Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Robert Zoellick: Bush's New Man at the Death Star




So looks like the Empire will soon have a new head at the Death Star. This week President George Bush the Younger nominated Robert Zoellick to the top position at the World Bank--to replace the outgoing Paul Wolfowitz. Zoellick, a former U.S. Trade Representative, is more than likely to be confirmed as the next World Bank president sometime this month. And since his nomination, praise has poured in for his roles in global trade talks, the crisis in Darfur and relations with China. But, we heard much the same praise given to Paul Wolfowitz when he first got the job. Is Robert Zoellick really that different from his predecessor? Here's a hint... he was nominated by *George Bush.* That should be just about enough to sow doubts, but in case you need more....

So who is Robert Zoellick? Well turns out he's one of the gang. Like Paul Wolfowitz, Zoellick is a member of the Project for a New American Century (PNAC). As discussed in a previous article, PNAC adheres to an ideology that America's military strength should be used to bring order to the world and unchallenged global supremacy; the conservative think tank endorses the notion of a Pax Americana. It is a vision of an America for the 21st century, which would "extend its position of global leadership by maintaining the preeminence of U.S. military forces." In 1997 Zoellick, along with Wolfowitz and other notable necons, would sign his name to a letter to then President Bill Clinton urging "regime change" in Iraq as a stepping stone towards global American dominance.

While there has been praise for his involvement in Sudan's Darfur crisis, there has also been criticism. In 2005, Africa Action angrily denounced Zoellick for his admittance that the U.S. was engaged in intelligence sharing with the government in Khartoum:

Africa Action today expressed outrage at U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick’s testimony before Congress, in which he acknowledged that the Bush Administration is maintaining an intelligence-sharing partnership with the government of Sudan, even as it continues its genocidal campaign against the people of Darfur and prepares for more violence against the people in eastern Sudan, who are also rebelling against Khartoum. Zoellick also failed to describe any new and urgent U.S. action designed to stop the genocide and protect civilians in Darfur.
When it comes to globalization and trade, Zoellick has hardly been a friend of the impoverished. In a 2003 article titled Robert Zoellick's Free Trade Evangelism, the transnational advocacy network CorpWatch detailed his "bullying" tactics against smaller nations that did not fall in line fast enough with American economic policies:

...in Central America there are mixed feelings about Zoellick who moved aggressively to target the countries that joined the G-21: Costa Rica and Guatemala, by threatening their membership in a proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

"I told them that the emergence of the G-21 might pose a big problem to this agreement since our Congress resents the fact that members of CAFTA are also in the G-21," he said. "If we want to construct a common future with them, resistance and protest do not constitute an effective strategy. In my talks with some of these countries, I sense that they are drawing the right conclusions."

In addition Zoellick warned Costa Rica in early October that it must open its services market and privatize its telecommunications, electricity and insurance industries if it wants to join CAFTA.
The global justice network 50 Years is Enough notes much the same:

Zoellick served as the U.S.’s chief trade negotiator for Bush’s first term. . “He earned a reputation as a powerful bully in middle- and low- income countries,” said Jessica Walker Beaumont of the American Friends Service Committee. “His condescending lectures about ‘can-do and won’t-do nations’ at the 2003 WTO summit in Cancun, when the US didn’t get its way, became notorious. It’s hard to imagine that, after defending US corporate profits so zealously, this is the person who is going to champion development on behalf of the world’s poor.”
They go on to say:

“While no one could be as outrageous as Wolfowitz, the architect of the Iraq war, Zoellick is a full-fledged neo-conservative too, a supporter of invading Iraq since 1998. The best that can be said for him is that, like Wolfowitz, he’ll be an appropriate symbol of what the World Bank has become – an agency dedicated to entrenching U.S. economic domination.”
So, in the end, Zoellick and his supporters may attempt to paint his appointment to the World Bank as a new start, but it seems mostly like more of the same. This supposed "changing of the guard" will hardly reflect any changes in policy.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.dressaleuk.co.uk]prom dresses sale[/url] Baby steps?. [url=http://www.zoeroad.com]http://www.zoeroad.com[/url]
[url=http://www.xmpllc.com]orange homecoming dresses[/url] ffmglkaa It just flows. spnbssgm [url=http://www.mulberrylondonshop.co.uk]discount mulberry outlet[/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.dressaleuk.co.uk]dress sale uk[/url] Holck graded our groups depending on our behavior, focus, learning, and speaking a little bit of Spanish.. [url=http://www.thomassaboss.co.uk]thomas earrings[/url]
[url=http://www.christianlouboutinosale.co.uk]christian louboutin outlet uk[/url] znleehdy I even asked on the last call to be removed from their calling list; the salesperson disconnected as soon as I said "removed". alnwgvzl [url=http://www.mulberrylondonshop.co.uk]mulberry outlet[/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.thomassaboss.co.uk]thomas sabo uk[/url] For today's outdoor enthusiasts, making your own airline bookings online has distinct advantages. http://www.zoeroad.com
http://www.xmpllc.com lmwkcjyh 4. whzraxnw [url=http://www.mulberrylondonshop.co.uk]mulberry alexa bag[/url]

Anonymous said...

http://www.dressaleuk.co.uk are several affordable wristband prices that will get you into multiple bars and block parties. http://www.zoeroad.com
[url=http://www.xmpllc.com]wedding dress online sale[/url] jtmymmxf When we were let in, the troopers, blasters in hand, escorted us down to the Boeing IMAX Theater. gnqyvryp http://www.mulberrylondonshop.co.uk

