Capax Imperii, Nisi Imperasset

If Robert Zoellick had not served the Bush administration without distinction as Special Trade Representative and as Deputy Secretary of State, I would be enthusiastic about his World Bank President candidacy. But the fact that he has done nothing in his last two government jobs makes me wonder whether an alternative candidate should be found.

Eoin Callan of the FT reports:

FT.com / In depth - Zoellick frontrunner to lead World Bank : Robert Zoellick, former US deputy secretary of state, has emerged as the frontrunner to be the next president of the World Bank. Senior US administration officials expect a decision on the successor to Paul Wolfowitz, who steps down as bank president on June 30 following an ethics scandal, to be announced this week in Washington.... Zoellick, 53, a former US trade representative under Mr Bush, has widespread experience of and high-level contacts with Europe, China, Latin America and Africa. He was heavily involved in the peaceful reunification of Germany and played a leading role in efforts to revive the Doha trade round.

US officials cautioned that the final decision on the successor to Mr Wolfowitz had yet to be made. The other candidate was said to be Robert Kimmitt, deputy US Treasury secretary. Officials have insisted the next bank president will be an American chosen by the White House, despite demands from member countries for an open selection process. Australia has thrown its weight behind demands for a change to the selection process for the presidency of the World Bank. Peter Costello, the Australian treasurer, wants the next head of the Washington-based development aid organisation to be chosen on the basis of an “open, transparent process’’ that will be based on merit and open to candidates from any country, not just the US...

Comments

[Barkley Rosser]

Brad,

You are the old Treasury hand. Is the immediate alternative, Robert Kimmitt of Treasury any better than Zoellick?

[Bupa]

Reuters says Bush has chosen Zoellick. Announcement to come on Wednesday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070529/pl_nm/worldbank_bush_zoellick_dc_1;_ylt=Allodt2TvgkRr_BntzA2D63EHX0V

[scytale]

If the choice is poor again, the next person won't be an american.

[scytale]

Wait til my positronic robot is delivered, then you'll post from a robot.
IA

[ogmb]

Zoellick is a PNAC affiliate. Nothing more needs to be known.

[David Lloyd-Jones]

Zoellick is a superficially attractive guy, and what the hell, we probably can't do much better right now.

Of course Tony Blair pulling a MacNamara might have been good, had he been ready to see the position as penance.

Zoellick's problem is the same one Secretary of State Powell and other decent people have had from their association with this bizarre criminal Administration: his reputation suffers from the fact that he carried water for George Bushlet's insane steel, softwood lumber, sugar and other trade policies.

Maybe he's the one pulling a MacNamara, going to the World Bank to try to live down his past.

[Dave]

Recalling opportunity costs (and Daniel Davies), perhaps Zoellick has already demonstrated his relative competence during his last two posts. How much better off would we all be today if more PNAC affiliates had been content to do nothing in particular?