One common theme among journalists I spoke with today is their frustration at getting anyone from within the Bank to say anything on Zoellick. I know people would and should be cautious, but if I had anything to do with the WB Staff Association, surely this would be a time to flex muscles, no? Continue reading
Monthly Archives: May 2007
Zany side of the situation
Courtesy of Daily Kos, a political cartoon showing the respect one gets when you get a top job on the basis of political appointment. Continue reading
Multiple NGO reactions: none favourable
I’ve been asking colleagues in NGOs to let me know if their organisations produce statements on the Zoellick nomination. Several have, including Oxfam, Action Aid, Greenpeace, Plateforme Dette et Developement, International Rivers Network. They all raise varying degrees of complaint about the Zoellick nomination.
George Bush spells out why Zoellick is his man for the Bank.
In his official announcement of the nomination just now George Bush set out various reasons for his choice of World Bank president. They include that Robert Zoellick is:
“a committed internationalist.”
“He has earned the trust and support of leaders from every region of the world”.
Breeding ground for civil servants
That’s what Goldman Sachs is known for, according to the New York Times. The following alumni are part of the “coterie” of the Bush administration:
Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson
Joshua B. Bolten, the White House chief of staff
Stephen Friedman, President Bush’s ex-director of the National Economic Council.
I guess Bob does owe a lot to ‘Hank’ who keeps hiring him wherever he goes (or when he has a say or the ear of GWB) – Wall Street and now the WB .