Cole on L'Affaire Wolfowitz
My column, "Wolfowitz's Fatal Flaw," is available at Salon.com.
Excerpt:
' The small morality play unfolding at the World Bank tells us something significant about how the United States became bogged down in the Iraq quagmire when Wolfowitz was highly influential at the Department of Defense. The simple fact is that Wolfowitz has throughout his entire career demonstrated a penchant for cronyism and for smearing and marginalizing perceived rivals as tactics for getting his way. He has been arrogant and highhanded in dismissing the views of wiser and more informed experts, exhibiting a narcissism that is also apparent in his personal life. Indeed, these tactics are typical of what might be called the "neoconservative style." '
Read the whole thing.
See also Patrick Cockburn, "America's Long Iraq Nightmare."
Note that since Salon is giving away a book with the subscription, it is virtually free, and it wasn't that much to begin with (like 5 cups of Starbucks.)
posted by Juan Cole @ 5/14/2007 05:15:00 PM
|
Facebook
8 Comments:
When Wolfowitz was appointed to the World Bank more than two years ago, I wrote an Op-ed titled Green Imperialism which focused on the politics of employing the World Bank to bend the will of sovereign states.
But I agree with your overall evaluation... In another Op-ed, written nearly three years ago, titled The Iraqi Republicans I had outlined how the Bush War in Iraq would not make Iraqi Republican Guards more like Americans, but would instead make American Republicans more like the Iraqi Republican Guards.
I think the inherent corruption of the neoconman's soul lies in the premise of the Noble Lie - that their overall Mission is so important that any immoral act can be justified by the long-term goals. Cronyism, then, can easily be rationalized as putting the ‘most trustworthy’ person on the job instead of the most capable.
Of course, as the country song says, the road to hell was paved with good intentions.
unless there's some big, hairy bush administration initiative that hasn't been pushed through yet, it's a puzzlement to me why wolfie would even WANT to stay... i mean, if he does, his effectiveness will be roughly equivalent to that of tits on a boar... my hunch is that the world bank's full impact on iraq is just in the initial stages, a move that wolfie has pushed hard for, and that, because of the resistance of world bank officials to doing it, will probably be stopped dead in its tracks if wolfie goes...
so, what's so important about the world bank being heavily involved in iraq...? well, let's try oil for starters... if the oil law passes with the provisions intact that are so astonishingly favorable to global oil companies and to the u.s., the world bank can back that up with loans for infrastructure development whose terms are also written for u.s. benefit, such as payback being required to come from oil revenues...
both the world bank and the imf have a long and rich history of benign extortion, loaning vast sums of money to underdeveloped and emerging economies with terms that guarantee access to and/or control over big chunks of a country's resources... in addition, if the world bank becomes heavily involved in iraq, it provides more of a legitimate cover so that it doesn't look quite so much like the u.s. and the oil companies are the ones really running the show...
just some thoughts...
http://takeitpersonally.blogspot.com/
I already read this article on tomdispatch, under a different headline.
I think I have it; this administration, it seems does not see their duty as public service at all, therefore you owe nothing to the public. It seems as though they believe that are running some giant multinational that only has to report to the board and the investors. The general public, well they’ll get over it.
It is exactly this attitude of invincibility and arrogance that has this nation on the downward path that it is on. It was arrogance that caused Mr. Bush to fly onto that carrier with the “Mission Accomplished” banner, it was arrogance that made him say, “Bring it on” to the terrorists, and it was arrogance that believes that if I say “global warming” doesn’t exist, then it doesn’t exist. How dare, we the American public have the nerve to question these loyal patriots. We are only trying to protect you from yourselves. You know you can’t have too much freedom for the masses. The only truth that you need is what we are willing to provide you.
The rest of the world has always admired us, but at the same time they have always believed that we are arrogant. Talk to people from outside of America and you will continue to hear this refrain. There is no one right way to live! While our way of life has worked for us, that doesn’t mean it will work for everyone in every circumstance. We must be willing to humble ourselves and accept that others also have opinions and ideas that are valuable. No one person or country knows everything about anything. Here is a sample of what the world is writing about us:
“Understand that I am neither European nor American but that I see Europe as a more adequate partner than the USA. I am shocked of the attitude of people like Miller as they are the reason for antiamericanism in the world. Americans think that they are armed missionaries and that they have a "divine mission" to export their model of political government in the world... Well guess what gringos? you'll be amazed to see that the world is a very diverse place and that different cultures demand different things. If you try to make someone accept something which he doesn't want (ex: occupation of Irak, Afghanistan...) he'll give you something you don't want either ( ex: terrorist attacks...)
