Tony Blair As New World Bank President?

[RestoreGore]

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/021cca94-01b7-11dc-8b8c-000b5df10621.html

Why Bush should back Blair as World Bank chief
By Edward Mortimer

Published: May 14 2007 03:00 | Last updated: May 14 2007 03:00

Paul Wolfowitz's tenure aspresident of the World Bank is effectively over. This may be unfair, but life is sometimes unfair. His situation recalls that of Ruud Lubbers, the former Dutch prime minister who resigned two years ago as the United Nations high commissioner for refugees after being accused by an employee of sexual harassment.

The accusation could probably not have been proved in a court but, combined with other allegations and Mr Lubbers' own clumsy reaction, it became a massive distraction from the agency's work to help refugees. It created an atmosphere in which he could no longer provide effective leadership.

That is precisely the situation that prevails at the World Bank as a result of Mr Wolfowitz's clumsy handling of a potential conflict of interest. His friends, including President George W. Bush, should persuade him to stand down before more damage is done.

So far, in public anyway, the US leader has stood by his man. But his own prestige is hardly high enough - either at home or abroad - to allow him to remain associated much longer with the discredited leader of an important world institution. The tradition whereby other nations allow the bank to be headed by an American, nominated by the US president, is clearly in danger. Indeed, it has been reported this week that European governments are now telling Mr Bush they will accept another American in the post only if Mr Wolfowitz is soon replaced by a more credible candidate. It would be surprising if Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, and other trusted counsellors are not advising Mr Bush to accept this offer.
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Just what games are they all playing?

[AlCzervik]

1. it's not a shiny as a medal of freedom but thats what it is.

[RestoreGore]

2. he should be at the Hague

[shrdlu]

3. What about Bono?

[spindrifter]

4. There are so many "contenders"

Former Treasury Secy. Snow is a name that keeps popping up. Not, apparently, a good choice. He's totally into the emoluments--ask some State Department officials about his special sheets that had to be shipped ahead when he went on overseas visits, for example. Paul Volker is another possibility. I would go for someone who has actually developing nation credentials.

[whistle]

5. If that happens or if Gonzales is appointed president of the World Bank

...the first $1.0 trillion loan will be given to Black-Water forces so they can establish martial law here in the U.S., outlaw all political parties except the GOP, rename it the Republic Party with George W. Bush as dictator and arrest and confine all political opposition to the 150 secret detention camps across the country.

[RestoreGore]

6. And people wonder why we are hated in the world?