May 17, 2007
Uninvited
Is that a real word? In any case, that is what happened to Paul Wolfowitz yesterday. The German Development Minister, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, advised Mr. Wolfowitz not to participate in a two-day World Bank forum on Africa that takes place in Berlin next week.
This is quite a dare - to tell the director of an organization not to come to a meeting by his own organization. Think this one through. It's almost, but not quite, as if Wolfowitz had been declared a persona non grata.
The Minister has called repeatedly for Mr. Wolfowitz' resignation and the Germans (and the EU) have grown ever more impatient with the apparent unwillingness of the US government to relieve Mr. Wolfowitz of his post. This latest step can be called an affront, it is definitely not a faux pas - not in the sense that Wieczorek-Zeul wasn't perfectly aware what a ruckus she would create.
It also doesn't make a whole lot of sense -- Wolfowitz, as a German newspaper put it, is already dead on the ground. Why kick him?
Well, I think it sheds light just how annoyed the Europeans are with the US government in this matter. Wieczorek-Zeul's statement is a clear signal to the US government to stop dithering and slithering and get rid of a man who has behaved improperly, and do it NOW. Of course, in the meantime, he started negotiating a deal over his resignation. I have to say, the man has nerve.
Me, I'm sitting back in my chair and watch the events unfold...
Posted by claudia at May 17, 2007 09:17 AMClaudia! You're back! Yay!
Wolfowitz isn't dead on the ground for Incitatus, who has become almost purely reactive. I recognize the strategy from dealing with Internet trolls. It's meant to marginalize further influence Incitatus or Washington might have on World Bank decision making, to "heighten the contradictions" as it were. The trick is to bring out the troll's essential pathology in a way that can't be ignored.
It's a very powerful fork. Either one is fine with the pathology, diminishing one's credibility, or one works to make the organization less friendly to the pathology.
The strategy has its limits: if everyone would rather wallow in pathology, e.g. Making Light, the Republican primary debates, etc., it's not going to work. If people are more offended by the use of the fork than by the troll, e.g. Phil Edwards, it's not going to work. I don't know enough about World Bank institutional culture to hazard a guess.
But frankly, Wolfowitz metaphorically being kicked face down on the floor while Incitatus looks around for the sour mashed oats would be the best time to do it.
Heidemarie Wieczorek. She sounds like she's from Oconto.
Posted by: Carlos at May 17, 2007 04:47 PMIncitatus? That's very nice.
Posted by: The New York City Math Teacher at May 18, 2007 04:02 AMAaaaand he's out.
Wonder if this helped push him over the edge.
Doug M.
Wonder if this helped push him over the edge.
What, Carlos' comment?
Oh.
Welcome back, Claudia. And I'm pleased Carlos sees a kindred spirit in Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul. There can, sometimes, be a virue in pushing someone over the edge.
Posted by: Syd Wbb at May 18, 2007 05:58 PMThey really went after him with unusual vigor, didn't they? Even Slovenia's finance minister laid into him when Wolfowitz missed the recent conference in Bled. It was surprising in that Slovenian politicians are almost always gingerly noncommittal, especially in EU-USA disputes.
It's great to have Claudia back. Hope it isn't temporary!
Posted by: Michael M. at May 18, 2007 07:43 PMThe New York Times reports that Bill Frist's name has come up in discussions as a replacement for Wolfowitz.
Setting aside Frist's impeccable credentials in fighting poverty through finance as a transplant surgeon, by all accounts Frist is a horrible organizer, more comfortable with his Blackberry than with face to face meetings.
It reminds me of how conglomerates were run in the 1970s, when management positions were swapped around like spouses at a key party, until the total value of the conglomerates were worth much less than their assets. Y'all know what happened next.
Posted by: Carlos at May 19, 2007 04:44 PMThe New York Times reports that Bill Frist's name has come up in discussions as a replacement for Wolfowitz.
The replacement doesn't have to be a Yanquistani it seems. The Grauniad has a little list. So has Crikey.
Posted by: Syd Wbb at May 20, 2007 05:35 PMA little late to the party, but I find the discussion fascinating. Did any of y'all read the Wall Street Journal on this? It appears that actually Mr. Wolfowitz's dealings re: his girlfriend were not only made with the full knowledge of the World Bank board, but some of the steps were actually suggested (in writing, no less) by those who subsequently tut-tutted the loudest. It seems that there's been an awful lot of skimming and self-dealing amongst the staff, particularly the non-Americans, and the management controls Mr.Wolfowitz instituted, standard practice in the industry, threatened that. I think the key articles can be found in the OpinionJournal.com archives (free, but one must register).
Posted by: trailing wife at June 13, 2007 04:08 PM