According to Xinhua:
The governments of the European Union (EU) on Wednesday gave their endorsement to World Bank president nominee Paul Wolfowitz, currently US deputy defense secretary, whose nomination has stirred controversy following his key role in the Iraq war and his lack of experience.
At a press conference here, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, referred to Wolfowitz as “the incoming president of the World Bank.”
Good news. This blog has made no secret of its admiration for the idealistic Wolfowitz. If this man succeeds in making international aid more transparent and freer of corruption, his place in history will be quite remarkable. Of course the growing freedom movements across the Middle East are in some small way (perhaps not even small) attributable to him.
UPDATE: From the Financial Times… Mr Wolfowitz said: “I understand that I am, to put it mildly, a controversial figure, but I hope, as people get to know me better, they will understand that I really do believe deeply in the mission of the bank.” Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, the German development minister, said: “It is clear that this is for him a new beginning.”
How about one from the Germans? [Not likely.-ed.]
Way to go! Now to get Bolton into UN . . .
I guess this should be put into the cirucular files under “Who Cares.”
Sorry, that’s supposed to read, the circular file.
It’s always amusing how Wolfowitz’s critics try to paint him as some sort of fire breathing monster only to see that caricature contrasted with his elegant, compassionate and insightful communications.
“New World Bank President caused a major scandal his first day in office when he requested the names of the depositors for accounts listed under the headings KA and KAJR…”
It is not for her hair color that Mrs Wieczorek-Zeul is sometimes called “Red Heidi”.