Another neo-con or just a Bush 'tool'for the World Bank?

[malaise]

Robert Zoellick's the name I heard on an AP report on WJ.

http://www.j-bradford-delong.net/movable_type/2005-3_archives/000124.html

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Zoellick's one of those guys who is, as they say in Washington, "well respected," but it's a bit hard to get a read on what he actually thinks. His previous jobs have almost all been in the realm of international economics. That's a dimension that's largely been missing from Bush's foreign policy thus far, so it's probably reasonable. But it gives us little guide to his views on the meat-and-potatoes military and political aspects of State Department work. His past associates are mostly moderates, but he was one of the original regime changers on Iraq. His job in the first Bush term was dealing with international trade issues, but even here reports conflict as to what was going on. I've heard it said that he's a principled free trader who's just happened to lose a lot of internal battles with the White House political team, but I've also heard it said that he's a committed mercantilist whose views have made it hard for the White House economic team to get a proper hearing for their views.

For the record, I have heard neither of these things said. What I've heard said is that Zoellick was relatively ineffective as USTR, and in meetings was more interested in figuring out what the High Politicians wished to hear than in giving good counsel.

[malaise]

1. Kick n/t