[lbo-talk] Bush to nominate comb-licker as WB pres!

[Doug Henwood]

[It seemed that this one was laughed out of court when it was first 
floated, but evidently not. It's hard to see how the rest of the 
world could accept this.]

Bush to Tap Wolfowitz as New World Bank President

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) has decided 
on Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, one of the main advocates 
for the Iraq (news - web sites) war, as his choice for World Bank 
(news - web sites) president, administration officials said on 
Wednesday.

Wolfowitz would replace outgoing World Bank President James 
Wolfensohn, who said earlier this month that Wolfowitz was no longer 
in the running for the post.

Wolfowitz is a deeply controversial figure in Europe because of his 
role in designing and promoting the Iraq war, and his selection could 
spark a backlash.

By tradition, the United States selects the World Bank president 
while Europeans nominate a head of the International Monetary Fund 
(news - web sites).

The U.S. Treasury Department (news - web sites) has said it wants a 
new president in place before Wolfensohn departs in June after 10 
years in the post.

Wolfowitz beat out former Hewlett-Packard Co. chief executive Carly 
Fiorina, who was also a leading contender for the World Bank 
presidency.