World Bank, Wolfowitz, and The Fly?

Recently the LA Times' Editorial page had an piece stating the case for Bono as the next head of the World Bank. For those of you unfamiliar with the World Bank, here is their mission statement from their website;

The World Bank Group’s mission is to fight poverty and improve the living standards of people in the developing world. It is a development Bank which provides loans, policy advice, technical assistance and knowledge sharing services to low and middle income countries to reduce poverty. The Bank promotes growth to create jobs and to empower poor people to take advantage of these opportunities.

There is a current agreement that the United States appoints the head of the World Bank and that Europe appoints the head of its sister institution, the International Monetary Fund. Thus it seemed fairly unlikely that Bono would be nominated of accept the position, especially with his current day job as lead singer with a certain rock band that I enjoy.

The individual who was nominated for the position is the controversial Paul Wolfowitz. Here is what the President had to say about the nomination. "I'd say he's a man with good experiences. He's helped manage a large organization. The World Bank's a large organization." Wow, I've watched a documentary on Fiji, maybe the President will appoint me as the next Ambassador to Fiji. The Daily Show had a great bit on it, which can be viewed here. Why Wolfowitz was appointed by the President is a little uncertain, but it probably just has to do with the President placing an big neo-conservative in a prominent position.

Now if you don't know who Wolfowitz is, he is one of the Hawks in Washington who had been trying to get the US to invade Iraq since the first Gulf War and was the largest proponent of the current war. I have attached an article from Reuters discussing Wolfowitz attempt to secure the backing of Bono. Who would have thought of that 20 years ago? Obtaining the backing of a mega rock star. But I guess there is only one Bono (who I am sure will be diplomatic when asked about Wolfowitz to help get aid, trade, and debt releif for Africa).

Wolfowitz Discusses World Bank Mission with Bono
Reuters 18th March 2005

Paul Wolfowitz, whose nomination as World Bank president has stirred controversy, discussed poverty and development issues with Irish rock star Bono in two phone conversations on Thursday, an adviser said.

Wolfowitz adviser Kevin Kellems told Reuters the deputy U.S. defense secretary initiated the lengthy conversations with the lead singer of the rock group U2, whose name had been bandied about for the World Bank presidency.

President Bush on Wednesday named Wolfowitz, a key architect of the Iraq war, to be the next World Bank president, but the choice has been controversial, especially in Europe.

An endorsement by Bono, who campaigns extensively for African aid and debt relief, could defuse some of the criticism of Wolfowitz.

Kellems said the discussions "were incredibly substantive about reducing poverty, about development, about the opportunity to help people that the World Bank presidency provides and about charitable giving and social progress around the globe.

"They clicked. They were very enthusiastic, detailed and lengthy conversations," Kellems said.

Tom Hart, government relations director for DATA -- Debt, AIDS, Trade and Africa -- the lobby group co-founded by Bono, said the rock star believed it was important to share his views on Africa and poverty with Wolfowitz.

"Bono thought it was important that he put forward the issues that are critical to the World Bank, like debt cancellation, aid effectiveness and a real focus on poverty reduction," Hart said.

Wolfowitz first telephoned Bono on Wednesday to schedule the conversations. In the past 24 hours, Wolfowitz had spoken with a broad range of foreign leaders, bank officials and advocates for poverty reduction and international development, aides said.