David Salpeter for Head of World Bank
by Mohamed El Beih, Mohamed.elbeih
Issue date: 4/12/05 Section: Voices
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The article also:
*Recommended substantial increases in military spending and instructing military chiefs to prepare forces and weapons for carrying out two wars simultaneously (in Iraq and North Korea), along with maintaining readiness for a military campaign in Europe to prevent a resurgent Russia.
*Included officially preemptive military action (for the first time) in its list of options for the US to consider in its efforts to "prevent the re-emergence of a new rival."
*Advocated unilateral military invasions of countries such as the Philippines and Panama if their governments were threatened.
*Called for the deterrence of any "international coalition with an aggressive expansionist security policy".
*Included no intention of using the United Nations.
*No mention of collective or multilateral action, calling only for occasional fleeting American exploitation of ad-hoc coalitions that do not last beyond immediate crises in which US interests are threatened.
It is noteworthy to mention that this was the Pentagon's first detailed post-Cold War military planning strategy paper, one that was publicized in 1992 - nine years before September 11th (when administration spokesmen disingenuously insist that "everything changed"). Most analysts consider it the basis for George W. Bush's foreign policy.
As demonstrated in his classified paper, Wolfowitz worldview of the post-Cold War era included no concern or regard for issues such as world hunger and poverty, let alone economic development. It had everything to do with a foreign policy paradigm focused on US global dominance and hegemony (I dare not say imperialism).
Of course, the man has moved to bigger and better things since 1992. More recently, Wolfowitz has become well known as the mastermind behind the war in Iraq ("architect" has an inaccurate positive connotation). I will spare everyone my view on the war (for now!) but, to say the least, it resulted in the deaths of over 1,500 American soldiers and an estimated 100,000 Iraqi deaths (according the British medical journal Lancet)... and counting. I would join international voices in arguing that such officials are not just unfit for international posts, they belong to The Hague.
Even if some choose to ignore all this information, can we be enlightened on what humble Paul Wolfowitz' views are on the UN Millennium Development Goals? What is his credibility on global economic policy? Has he any experience with issues of fighting poverty and hunger, eradicating disease, and promoting universal education and environmental sustainability? Or have we completely run out of expertise?
As far as I am concerned, Mr. Saltpeter is a much more qualified candidate for the World Bank Presidency. He has a sound business education, extensive experience in developing countries, and excellent negotiating skills (as witnessed in Brazil)!
David ends his article with the hope that Wolfowitz would defy his critics and become an advocate for the poor. Fingers-crossed my friend. If that becomes the case, I will personally lead the campaign to make George W. Bush head of the International Red Crescent.
*Recommended substantial increases in military spending and instructing military chiefs to prepare forces and weapons for carrying out two wars simultaneously (in Iraq and North Korea), along with maintaining readiness for a military campaign in Europe to prevent a resurgent Russia.
*Included officially preemptive military action (for the first time) in its list of options for the US to consider in its efforts to "prevent the re-emergence of a new rival."
*Advocated unilateral military invasions of countries such as the Philippines and Panama if their governments were threatened.
*Called for the deterrence of any "international coalition with an aggressive expansionist security policy".
*Included no intention of using the United Nations.
*No mention of collective or multilateral action, calling only for occasional fleeting American exploitation of ad-hoc coalitions that do not last beyond immediate crises in which US interests are threatened.
It is noteworthy to mention that this was the Pentagon's first detailed post-Cold War military planning strategy paper, one that was publicized in 1992 - nine years before September 11th (when administration spokesmen disingenuously insist that "everything changed"). Most analysts consider it the basis for George W. Bush's foreign policy.
As demonstrated in his classified paper, Wolfowitz worldview of the post-Cold War era included no concern or regard for issues such as world hunger and poverty, let alone economic development. It had everything to do with a foreign policy paradigm focused on US global dominance and hegemony (I dare not say imperialism).
Of course, the man has moved to bigger and better things since 1992. More recently, Wolfowitz has become well known as the mastermind behind the war in Iraq ("architect" has an inaccurate positive connotation). I will spare everyone my view on the war (for now!) but, to say the least, it resulted in the deaths of over 1,500 American soldiers and an estimated 100,000 Iraqi deaths (according the British medical journal Lancet)... and counting. I would join international voices in arguing that such officials are not just unfit for international posts, they belong to The Hague.
Even if some choose to ignore all this information, can we be enlightened on what humble Paul Wolfowitz' views are on the UN Millennium Development Goals? What is his credibility on global economic policy? Has he any experience with issues of fighting poverty and hunger, eradicating disease, and promoting universal education and environmental sustainability? Or have we completely run out of expertise?
As far as I am concerned, Mr. Saltpeter is a much more qualified candidate for the World Bank Presidency. He has a sound business education, extensive experience in developing countries, and excellent negotiating skills (as witnessed in Brazil)!
David ends his article with the hope that Wolfowitz would defy his critics and become an advocate for the poor. Fingers-crossed my friend. If that becomes the case, I will personally lead the campaign to make George W. Bush head of the International Red Crescent.