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| Europe |
| EU wants hearing with Wolfowitz |
| 2005-03-22 |
| Chest Thumping from Old Europe, Act CXVII, Via Drudge... The European Union wants an opportunity to hear US nominee for World Bank chief Paul Wolfowitz to quiz him on his views of how he would run the key development institution, EU ministers said. And this is your perogative in what way? EU finance ministers discussed Wolfowitz's controversial nomination by US President George W. Bush over dinner at the start of a summit of the 25-member bloc's leaders Brussels. Over dinner? Five-star restaurant, maybe? Where's Kofi's invitation? Austria's Karl-Heinz Grasser, asked if Wolfowitz could present his views to the next meeting of EU finance ministers scheduled for April 11-12, said that would be too late. It's too late, baby now, it's too late... "We need to hear from him on a European level before then. A European level? Puhleeeze, you pompous windbag... We need to know his basic position on the (UN) millennium development goals, and his view of how he would lead the World Bank," he said after the dinner. Damn! Missed the dinner. Guess there's no need to go now! German Finance Minister Hans Eichel -- whose boss Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has already given the thumbs-up to the deputy US defense secretary -- said that nevertheless more talks were needed. Talking's what you knobs know best, isn't it? "He's a high level candidate, but there needs to be more discussions before" his election, said Eichel. Talk & discuss all you want. Wolfie's actually going to accomplish things. Wolfowitz's nomination to head the key global development-funding institution has prompted a cool reaction in some quarters in Brussels, while aid groups have voiced dismay and some puzzlement. Translation - the spigot's about to be turned off. Belgian Didier Reynders told AFP that the EU has no single view on Wolfowitz, but indicated it could work towards a position once he had presented his plans. How about your plans first? This is why these guys are completely worthless; they're lining up Wolfie for endless criticism. "It will be from that that we will take a position, but there is no definitive position at all," he said. I've got a position for you... |
| Posted by:Raj |
| #28 The point is that such a God shrinks in power and believability with every new explanation that science offers. Not true. It will still not be true if scientists discover the answer to everything. Physics does not exclude the possibility that God exists. Just because we can't prove He exists, doesn't mean He doesn't :-) |
| Posted by: Elmoting Granter5118 2005-03-22 11:40:04 PM |
| #27 Darwin's theory was not about God or the origin of the universe. It was simply about where all these damn species come from. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2005-03-22 11:39:18 PM |
| #26 Not to change the subject, but the original source of the article is AFP...so I refuse to pay attention. Do you suppose AFP means the Aris-Free Press? Oops... Somebody else trademark that! |
| Posted by: Bobby 2005-03-22 11:34:47 PM |
| #25 God leads Darwin in Google by 82 million to 12 million hits |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2005-03-22 11:04:07 PM |
| #24 If we're going to chase the Evolution/Creation rabbit, let's have some wisdom here, courtesy of King Solomon: It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. Proverbs 25:2 |
| Posted by: mom 2005-03-22 11:03:16 PM |
| #23 I'd rather play Dialing for Dollars than Google for God. |
| Posted by: badanov 2005-03-22 11:00:02 PM |
| #22 Aris, I don't know for sure whether there is a God, Christian or not. All I know is that I've been to places where he/she didn't seem to linger. But the more scientists discover, the more we grow aware of the fact of how little we know. Not God grew smaller, we did. A few hundred years ago we thought we'd be the center of the universe. For each "gap" we think we close we will open a hundred new ones. Scio nescio |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2005-03-22 10:59:06 PM |
| #21 Google for God, huh? LOL |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-03-22 10:52:29 PM |
| #20 cool - soon as they expain the source of all our creation: i.e. - where did all this come from? Beware of the "God of the gaps", Frank. Google for it if you've not heard the expression before: The point is that such a God shrinks in power and believability with every new explanation that science offers. Science hasn't discovered yet the source of all creation. That's a gap in human knowledge but trying to stuff your God inside it will fail to convince all people who know how many previous gaps have been filled as well. Anyway that's besides the issue, since Big Bang and Theory of Evolution are two quite distinct issues. |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2005-03-22 10:49:41 PM |
| #19 Aris, I don't think that "intelligent design" theories believe in an universe 6010 years old. It's a lost more complicated than that and while it might have a much larger element of religion and philosophy in it than Darwin's evolution theory, it should not be dismissed as "unscientific" per se. After all if there is an allmighty Creator it should be easy for him to have a little fun with scientists by littering the world with dinosaur bones :-) |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2005-03-22 10:47:18 PM |
| #18 Wolfowitz has already said he will sit down with individuals to discuss his views and qualifications and alleviate any concerns. What he doesn't need is to be subjected to a hostile crowd frothing at the mouth while taking their turns trying to embarrass and belittle him. This is what I envision as the âEuropean levelâ stated in the article. |
| Posted by: jn1 2005-03-22 10:45:30 PM |
| #17 cool - soon as they expain the source of all our creation: i.e. - where did all this come from? It's really rather simple - where did all the raw materials come from? - at its' origin? I'd be happy to hear your evidence |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-03-22 10:37:55 PM |
| #16 TGA, Darwin's specific ideas about evolution aren't the final wisdom of mankind, but the fact that evolution occurs and that we've evolved from ape-like ancestors (and that the universe is much older than 6010 years old) in as much an indisputable fact as anything can be. I have no problem with the idea of theistic (aka "divinely guided") evolution, as long as they keep it out of the science classes, and leave it in religion and philosophy class where it belongs. |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2005-03-22 10:29:29 PM |
