Well, it is official. World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz has said he will resign at the end of June after, “acting ethically and in good faith in what I believe were the bests interests of the institution…”
I think this is a good thing. It is definately in the best interest of the Bank as it attempts to move forward after this incident. Any further hubub about the Wolfowitz situation and I think their institution would have really taken a hit in terms of clientel losses. It has already taken a huge blow as far as its image is concerned.
Like always, as one goes out, another must enter. In this spirit, who will be the next president of the World Bank? Who should it be? Remember, it is by tradition that the World Bank president is American, not by rule. Could it be a European? Will it be another member of Bush’s administration? If so, current or past member?
(photo: Getty Images)
May 17, 2007 at 9:30 pm
I’m guessing they send Alberto Gonzales to the World Bank. Kills two birds with one stone…and certainly no one could question a former U.S. Attorney General on grounds of corruption or ethical lapses.
May 18, 2007 at 5:17 am
Yeah, I can’t think of anyone that would be more loyal to the cause than Alberto. It might help if Saint George the Decider gives him a Medal of Freedom first to help with his current image problems.
May 18, 2007 at 6:18 am
This is actually a comical exercise in politics. Had this happened to say a Nice conservative non Neocon then there would be almost no news about it. Because it is a Neocon then there is a worldwide uproar basically from the internet.
The man promoted a female companion.
Thats a new one. Gosh I bet that never happens anywhere else but here. He gave her a raise. Gosh I bet thats never happened in the History of mankind before.
He is a neocon. If he was a liberal Dane, which would be odd considering the President of the USA appoints the president of the world bank, still had he been a liberal Dane not much would have been said.
Look at Kofi Anan. The guy was suspected of taking Bribes from IRAQ. There was almost nothing said. Wolf promotes a chick hes prolly screwing and its a world wide travesty.
Gotta love the mind of the bloggers.
May 18, 2007 at 7:37 am
lthomas:
Certainly there was a huge reservoir of bad feelings toward Wolfowitz because of his role in the Iraq war. He didn’t help himself when he brought in his two American aides and began to run roughshod over the bank’s leadership.
But the real crowning blow was not his actions toward his girlfriend, but doing it while promoting the anti-corruption agenda he espoused.
Think of it this way. Two men getting together for sexual purposes isn’t necessarily front page news. But when one of them turns out to be anti-gay minister, perhaps one who has developed a national following due to his position against homosexuality, its the hypocrisy that makes it remarkable, not the act itself.
May 18, 2007 at 2:20 pm
I think if the WB must continue (putting 3rd world and developing countries further in an unbeatable debt) the new president should be someone who will work to find a way of getting the poorer countries out of debt.
I’ve never been one to post links, but read this statement of princaples of the “New American Century” then read the names of the men who signed it.
http://www.newamericancentury.org/
The statement is very scary. Mind you, this is before the George W. Bush administration came into power.
May 18, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Ken Im not saying he is right or didnt do anything wrong. I am commenting on the coverage. Had there not been a global war on terror, had Neocons not been an bad word, had the world not hated George Bush, had Bush not nominated Wolf then:
No one outside of the world bank would have given a flying flip.
AGain I reiterate this is comical.
I know he did wrong and should be fired. That was never my point.
May 18, 2007 at 4:57 pm
I know that everyone is thinking the new WB president will be Alberto Gonzales after he hands his resignation to President Bush. I don’t think Bush wants to put up with that battle right now. I’m thinking more along the lines of Robert Zoellick. Hank Paulson would be a good candidate, and I think he deserves the job. What about Dick Armitage? What is he up to these days? For now, though, I think it should go to Paulson, but my money is on Zoellick.
Kent
May 18, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Kent
I had hoped I was being facetious about old Fredo, but the fact that anyone could take it seriously is a good indication about how far we’ve gone through the looking glass. The fact he’s still AG is strange enough but we’ve all seen The Godfather and we know how Fredo ends.
Bush has said he’s looking for someone with a passion for fighting poverty. After the Wolfie fiasco, he also needs someone who will command immediate respect. I suspect we barely escaped with still being allowed to appoint the WB president and that perhaps Wolfowitz’s resignation without further recriminations is the only thing that salvaged that power.
Zoellick would be such a candidate, as would Paulsen, although that would leave another spot at Treasury to fill. There are other figures from private industry that would fill the bill equally well, although I wonder whether a Bill Gates or someone of that stature could be persuaded to take it. I just hope we don’t dip back into the old well of Texas cronies again or retread one of the old neocons to see if we can get a few more miles out of him. That would send precisely the wrong message.
May 18, 2007 at 10:39 pm
I understand, and it was not just you Ken, sadly, that has mentioned Gonzo. In fact, I saw a political cartoon today portreying such an idea…
May 19, 2007 at 9:38 am
Well here’s another name that has arisen. Former Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.
http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070519/NEWS08/705190354
May 19, 2007 at 6:24 pm
If Frist gets the job ….. good lord