It is a shame that America does not realize that. Until it does it won’t bring upon itself sympathy from the rest of the world.”
“It is commonly known that around the globe, we Americans are regarded as rather arrogant. In part, our subtle (or not so subtle) sense of superiority flows from the belief (espoused in our schools, churches, and service organizations, and reinforced by our politicians) that we are citizens of the best and most powerful nation on earth. Most of the planet, however, doesn't quite see it that way.”
Now is the time to climb off of our high horse and engage the world, not in a condescending way but in a mutual partnership. Where each party is valued and whose opinions and concerns are given merit, even if they go against our own…
The Disputed Truth
Let's see, that means Salon costs $1.25, right? Oh, wait, that's just what 5 cups of starbucks should cost, given what they pay coffee growers and coffee servers......I mean barristers.....(that's unisex for barrista or barristo)....
Neo-conservatism is simply another name for Elitism coupled with Laissez-Faire Capitalism. The aim of the movement IS to concentrate wealth in the hands of a few. These mainly WASP males (see the current line-up of Republican candidates for President) will then control government, reducing it to an Oligarchy by, of, and for the wealthy. Grover Norquist, who should be in prison for his involvement in the Abramoff/Delay scandals, would destroy all forms of social safety nets and safety/health regulations that protect the public. Mr. Norquist continues to play a major role in the Bush Administration. These people promote the antiquated notion that market forces will take care of any corporate malfeasance. Given the many harmful drugs that have been successfully marketed, faulty products that are constantly subject to recall, the increasing numbers of workers injured or killed on the job, the pesticides and chemicals that remain in our air, water and soil, the contaminated food that threatens our health, and on and on, it is obvious that market forces will not prevent the harm that looms over us all. Laissez-Faire Capitalism does not take into account the human flaws of greed and corruption. These two moral traps must be considered in looking at corporate acitivity. To fail to do so, is to be either very naive or corrupt, as well. Look at Halliburton. Look at Enron. Look at all the pharmaceutical companies. Look at Bhopal. Look at Exxon Valdez. The list is nearly endless. Bush and his cabal of crooks exemplify the worst of capitalism gone awry. Wolfowitz, Norquist, Cheney, Rove,Rice, Rumsfeld and the Bush Familia are the perpetrators of death, destruction, and war-profiteering at its very worst. Oil and profit are their gods. Bush's tax breaks have gutted the Middle Class and made the gap between the rich and poor a chasm. The Republican Party has chosen to identify entirely with this group of arrogant, corrupt and compassionless conservatives. They have no regard whatsoever for the well-being of the average citizen. Senator Richard Lugar, for example, long touted for the Nobel Peace Prize, has rubber-stamped every crackpot proposal Bush puts out. He even voted for increased mercury emissions, knowing that mercury is a dangerous toxin. There is no longer a moderate Republican Party. It has morphed into a monster, devouring all but the corporate fat-cats and the elitist wealthy. They are given pride of place at the head of the table, and greedily hoard the smallest crumb. Scandals in government and in corporations have become so frequent, they are almost the norm. It comes from the top down. The lack of true morals and ethics is a genuine and appalling problem in today's society. The buck is the bottom line. Gouging, lying, manipulation, kickbacks, under-the-table deals are part and parcel of business and government. We need a period of revolving door representation. If elected officials dont clean house, boot them out, and keep booting them out until they get the message that corrupt behavior will not be tolerated. Party loyalty has become a handicap. We need loyalty to the common good, and a government that supports it.
A Danish patrol was Monday ambushed in the town of al-Hartha. One Danish soldier died and five other were wounded – two of them seriously. Seven Danes have been killed in Iraq.
Mr. Wolfowitz made it, eventually.
To my knowledge, he is to leave no sooner that the end of June 2007. That delay entitles him to receive a little bonus (I heard of 400,000 $ but I didn't check). The deadline was 15 th June, wasn't it?
Gott sei Bank!
Post a Comment
<< Home