VP for Strategy

IN THE NEWS
It'll be a strange farewell for Paul Wolfowitz when he leaves his Defense Department post. He must know that the path from his office to the World Bank can be paved with shame, not glory. It's the same road that Robert McNamara took after Lyndon Johnson decided he shouldn't continue being Secretary of Defense, with the weight of the Vietnam War failures grinding him into psychic and moral dust. McNamara's own tear-filled farewell is easy to understand, and depending on what you think of McNamara, signs of a moral heart beating beneath the steely technocratic exterior.

Wolfowitz is no more suited to become head of the World Bank as, say, Condoleeza Rice is of being Secretary of State or John Bolton of sitting as the US Ambassador to the body which he hates with every fiber of his being. It seems like a harmless appointment, though, so it keeps the neocon's neocon out of trouble. (Maybe he'll try to revive the Delian League--who knows?)

The harm, of course, is putting an instrument for aiding countries in deep, deep economic trouble in the hands of someone who has demonstrated little interest in either their economies or their troubles. But the Bush Administration takes care of its own, as long as they stay as slavishly loyal as Wolfowitz has been. In the private sector, when executives outlive their usefulness, they receive bombastic non-titles like VP for Strategy. It's a shame the Bush Administration treats the World Bank the same way.

Comments

[Chris Garner]

Condi as SecDef? Ye gods, that WOULD be unsuitable, though handing that portfolio to a Cold War throwback seems par for the course...

However, do you really think that Wolfowitz "must know" that he's a failure? He's shown no more public contrition, admitted no more guilt or shame, than any other member of the neo-con junta. In fact, if one takes the cynical view that the neo-cons' aim is to project American might abroad in support of petro-military-industrial complex that feeds their coffers, with no concern for the cost in American (or Iraqi) blood, treasure, and political stability, is not the Iraqi adventure, then, a resounding success?

[Kingdaddy]

I meant, "Secretary of State." Man, do I need an editor some days. Thanks, Chris.

If I were Wolfowitz, I'd see the World Bank job as a bit of a bum's rush into a non-job, in the worldview of the Bush Administration. He's definitely out of the loop of national security decision-making, overseeing an aspect of foreign aid--not exactly the Bush crowd's top priority in foreign policy. But who knows what happened behind the scenes. Maybe Wolfowitz wanted out. Maybe he wanted to spend more time with his family. Or more time playing Risk.

[Aikibrewer]

Interestingly, even Bush himself seemed unable to adequately explain it, as seen from the clip of his press conference on last night's Daily Show:

Q. Paul Wolfowitz, who was the -- a chief architect of one of the most unpopular wars in our history --

THE PRESIDENT: (Laughter.) That's an interesting start. (Laughter.)

Q -- is your choice to be the President of the World Bank. What kind of signal does that send to the rest of the world?

THE PRESIDENT: [...] I've said he's a man of good experiences. He helped manage a large organization. The World Bank is a large organization; the Pentagon is a large organization -- he's been involved in the management of that organization. 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.

[oakley frogskins]

And Paul is committed to development. He's a compassionate, decent man who will do a fine job in the World Bank.