Tuesday, May 08, 2007
World Bank Panel Indicts Wolfowitz - Recommends resignation
On the disclosure of the panel's report yesterday, the United States (US) President George W. Bush had steered clear of the controversy contrary to his initial position, seeking more support for the embattled Wolfowitz. According to reports, Bush is “not getting directly, personally involved” in the battle over Wolfowitz’s presidency at the World Bank.
On Monday, in a preview of the possible bloodbath in the offing, Wolfowitz chief aide Kevin Kellems resigned from his post saying that “the current environment surrounding the leadership” at the bank made it “very difficult to be effective in helping to advance the mission of the institution”.
Bank officials say that as of now, only the United States, Japan and Canada would vote in favor of Wolfowitz. They represent less than 30 percent of the voting shares. Most other directors are reported to be willing to vote against Wolfowitz.
NEVER AGAIN The overwhelming sentiment in Europe, as expressed in editorials, political commentaries and even Web logs, was that European governments should never again let the United States pick the president of the World Bank all by itself. Also, the Europeans say that they have begun signaling their intention of aiding African countries and other poor nations through their own development agencies, rather than through the World Bank or its principal vehicle for aid to the poorest countries, known as the International Development Agency (IDA).
IMO: We'll see, but Bush is beginning to seem the proverbial 'broken reed'. Russia and China may be more aware than I would think, but the situation would seem rather dangerous now as Bush may - perhaps rightly - wish to push on with his own agenda. Does anybody care about Darfur ? Bush was prepared to take on his tiny stooge Saddam, but are Russia and China a bit too much for him to handle - or quite likely part of his own "evil axis" ?
On Monday, in a preview of the possible bloodbath in the offing, Wolfowitz chief aide Kevin Kellems resigned from his post saying that “the current environment surrounding the leadership” at the bank made it “very difficult to be effective in helping to advance the mission of the institution”.
Bank officials say that as of now, only the United States, Japan and Canada would vote in favor of Wolfowitz. They represent less than 30 percent of the voting shares. Most other directors are reported to be willing to vote against Wolfowitz.
NEVER AGAIN The overwhelming sentiment in Europe, as expressed in editorials, political commentaries and even Web logs, was that European governments should never again let the United States pick the president of the World Bank all by itself. Also, the Europeans say that they have begun signaling their intention of aiding African countries and other poor nations through their own development agencies, rather than through the World Bank or its principal vehicle for aid to the poorest countries, known as the International Development Agency (IDA).
IMO: We'll see, but Bush is beginning to seem the proverbial 'broken reed'. Russia and China may be more aware than I would think, but the situation would seem rather dangerous now as Bush may - perhaps rightly - wish to push on with his own agenda. Does anybody care about Darfur ? Bush was prepared to take on his tiny stooge Saddam, but are Russia and China a bit too much for him to handle - or quite likely part of his own "evil axis" ?
# posted by uv : 7:32 PM
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