MEDIA REACTION - WORLD BANK PRESIDENT AND HIS ROLE IN IRAQ

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000828 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, WHA/EPSC STATE FOR INR/IAA, PM, INL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO CI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - WORLD BANK PRESIDENT AND HIS ROLE IN IRAQ ¶1. On May 18, government-owned, editorially independent "La Nacion" (circ. 4,200) carried an editorial by international analyst Raul Sohr entitled "The Unacceptable Wolfowitz." Quotes follow: ¶2. "Wolfowitz...is largely responsible for the invasion of Iraq... and in Washington he is known for his ambition and ongoing feuds with his opponents.... Upon arriving at the World Bank, he began preaching against corruption and nepotism...(but) appointed his acquaintances...(such as) Kevin Kellems, who knows little about development... and Juan Dabout, whose trajectory includes active work with several right-wing governments in El Salvador.... This nepotism reached a maximum point when he named his girlfriend to the U.S. Department of State, Middle East Bureau... earning twice as much as is allowed by government statutes. ¶3. "Wolfowitz is responsible for unleashing one of the most disastrous wars of recent times.... And, as if this were not enough, he contaminated the World Bank with his practice of favoritism and the imposition of policies by eliminating his opponents. It is unbelievable that he did not resign before. But what is most disconcerting is how President Bush supported him in the face of the Europeans' request to replace him." KELLY