Posted on 03/16/2005 1:40:32 PM PST by Pikamax
Short Slams Bush Choice for World Bank Chief
By Nick Allen, PA Chief Reporter
Former International Development Secretary Clare Short tonight savaged the nomination of the leading US neo-conservative Paul Wolfowitz as head of the World Bank.
Ms Short said President George Bush’s decision to put forward his Deputy Defence Secretary for the post was like showing “two fingers to the world”.
The President today described Mr Wolfowitz as a “compassionate, decent man” as he announced him as US candidate to replace James Wolfensohn, who steps down as president of the 184-nation development bank on June 1.
But Ms Short told Channel 4 News: “This is really shocking. It’s as though they (the Americans) are trying to wreck our international systems.
“They have nominated a man with no record on development who drove the Iraq war and in the Pentagon was responsible for Iraq after the war – and that is a complete and absolute disaster, the worst post-conflict situation we have had in the world for a very long time.”
The US is the largest shareholder in the World Bank and, traditionally, it has had an American president while the International Monetary Fund is traditionally headed by a European candidate.
But Ms Short called on Europe to “stand together” against the nomination of Mr Wolfowitz.
She said: “The Commission for Africa report says we are no longer going to have a carve-up between America and Europe on the World Bank and IMF, it should be open to the best candidate.
“Europe should stand together and say no, sorry, no record on development, not an acceptable candidate.
“They are playing games with us putting a hard-nosed hawk into the World Bank just when we are all saying we are all going to focus on poverty and development. It’s like two fingers to the world.
“I think this is a real test of Europe. If Europe accepts this then forget your multi-polar world, forget Europe balancing America, the American empire can do what it likes.”
She said it also sent a message to the G8: “It says America is going to do what it likes or hard cheese.”
President Bush said he had spoken to Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi today and they discussed the nomination of Mr Wolfowitz.
Asked if she thought the President would have called Tony Blair to talk about it, Ms Short said: “I kind of imagine he might have.”
Mr Wolfowitz, 61, a leading intellectual in the neo-conservative movement and foreign policy hawk, pushed forcefully for the invasion of Iraq, arguing that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
He has since drawn criticism not only over the invasion itself but for underestimating the number of troops needed and overestimating subsequent Iraqi oil revenues.
Oh, their chains are so easily pulled.
Ms Short said President George Bush’s decision to put forward his Deputy Defence Secretary for the post was like showing “two fingers to the world”.
Which two fingers is she talking about?
The fingers that make "V" for victory.
Ms Short is a walking wedgie.
Purple ones.
It certainly is. Most of the rest of the world deserves it too, and I couldn't be happier.
Double birds?
Index and pinkie.....
At least she understands W.
Actually, I think he is SHOWING the world one finger, THE MIDDLE ONE!!!
What a parochial statement.
What a shrill anti-American haridan!
In the UK, one flips the bird with the middle and index finger, not just the middle finger.
wow that's a bonus if this appointment has this chick's knickers all in a twist, ha ha!
Short's shorts in a twist.
you know I'd bet Ms. Short would have been ragging on the Americans about the German occupation, what an idiot
Translation:
If President Bush's nominee is confirmed in the post and succeeds in turning the World Bank into a true development bank, with accountability and real progress, there will be no excuses available to the Liberals as to why they never thought of fixing it.
In other words, they want to stop Bush before he makes them appear even less credible than they already do.
In the Brit method, the "v" made by the index and middle fingers is pointed so that the fingernails face the person who is being, uh, well, "dissed." "Pluck Yew"
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.