at the u.s.
The time for saying "Oh well, I'm sure he won't be THAT bad" is long over.

[AlCzervik]

8. What kind of deal making is going on behind the scenes?

Whats in it for the EU, surely Wolfowitz isn't getting a free ride here.

[sadiesworld]

9. Is this really such a surprise?

They answer to the multi-nationals, not us. The rest is simply theater.

[It was not a pretzel]

10. Gerhard Schroeder

Chancellor of the worst government since WWII doesn't surprise me in the slightest....Germany is in a race with the rest of Europe to become more like the US. I'd leave here tomorrow if I could convince my partner to leave and if I knew where to go. Bloody hell, I'm thinking about becoming an economic emmigrant from one of the richest countries on earth....bizaar

[htuttle]

13. Fools

[raccoon]

20. you said that right nt

[Vladimir]

15. Yes, lets look at that record in Indonesia

http://www.firstofthemonth.org/9_11/9_11_shorrock_asian.html : "During his years as Reagan's point man on Asia, Wolfowitz's job was to portray some of the world's most notorious police states as worthy allies who simply needed a little patience from US policymakers and Congress. He was willing to overlook systematic human rights violations in the name of the greater good: US national security and economic interests. Today in Indonesia, he is continuing in that vein by leading, in the name of fighting terrorism, the Bush administration's push to lift congressional sanctions on US training programs for the Indonesian military, which is highly tainted by its brutality in East Timor three years ago and its sponsorship of vigilante groups and death squads that, to this day, continue to terrorize dissidents and opponents of US mining and oil companies. "

http://www.westpapuanews.com/articles/publish/article_1851.shtml : "Wolfowitz later cited Jakarta's accountability charade as an example of Indonesia's many "achievements" over the previous several years in testimony to a congressional subcommittee in 1997. And despite a growing international consensus critical of Indonesia's occupation of East Timor, he argued against any talk in Washington of East Timorese independence, while calling for a renewal of U.S. military training of the TNI.

In his written statement to the subcommittee, Wolfowitz praised Indonesia's dictator, Suharto, who seized power in 1965-66 through a slaughter of hundreds of thousands. "Any balanced judgment" of the country's human rights situation, he opined, "needs to take account of the significant progress that Indonesia has already made." Much of the progress, he asserted, was due to Suharto's "strong and remarkable leadership."

In 1998, massive protests led Asia's longest-reigning dictator to step down. Wolfowitz quickly changed his tune, characterizing Suharto in an interview as someone who "without any question was fighting reform every step of the way." Yet, he continued to defend the Indonesian military as a force for good."

[clem_c_rock]

17. Illuminati existance confirmed

They're all a bunch of shape-shifting lizards. This confirmed the whole thing!

[Bleacher Creature]

18. Since when does "won't block" equal support?

This Bloomberg (shock!) article gets it wrong. Schroeder said that "Mr. Wolfowitz won't be blocked by Germany."

Doesn't sound like a rousing show of support to me.

[RaleighNCDUer]

19. How about a little optimism?

Maybe they're just saying yes so that after he is confirmed he will travel to EU, where he can be arrested and put on trial for war crimes at the Hague.

*Sigh*