In Which I Show Off My Influence . . .
By Pejman Yousefzadeh Posted in Featured Stories | Foreign Affairs — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Okay, not really. But it is glad to see that one of my wishes has come true:
President Bush has chosen Robert B. Zoellick, a senior diplomat and trade envoy who became a top Goldman Sachs executive last year, to lead the World Bank and try to heal the bitter rifts left by the ouster of Paul D. Wolfowitz, the administration said Tuesday.
Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. said Mr. Zoellick had emerged as the first choice of economic ministers around the world, who have been calling for someone to overcome the bank's credibility problems among donor and recipient countries alike.
"Bob has a very strong track record working with colleagues and leaders to get results," Mr. Paulson said in an interview after word of the appointment spread. "He's got great energy and enthusiasm and will be able to hit the ground running. I also think he's got strong management capabilities."
A wee bit more after the jump . . .
As deputy secretary of state, Mr. Zoellick concentrated on improving relations with China and on trying, though without much success, to negotiate a pact with Sudan to end the rebellion and killings in Darfur.
He won the attention of international economic officials for his work in starting the current global trade talks shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The goal was to lift trade barriers in rich countries to help poor countries reliant on exports.
Trade officials say Mr. Zoellick's offer to lower American tariffs and subsidies on farm products impressed exporting countries and put them in his corner. He worked closely at that time with Pascal Lamy, head of the World Trade Organization, to get the talks started. "I have known Bob Zoellick for over two decades," Mr. Lamy said Tuesday. "I have always appreciated his skills as a consensus builder and his capacity to reach out to developing countries."
The German finance minister, Peer Steinbrück, also endorsed Mr. Zoellick's candidacy, administration and German officials said. Mr. Zoellick was a top aide to Secretary of State James A. Baker III in helping negotiate terms of German reunification after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Administration officials acknowledged Tuesday that Mr. Zoellick could be a difficult boss but that he backed his subordinates and won their loyalty. A 2003 roundup of the cabinet in the National Journal rated him as "one of the most successful members" but someone who could "wear his people down."
A very impressive pick. Now, let's hope that the World Bank recognizes the fact tht it will be working with a gifted public official and makes full use of those gifts to reform the bank for the better.
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In Which I Show Off My Influence . . . 2 Comments (0 topical, 2 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Coming from the State Department he brings a wealth of experience in operating within an anti-American organization focused on failure.
The World Bank should be shut down. At a minimum we shouldn't support it with one dollar or resource.
--Neoken
If the board at World Bank is largely anti-American and took advantage of Wolfewitz's blunder even though there was technically no ethical violation to speak of, then do you honestly think Zoellick can do a better job with this board and other employees who also do harbor anti-American sentiments?
To be honest with you, sometimes I do wonder whether it's best for everybody if we close down World Bank, IMF, and United Nations. I'm sick of rampant anti-Americanism, and I don't think Zoellick or anybody else for that matter will be able to change that anytime soon.
For the record, I'm wholly uninformed in how World Bank functions, so don't be hard on me... ;)
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Daniel 2:20 And he [God] changeth the times and seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.