Departing Wolfowitz Names New Iraq Director

[laststeamtrain]

Source: IPS

Departing Wolfowitz Names New Iraq Director
Emad Mekay

WASHINGTON, May 21 (IPS) - The World Bank has just appointed a new country for Iraq despite security and corruption concerns, according to a leaked document.

The news emerged just days after outgoing World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz promised not make any major new appointments at the institution.

The Government Accountability Project, a Washington-based watchdog group, released an email it says it obtained from sources inside the Bank showing Daniela Gressani, vice president for the Middle East and North Africa Region, making the announcement.

"I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Simon Stolp as Country Manager, Iraq," said Gressani in her email, a copy of which was seen by IPS.

Read more: http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=37829

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I'm assuming that the word 'country' in the first sentence was meant to be 'director'.

[TacticalPeek]

1. I believe it is meant to be "new country head for Iraq".

POLITICS:
Departing Wolfowitz Names New Iraq Director
Emad Mekay

WASHINGTON, May 21 (IPS) - The World Bank has just appointed a new country head for Iraq despite security and corruption concerns, according to a leaked document.

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=37829


The bastard.

:grr:

[illinoisprogressive]

2. and the croneyism continues.

[OregonBlue]

5. Do they have to accept the appointment?

[Lasher]

3. Also from the article:

Stolp, an Australian national, worked previously in Iraq as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Defence where he supported changes in the Iraqi electricity sector. In 2005, he was awarded the Joint Civilian Service Award by the Pentagon, which is granted to civilians who demonstrate high service "supporting the U.S. military".

A report issued in December by a seven-member panel of Bank experts who interviewed candidates for the job in Iraq said that after meeting Stolp, "the panel left uncomfortable as to whether he could become a credible, substantive (as compared to procedural) representative of Bank with Iraqi and Donor counterparts, on account of his weak analytical background, and lack of knowledge about the Bank."

The panel added: "Compared with candidates on other CM short lists (e.g. Lebanon), Mr. Stolp would not place in the top third."

<snip>

The appointment likely means the Bank will release new loans to the occupied Arab nation, despite the deteriorating security situation and recent disclosures of massive corruption in reconstruction efforts.

So it looks like Stolp got a medal from the Pentagon for his work to get the power up and running in Iraq. So he musta done a heckofa job, right?

According to the Brookings Institution, before the invasion Baghdad had power for 16 to 24 hours a day. Availability since then was at its best in March 2004, at 16.4 hours per day. This month (as of May 15) the juice has been on on for an average of 5.6 hours daily.

http://www.brookings.edu/fp/saban/iraq/index.pdf

[gatlingforme]

4. When will this effing crap end???????? Wolfy should go to hell

[Ian David]

6. And how many times did Simon Stolp sleep with Paul Wolfowitz?

Some people say.



See also:


Iraq Struggles to Meet Electricity Needs
All Things Considered, April 11, 2005
Iraq's power system is struggling to meet the demand for electrical power ahead of summer, when temperatures can surpass 100 degrees.

Listen to this story... by Ben Gilbert

Correction: Temperatures in Iraq do not reach 140 degrees in summer, as reported. The highest temperature ever recorded anywhere is 136. Baghdad in the middle of summer averages 110.



http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4586231

[donsu]

7. so he broke his promise - like criminals keep promises!

who is going to put them all in prison? WHO? anybody?


do 'we the people' have any power left at all besides violence?