Motivations & Silver Linings Robert Hunter Wade of the London School of Economics (LSE) analyzes in The Guardian the motivations governments had to approve Wolfowitz's nomination -- what deals they made. Wade also says that Wolfowitz was chosen for two reasons: to get someone who would support U.S. foreign policy objectives, especially in Iraq, and a sense of panic as the end of Wolfensohn's term neared and they couldn't find a credible candidate. Both quite plausible, but what his sources are for claiming this as knowledge, rather than speculation, is unclear.

Wade also mentions 3 possible "silver linings": 1) he has advocated full debt cancellation for Iraq, so may forward such policies on a wider basis; 2) he can be a "Nixon in China" -- that is, because he has credibility as a neo-con, he can move the Bush Admin to overcome its skepticism of multilateralism; and 3) he will be so patently an instrument of US policy that Southern countries will summon the courage to demand a better selection process (or, I would add, maybe repudiate those debts].

Soren Ambrose ~ April 02, 2005

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