Friday, March 18, 2005
Wolfowitz at the bank
Here is a little bit about the reaction to Wolfowitz's nomination and a little context for the response.
Jax
PROGRESS REPORT - The White House floated Wolfowitz's name to the international community a couple of weeks ago. The Bank's board made it clear to U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow that their response "was unfavorable." According to the New York Times, after the U.S. suggested Wolfowitz, the Europeans also asked "that more than one name be presented." So what did President Bush do? He ignored their request completely and instead publicly announced Wolfowitz as his choice. One source "close to the Bank" charged the appointment shows that the U.S. government "couldn't care less what the rest of the world thinks."
The United States is the largest shareholder in the World Bank; thus, the institution traditionally defers to the U.S. when it comes to the presidency. Wolfowitz, however, is such an unpopular choice that his nomination is already meeting rare resistance. The Times of London reports the surprising nomination "sparked howls of outrage from foes and a distinct lack of enthusiasm from friends" abroad, predicting a "potentially bruising fight with Washington over the post." The Washington Post agrees, reporting "speculation that a Wolfowitz candidacy could be torpedoed by the board of the bank." As German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said, "The storm of enthusiasm in old Europe is muted."
Paul Wolfowitz stubbornly refused to listen to others going into Iraq and his myopic views led to egregious mistakes. Remember, he's the one who infamously told Congress the war would basically pay for itself, saying, "we are dealing with a country that can really finance its own reconstruction and relatively soon." Since then, the cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars has reached nearly $300 billion. He attacked Gen. Eric Shinseki for suggesting the reconstruction of Iraq would take a couple hundred thousand troops, saying he was "wildly off the mark." Wolfowitz also has been criticized for pressuring intelligence agencies to produce false links between Saddam Hussein and 9/11, and reportedly approved unethical interrogation methods that led to torture in U.S. prisons. (Link - slow)
Jax
PROGRESS REPORT - The White House floated Wolfowitz's name to the international community a couple of weeks ago. The Bank's board made it clear to U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow that their response "was unfavorable." According to the New York Times, after the U.S. suggested Wolfowitz, the Europeans also asked "that more than one name be presented." So what did President Bush do? He ignored their request completely and instead publicly announced Wolfowitz as his choice. One source "close to the Bank" charged the appointment shows that the U.S. government "couldn't care less what the rest of the world thinks."
The United States is the largest shareholder in the World Bank; thus, the institution traditionally defers to the U.S. when it comes to the presidency. Wolfowitz, however, is such an unpopular choice that his nomination is already meeting rare resistance. The Times of London reports the surprising nomination "sparked howls of outrage from foes and a distinct lack of enthusiasm from friends" abroad, predicting a "potentially bruising fight with Washington over the post." The Washington Post agrees, reporting "speculation that a Wolfowitz candidacy could be torpedoed by the board of the bank." As German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said, "The storm of enthusiasm in old Europe is muted."
Paul Wolfowitz stubbornly refused to listen to others going into Iraq and his myopic views led to egregious mistakes. Remember, he's the one who infamously told Congress the war would basically pay for itself, saying, "we are dealing with a country that can really finance its own reconstruction and relatively soon." Since then, the cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars has reached nearly $300 billion. He attacked Gen. Eric Shinseki for suggesting the reconstruction of Iraq would take a couple hundred thousand troops, saying he was "wildly off the mark." Wolfowitz also has been criticized for pressuring intelligence agencies to produce false links between Saddam Hussein and 9/11, and reportedly approved unethical interrogation methods that led to torture in U.S. prisons. (Link - slow)
