Letter condemns European tactics. A letter to the Financial Times says the Europeans are playing the Wolfowitz nomination all wrong. It argues "If the Europeans are not pleased, they should come out with a clear and frank No to Paul Wolfowitz, instead of delicate expressions of 'uneasiness' and genteel surprise at 'not being consulted'.

Letter-writer Prof Debarati Guha-Sapir continues "Politenesses will cut absolutely no ice in acquiring US support, either for getting Germany into the Security Council or for getting the French candidate to head the WTO. Well, maybe the latter, since the WTO has nothing like the potential the World Bank has to dispense favours".

So much for the European governments. What about the Commission? Guha-Sapir argues: "Inviting Mr Wolfowitz to the European Commission to hear his agenda also sends the wrong signals. Frankly, what does the Commission imagine Mr Wolfowitz's agenda to be, given his record?"

I also think Commissioner Louis Michel's office was very clumsy in issuing its midlly-worded invitation last week in the midst of the nomination debate.

Alex Wilks ~ March 23, 2005

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