Bush draws up list of candidates to replace Wolfowitz

[babylonsister]

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/article1680423.ece

Bush draws up list of candidates to replace Wolfowitz
Gabriel Rozenberg, Economics Reporter

The future of Paul Wolfowitz, the embattled President of the World Bank, was in further jeopardy last night after it emerged that the White House was drawing up a list of candidates to succeed him.

Most prominent on th list is Ashraf Ghani, the man credited with overhauling the economy of Afghanistan after September 11, The Times has learnt. Such an appointment would mark the first time a nonAmerican has held the position in the 60-year history of the global lender.

Senior officials in the US Administration have noted that the White House is softening the tone of its support for President Bush’s former Deputy Defence Secretary. They pointed yesterday to the silence of the Treasury Department and Henry Paulson, the Treasury Secretary, as an indication of the Administration’s attempt to distance itself from the man it parachuted into the job in 2005. Mr Wolfowitz appeared yesterday before a meeting of the World Bank’s 24-nation board, which is investigating whether he broke any rules in arranging a high-paying job at the US State Department for his partner, Shaha Riza, in 2005.

Publicly, the Administration continued to give him support yesterday. Dana Perino, Mr Bush’s spokeswoman, said that the board should be allowed to complete its inquiry. “As we’ve said before, the President has confidence in Paul Wolfowitz,” she said.

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[acmavm]

1. UH OH. Wolfies going to get 'Rummied'.

[panader0]

2. "the president has confidence" That's the kiss of death n/t

[calimary]

5. Um... isn't the standard line "...has COMPLETE confidence in..."?

Yep, if not the kiss of death, sounds like the closest thing to terminal illness to me.

[corkhead]

3. I Think Michael Brown, John Bolton, Harriet Miers, and Don Imus are all available

[Demeter]

4. Debatable Whether Wolfie Qualifies As American

Seems his only loyalty is to himself.

[NV Whino]

6. I love this phrase...

"the White House is softening the tone of its support." I think we could interpret that as, "backing away at full speed."

[choie]

7. why does the U.S.

get to pick the candidate for the World Bank? Isn't it the "world" bank?

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

8. The US has always gotten to pick the head of the WB.

Other countries have resented it & of course they despise wolfie. Wolfie's girl troubles give them a two-fer; oust him & have honest elections to pick a pres, not one appointed by the US.

[yellowcanine]

9. Well if he really wanted competence he would choose economist Jeffrey Sachs

Author of the "End of Poverty" and economic advisor to many governments on how to make their economies work. He is someone who understands economic development and doesn't let ideology cloud his thinking.