Shareholders' dismay at lack of consultation (over WOLFowitz noimination)

[jefferson_dem]

By Alan Beattie in London and Edward Alden in Washington
Published: March 16 2005 20:49 | Last updated: March 16 2005 20:49


Surprise, and in some quarters dismay, was a common response in the World Bank's other large shareholder countries to Paul Wolfowitz's nomination.

The lack of consultation before the announcement meant that European governments - who collectively hold about 30 per cent of the votes on the bank's executive board to the US's 17 per cent - were slow to react. "There are going to be a lot of very unhappy people, but they may be as upset about the process as about the person," said one European official. "They were supposed to consult us and there was no consultation."

Jack Straw, the British foreign secretary, said that Mr Wolfowitz was "very distinguished and experienced internationally, and if his appointment is confirmed we look forward to working with him".

But Downing Street added that the UK would wait for discussions within Europe and with the US before making a decision on whether to support the nomination. The German finance ministry declined to discuss the matter.

Privately, European officials in Washington and bank staff have expressed concern that the US would put forward such a controversial candidate for the post. One concern is that his appointment would make it more difficult for the World Bank to operate effectively in the Middle East.

<SNIP>

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/33029996-965b-11d9-8fcc-00000e2511c8.html

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Fascists don't need to consult anyone. What WERE they thinking?

[niceypoo]

8. So, Bush gets to pick the world bank leader?

I don't think so. Nomination doesnt mean anything until confirmation. The world knows what this would mean.

[The Backlash Cometh]

19. Read the article. It sounds like it would break precedent if the US

didn't get its way.

[sasquatch]

2. Does this mean the World Bank will come to an end?

[arcos]

14. that would be an unintented but very positive consequence I guess... nt

[Mountainman]

3. PANCers rule the world, didn't they get the memo

[Career Prole]

4. Europeans at World Bank cool to Wolfowitz pick

WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. nomination of Paul Wolfowitz as World Bank chief drew a cool response from European officials on the bank's board but they had little chance of blocking it, board sources said on Wednesday.

Sources close to the World Bank board said Wolfowitz's name was informally circulated several weeks ago among the 23-member board, which represents the bank's 184 member countries, and the reaction was made clear to U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow.

"Mr. Snow knows that the reaction from the board was unfavorable," one source said. "Mr. Wolfowitz's nomination today tells us the U.S. couldn't care less what the rest of the world thinks."

<snip>

"The enthusiasm in old Europe is not exactly overwhelming," German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said.

<snip>

French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said his country would have to examine the proposal more closely.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N16731463.htm

[paineinthearse]

5. Question -

Who decides? Is there a board of directors?

Wouldn't it be cool if I'm holding tickets to see the next president perform in Boston in October????

[riverwalker]

6. let them know

http://www.worldbank.org/
web page has email form


Headquarters
The World Bank
1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20433 U.S.A.
tel: [phone]
fax: [phone]

[yorkiemommie1]

11. thanks...

i emailed them my humble opinion.

bush and his crew are abominations, evil to the core.

[ConcernedCanuk]

7. "the U.S. couldn't care less what the rest of the world thinks."

.
.
.

By Jove!

I think he pegged it!

(sigh)

[Erika]

12. King George could care less what the world thinks

His will must be done.

[applegrove]

9. I can see all the phone calls to China right now. Help us!

[bluedeminredstate]

10. Middle Finger Alert!!!!

Code Red!

[MsMagnificent]

13. World Bank May Fund Israeli Checkpoints

Gee... just HOW would this benefit PNAC and its agenda???

http://www.ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=27620

Emad Mekay


WASHINGTON, Feb 24 (IPS) - The World Bank, an international development institution that says it has no political agenda, may be preparing to fund Israeli security checkpoints around a controversial separation wall under construction on occupied Palestinian territories.

Israel is not eligible for World Bank lending because of its high per capita income, but Palestinians are.


*clip*

--I ran into this just the other day and looked it back up. Tip of the Wolfowitz iceberg, there's going to be LOTS Wolfowitz can do for his RICH buddies/politicians in the US and elsewhere... each and every one of these "Public Servants" are leaving the White House as multi-millionaires and billionaires.

[IndianaGreen]

15. Wolfowitz is not the first war criminal to be nominated to World Bank

President Johnson named Robert McNamara to the World Bank after Mac became disenchanted with the war he was the prime architect, Vietnam.

[LynnTheDem]

16. "very distinguished"...licking & sucking a comb then combing his hair is

"very distinguished"???

I don't think so.

[ninkasi]

17. So, does the Smirking Fascist Gang

have strategy meetings, trying to figure out ways to piss off the rest of the world in the worst way possible? Do they try to figure out who is least qualified, and most corrupt, then ram that person down the world's throat just because then can?

Someday, there will be a reckoning, and the ones of us who have fought * and his cronies for these going on 5 years will pay the same price as the knuckle draggers who treasure his every word, as though it made any kind of sense.

For what this country has done to the world, I am truly sorry. I am sorrier still that so many here have fought so long and so hard to change things, and time after time, have seen the ones who begged for our money and our support crumple into mush at the last minute.

I have seen posters here at DU who quite obviously have personal problems, financial or otherwise, yet still find the time and the money to fight the good fight. I am sick and tired of seeing these same good people let down by the ones who claim they want to lead us.

We have to demand, not ask, we have to insist, and not contribute, if the ones who have the power to vote for us don't vote our will. If nothing else, we can show the rest of the world that we have the guts to stand up to this cretin and the most corrupt band of criminals ever assembled in any one administration.

No wonder Europe thinks we're crazy.

[reticulatus]

18. Wolfowitz was the logical choice

The World bank is "an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by WWII" - Wikipedia

Iraq has been devastated (!!!) and the USA is left with the bill. The USA has only a 17% share in the World Bank but the power to nominate the top man. What better way to finance the rebuilding of Iraq than to put in Wolfowitz and force the other 83% of shareholders to pay up.

You can't fault their logic. (/sarcasm off)

[indepat]

20. Shareholders should realize by now they will be told, not consulted

[unhappycamper]

21. Damn. Don't think BBC "Have Your Say " is listening

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/4355197.stm

I've tried a number of variations on this theme: Wolfie will run the bank like any good brownshirt should.

Do you suppose there is a fascism filter at BBC?

[muriel_volestrangler]

23. BBC comment pages are manually filtered

They put up the comments that "reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far". If you have put several comments in, they'll probably ignore you on principle by now.

[unhappycamper]

27. thanks for the info

no need to waste my time there.....

[Stuckinthebush]

22. At what point will the world say "F*** you, America"

and begin to dissolve their various relationships with us?

[phantom power]

26. Soon, I think.

Or, maybe it's just hope. It's overdue, anyway.

[Guckert]

24. They must have forgotten that GOD CHOSE BUSH TO RULE THE WORLD

Dont they get it yet??? :puke:

[muriel_volestrangler]

25. Jan 8: Wolfowitz Says He Will Keep Job At Pentagon

Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz sought yesterday to dampen speculation that he is leaving, saying he had been asked to stay on and intends to do so.
...
"I have been asked to stay and have accepted," Wolfowitz said yesterday in a brief statement issued through a spokesman. "I can't imagine life after Don Rumsfeld."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57423-2005Jan7.html

Proving once again how much you can trust what a neo-con says.