Pelosi on Wolfowitz' Nomination to Head World Bank

Received by email.

President Nominates Wolfowitz to Head World Bank

Last week, President Bush nominated Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz to lead the World Bank. During his four years in the Bush Administration, Mr. Wolfowitz's actions have outraged the international community and damaged our longstanding friendships with valued allies. Mr. Wolfowitz's reputation among foreign leaders makes him a poor choice to lead an institution that requires trust and international cooperation. The President's logic in selecting him to lead an institution devoted to international development at a critical time in the world's history -- particularly that of the Muslim world --is a mystery.



Nancy :yourock: You have my support to be the next Speaker.

It helps me get out the disappointment I'm still feeling about Leahy & Biden's endorsement of Wolfowitz and the total failure of Europe to block him.

He has either made a 180 degree turn, or I never knew him. And wasn't aware of the Leahy's endorsement, either. Sheesh!

Here's a link to an op/ed at Yahoo! that I just found for you. It's got quotes from Biden & Leahy. It's dated March 17th so I don't know exactly when it will expire. I hope it isn't too late but it works today (Mar. 26).

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/weeklystandard/20050317/cm_weeklystandard/democratsforwolfowitz_1

Pardon the dangling participle.

THIS IS DISGUSTING!!!! :puke:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/weeklystandard/20050317/cm_weeklystandard/democratsforwolfowitz_1



Democrats for Wolfowitz

Senator Joe Biden isn't the only Democrat supporting Paul Wolfowitz for president of the World Bank.

Stephen F. Hayes

Washington (The Daily Standard) - TODAY SENATOR JOE BIDEN, vice chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a leading Democratic foreign policy voice in that body, voiced strong support for Paul Wolfowitz as President George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s choice to head the World Bank (news - web sites). Biden described Wolfowitz, currently deputy secretary of defense, as a man with an "active and fertile mind" who believes in the work of multilateral institutions. Asked for his reaction to the selection, Biden responded with one word: "Solid."

He then elaborated. "Paul is a brilliant guy and a serious person. My differences with Paul relate to his assessment of what we would have to face in Iraq (news - web sites) after the war." Wolfowitz's role as the chief intellectual architect of the Iraq war served as the basis for a question for President Bush (news - web sites) at his morning press conference today from New York Times reporter Elisabeth Bumiller.
She began: "Paul Wolfowitz, who was the-a chief architect of one of the most unpopular wars in our history-
Bush interrupted: "That's an interesting start."
Bumiller: "Is your choice to be the president of the World Bank. What kind of signal does that send to the rest of the world?"
Bush noted that he had called Silvio Berlusconi and other European leaders in advance of the announcement. "I explained to them why I think Paul will be a strong president of the World Bank. I've said he's a man of good experience." Bush added: "He's a skilled diplomat worked at the State Department in high positions. He was ambassador to Indonesia where he did a very good job representing our country. And Paul is committed to development. He's a compassionate, decent man who will do a fine job in the World Bank."

The position does not require Senate confirmation but depends on the approval of European leaders. Biden said he believes Wolfowitz will enjoy strong support in Europe. "I've had a lot of talks about Paul in European capitals. They know him as a serious intellectual and an engine of change."

Although some Democrats have criticized the selection, notably House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, others have praised the pick. "I know him to be an extraordinarily intelligent, creative thinker who has the potential to do a good job at the World Bank," said Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, regarded as one of the Senate's most partisan members.

Stephen F. Hayes is a staff writer at The Weekly Standard.

This has been posted seperately at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1687818#

Ms. Pelosi expressed her disappointment with the Wolfowitz selection but failed to lay the groundwork for why he is such a poor choice ... in "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man", John Perkins lays out the case against the World Bank's role in helping trans-national corporations exploit the monies made available by the World Bank to developing nations ...

Wolfowitz and the neo-cons sit at the core of such corruption ...

Americans need to be told the truth about the empire-building goals of the neo-cons ... stating only that "Mr. Wolfowitz's actions have outraged the international community and damaged our longstanding friendships with valued allies" correctly highlights that Wolfowitz has alienated the world community, but it fails to explain WHY !!!

Until Democrats "launch their missiles" by telling the American people the truth, their criticisms of evil men like Wolfowitz will come across as nothing more than sniping at the other side ... Americans need to understand that our support for developing nations is only provided when it can be exploited for corporate greed ... Pelosi's criticism is throwing bullets at the right target; next time, let's hope she loads them in her gun before using them ...