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.bestdresseller.co.uk]formal evening dresses[/url] I am truly amazed that the Romney camp would even use a tactic like this knowing that his own republican opponents said much worse about him in the Primaries which just ended a couple months ago as compared to several years ago when this video of Hillary took place . [url=http://www.zoeroad.com]prom dress uk[/url]
[url=http://www.xmpllc.com]wedding dresses vera wang[/url] oxgjwivi Though the proprietor is rarely to be seen on the premises, don't be surprised if manager Shane makes the run himself. cnymcigv [url=http://www.mulberrylondonshop.co.uk]mulberry sale shop[/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.dressaleuk.co.uk]cute prom dresses tumblr[/url] Shirley Hunt's blog post was featuredMore on Slow PhotographyFor any of you who are looking for an approach to photography that focuses on slowing down and observing the natural world around us from a new perspective, Chris Orwig has a fantastic book called Visual Poetry (2010, New Riders). [url=http://www.mitwhite.com]cheap bridesmaid dresses[/url]
[url=http://www.xmpllc.com]orange homecoming dresses[/url] annnqaot Since the files were saved there I couldnt access them. zdxzmghn [url=http://www.mulberrylondonshop.co.uk]mulberry mitzy bags[/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.bestdresseller.co.uk]spring formal dresses[/url] Platinum Eagles were well received, and in 1998, the first full year of production, 133,000 of the 1-oz Platinum Eagles were minted.. [url=http://www.mitwhite.com]bridesmaid dresses under 100[/url]
[url=http://www.xmpllc.com]wedding dress online sale[/url] teotgwma If you want help with an addiction, there are resources available. sqntlygp [url=http://www.mulberrylondonshop.co.uk]mulberry handbags outle[/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.bestdresseller.co.uk]formal evening dresses[/url] Felt boot liners and battery powered boot heaters also help your feet stay warm in severe cold.. [url=http://www.mitwhite.com]vera wang bridesmaid dresses[/url]
[url=http://www.xmpllc.com]wedding dresses vera wang[/url] davwfyyb Certainly $P$ has at least $n$ generators, as the images of the generators in $R_p$ generate $PR_p$. gprwiiqz [url=http://www.mulberrylondonshop.co.uk]discount mulberry outlet[/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.bestdresseller.co.uk]spring formal dresses[/url] Turn off to the Bell Roundabout and take Coursers Road into Colney Heath. [url=http://www.mitwhite.com]black formal dresses[/url]
[url=http://www.xmpllc.com]wedding dress online sale[/url] lwyhautn Ideally, the property should have a dark turtle in the back ( a mountain or hill, another house, a row of trees, a fence, etc . pvrlgwos [url=http://www.mulberrylondonshop.co.uk]mulberry handbags outle[/url]

Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.bestdresseller.co.uk]vintage formal dresses[/url] He kept his gaze out the barn doors, watching the villagers. [url=http://www.mitwhite.com]black formal dresses[/url]
[url=http://www.xmpllc.com]vintage wedding dress[/url] jdjqtdqn I would love to quit today, but this is why I have not yet and maybe your mothers reasons are similar or totally different for not quitting.. gwrnpxew [url=http://www.mulberrylondonshop.co.uk]mulberry uk[/url]

Unknown said...

louis vuitton outlet, gucci outlet, oakley sunglasses, ugg boots, longchamp, louis vuitton, ray ban sunglasses, louboutin shoes, nike free, louis vuitton, ray ban sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, longchamp pas cher, louboutin outlet, longchamp outlet, tory burch outlet, replica watches, replica watches, cheap oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton, nike outlet, nike air max, nike air max, prada handbags, tiffany jewelry, polo ralph lauren outlet, nike free, louboutin pas cher, louboutin, oakley sunglasses, longchamp outlet, oakley sunglasses, burberry, uggs on sale, polo ralph lauren outlet, michael kors, oakley sunglasses, nike roshe run, ugg boots, christian louboutin outlet, jordan shoes, tiffany and co, sac longchamp, ralph lauren pas cher, kate spade outlet, air jordan pas cher, air max, louis vuitton outlet, chanel handbags, prada outlet

Unknown said...

abercrombie and fitch, michael kors outlet, hogan, burberry outlet online, tn pas cher, air force, coach purses, replica handbags, michael kors outletC, new balance pas cher, true religion jeans, michael kors, michael kors, ugg boots, true religion jeans, hermes, north face, michael kors, hollister, hollister pas cher, sac guess, nike air max, nike blazer, coach outlet, vanessa bruno, kate spade handbags, nike roshe, burberry, nike free run uk, mulberry, michael kors outlet, nike air max, oakley pas cher, true religion outlet, nike air max, vans pas cher, michael kors, timberland, coach outlet, ugg boots, michael kors outlet, michael kors outlet, ralph lauren uk, ray ban uk, ray ban pas cher, true religion jeans, converse pas cher, north face, lacoste pas cher, lululemon

Unknown said...

baseball bats, louboutin, ferragamo shoes, mcm handbags, p90x workout, nike huarache, timberland boots, jimmy choo shoes, north face outlet, converse outlet, hollister, gucci, reebok shoes, wedding dresses, nike air max, instyler, babyliss, longchamp, valentino shoes, mac cosmetics, soccer jerseys, ralph lauren, chi flat iron, north face outlet, herve leger, hollister, nike air max, lancel, converse, insanity workout, lululemon, nike trainers, vans, new balance, mont blanc, nfl jerseys, celine handbags, hollister, bottega veneta, giuseppe zanotti, iphone cases, asics running shoes, soccer shoes, birkin bag, nike roshe, oakley, abercrombie and fitch, ray ban, ghd, vans shoes, beats by dre