March 16, 2005

Bush: Wolfowitz to Be 'Strong' World Bank Chief

President Bush said on Wednesday Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz would make a "strong president" of the World Bank, calling him "a compassionate, decent man."
[...]
Wolfowitz is a deeply controversial figure in Europe because of his role in designing and promoting the Iraq war.
[...which has worked on all fronts, I have to add!--Jen]
He has also been a frequent target of criticism from congressional Democrats for what they called his "rosy" assessments of the Iraq war. Before the invasion, he assured Congress: "We are dealing with a country that can really finance its own reconstruction and relatively soon."
[I think he's right about this, too; it's just that the Dimocrats are defining "soon" differently than Wolfie.
'Course their life's work is moving the goalposts for the Bush Administration.--J.T.]

The selection follows Bush's controversial decision to nominate John Bolton, another leading administration hawk, to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Too funny!
You have to wonder if President Bush doesn't do this on purpose to watch the Dems turn into howler monkeys! (which they did!)
Now, they can't decide if they'll pitch a fit over Wolfowitz or Bolton and they're even carping about Karen Hughes's nomination.
And for this job, the Left would have settled for U2's Bono, who probably knows a lot about rock, but doesn't know Jack squat about world economies and their financing!
Check out Al Guardian's version of this story:
Bush picks Wolfowitz to head World Bank

"Mr [John] Snow [US treasury secretary] knows that the reaction from the board was unfavourable," Reuters quoted one source as saying. "Mr Wolfowitz's nomination today tells us the US couldn't care less what the rest of the world thinks."
[Well, uh, YES! That's about right!--Jen]

Wolfowitz, one of the leading hawks in the Iraq war, is a very unlikely choice to lead the World Bank, although he would not be the first Pentagon figure to be president of the world's leading development institution.

Robert McNamara, the US secretary of defence when America sank into the Vietnam quagmire, was president of the World Bank from 1968 to 1981.
[That's quite a long time...
Notice McNamara gets no "points" from the peacenik Left for his recanting his hawkishness regarding Vietnam in recent years.]
[...]

Peter Bosshard, the policy director of the International Rivers Network, an American NGO, said: "In his career, Wolfowitz has so far not shown any interest in poverty reduction, environmental protection and human rights.
[What complete BULL.
In his position at the Pentagon, Wolfowitz has been actively involved in the economic, cultural and social development of Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as the march of democracy in the Middle East that has come about as the result of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
As for "environmental protection," the USA under Bush doesn't ascribe to the junk science mentality of the Kyoto Protocol and EUrope needs to get over it!]
His election as World Bank president would most likely exacerbate the current backlash against social and environmental concerns at the World Bank, and would initiate a new era of conflict between the Bank and civil society."
[The sky is always falling to these Chicken Little Leftists, isn't it?
The only way they know to keep power is to maintain people in a state of fear with their threats.]
[...]
This is the second time in as many weeks that Mr Bush has confounded the international community with an unlikely personnel choice for a top international institution. Last week, the president picked John Bolton, another administration hawk, to be the US ambassador to the UN.

Got that?
Bolton and Wolfowitz are both horrible hawks!
But as cyber sleuth Moses Wine found out, the head of the IMF is already "looking forward to working" with Wolfie as the new head of the World Bank:
IMF chief says Wolfowitz has impressive record
I'm sure Wolfowitz will be fine, although I really hate to see him leave the Pentagon.
Go Paul, King of the Evil Neocons...and "neocon" is primarily code for "Jewish."
Be that as it may, the Israelis are already happy with the appointment and they have good reason:

[...]
Wolfowitz's appointment to head the World Bank will have significance for Israel since the World Bank is expected to play a key economic role in Gaza after Israel's withdrawal.
[...]

He is considered a friend of Israel who knows the issues in the Middle East very well. Although widely viewed as a leading hawk in the Bush Administration, he supports a two state solution here and has not demonstrated over the years emotional attachment to the settlement movement.

The World Bank is expected to supervise the implementation of hundreds of million of dollars worth of projects to rebuild Gaza. One official said that Wolfowitz would likely ensure that the Palestinians fulfill strict conditions regarding reform and democratization in order to get the money.
[First, they should have to account for all the millions Arafat tucked away that he got from the World Bank, the EU, UN and the U.S.A. dammit!--Jen]

"He is a no-nonsense administrator who knows what needs to be done in terms of reform and democratization," one senior official said. "The appointment ensures that Bush has a man in an important institution whom he trusts," he said.

The World Bank is also the body that will oversee the channeling of millions of dollars into the Galilee and Negev for development of these regions as well.

As with John Bolton herding those Leftist cats over at the U.N., it sounds like President Bush's choice of Wolfowitz is PERFECT.
He'll not only be able to deal with the Paleostinians, but with other down-and-out thugocracies like Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Egypt and Zimbabwe.