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03/17/2005:

"Bush nominates Wolfowitz for World Bank"

...The selection of Mr Wolfowitz, who as deputy defence secretary was a prime mover of the president's decision to go to war, was greeted with incredulity in Europe and the development community, and by Democrats in Washington.

"It's a very surprising and in many ways an inappropriate nomination," said Jeffrey Sachs, a Columbia University economist and economic adviser to the United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan.

"Hundreds of millions of people depend for their lives and livelihood on the efforts of professionals to fight extreme poverty," he said, adding that he was speaking as a development expert and not as a United Nations official.

Mr Bush tried to beat back some of the criticism yesterday, telephoning world leaders to lobby for his choice.

"Paul is committed to development. He is a compassionate, decent man who will do a fine job at the World Bank," he told a press conference.
Full Article: guardian.co.uk