| #15 Thanks TGA for having the intellect and courage to place the religion/evolution dichotomy in perspective. |
| Posted by: badanov 2005-03-22 10:25:50 PM |
| #14 Aris, Darwin's evolution theory isn't the final wisdom of mankind, nor is "intelligent design". A "theory" is an attempt to explain things. We'll be wiser in 50 years. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2005-03-22 10:17:48 PM |
| #13 Tom, listen to TGA. And don't whine about insults you received in threads where I came only because you intentionally and repeatedly trolled for me. Kinda wimpy on your behalf not to accept the quite predictable repercussions of your actions. As for your clueless mention of "Euro-sharia", Western Europe's the part of the world that's furthest away from Sharia in ideology, even as yours approaches it much more. Hmm... justifications for torture as interrogation, underage death penalty (yeah I know it's been recently outlawed but you people here objected!), the worship of machismo, the face-saving obsessiveness of Arabia, the gun-culture, the religious nuttishness (is the battle against the theory of evolution still raging in America?)... |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2005-03-22 10:07:55 PM |
| #12 And a little info on "Euroweenie" Grasser. He is actually the youngest (36 yo) and probably the most successful finance minister in the EU, a major champion of tax cuts. Companies only pay a maximum of 25% taxes which enabled them to compete much better with Eastern European companies which benefit from even lower taxes in their countries (Slovakia has a flat tax of 19%). With Grasser (maverick member of the questionable right wing FPOe, who fell out with its right wing leader Haider) Austria managed a much better growth than Germany, a balanced budget and an unemployment rate much lower than in Germany. The Austrian socialists hate him with a passion. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2005-03-22 10:01:58 PM |
| #11 Tom, you might want to note that the European share of the World Bank is actually larger than that of the U.S. (by a few percent), and its directors are elected, not appointed. An agreement, that goes back to Bretton Woods 1944 states that the boss of the World Bank should be an American, and for balance, the boss of the IMF should be an European. This is an unwritten agreement that has always been honored. In 1999 the U.S. (Clinton administration) did challenge the agreement by flatly refusing the German candidate, Caio Koch-Weser, as the new boss of the IMF, dismissing him as a "lightweight". Back then, Schroeder, with the European support, pushed Koch Weser a little too hard and failed. The Germans found a replacement with Horst Köhler, now President of Germany (whose competence was not put in doubt). It is unlikely that Wolfowitz will go anywhere if the Europeans refuse him. They would not break the agreement, that only states that the president of the bank should be American, not that the US can demand to have ANY US candidate elected. So it wouldn't be such a bad idea if Wolfie explained why he is the best candidate. He is a candidate after all. He can't be "appointed" by Bush. Schroeder clearly doesn't want a new conflict with the U.S. over this issue and the Europeans are likely to "swallow" Wolfowitz. Just don't make them choke on purpose. To push through reforms at the World Bank, Wolfie needs cooperation of all share owners of the World Bank or he'll be a lame duck. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2005-03-22 9:47:42 PM |
| #10 Aris, you've tried insulting me as a parent and you've backed clueless Euroweenie Karl-Heinz Grasser in calling for information that is already being provided where it counts. Why don't you just call it a day and go do something to improve the Greek reproduction and child mortality statistics or contemplate the future of gay marriage under the coming Euro-Sharia Law. Nite, nite. |
| Posted by: Tom 2005-03-22 9:40:15 PM |
| #9 He already is answering Euro questions, Ars. Karl-Heinz Grasser is just being a Euroweenie about it. And your Euros only make up 30% of the board. http://washingtontimes.com/business/20050318-102951-3228r.htm |
| Posted by: Tom 2005-03-22 9:16:59 PM |
| #8 you don't deserve it, frankly |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-03-22 9:16:29 PM |
| #7 Would it diminish your collective shifgrethor or something, for Wolfowitz to have to answer questions by Europeans before being given their vote? |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2005-03-22 8:59:46 PM |
| #6 FrankG / Mrs D - *applause* Serious truth in both of your posts. I love these calm little moments before the storm... A reckoning / reshaping of the US to Tranzi World "relationship" is approaching fast. There will be several "battles" and there will be big surprises in store for the Tranzis. What is not in doubt, however, is whether the US will, ever again, treat with the Tranzis as equals and peers. They have marginalized themselves - all by themselves; distanced themselves - all by themselves; fucked themselves - all by themselves. They have consciously chosen the path of confrontation, ankle-biting, and submission to their intelligentsia / chattering class. They are now at odds with and in oppostition to the few who are determined to progress and destabilize the entrenched barbarians. They can come along peaceably, if they choose, but they'd better stand clear if they don't join. The world has become too small, the weapons too deadly, and the threats too obvious for the Olde Methodes. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-03-22 8:36:47 PM |
| #5 They have missed an excellent opportunity to STFU. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-03-22 7:40:10 PM |
| #4 EU questioning? Who would that representative be? - pick 1 rep and it can be done without fuss. You only get one anymore, remember? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-03-22 7:33:15 PM |
| #3 Ah, the |
| Posted by: .com 2005-03-22 7:27:27 PM |
| #2 Bono! You backstabbin bastard! |
| Posted by: Wolfie 2005-03-22 7:25:06 PM |
| #1 So now we have Senate confirmation hearings and EU confirmation hearings? Well Wolfie can't make it -- perhaps we can send John Bolton over. |
| Posted by: Tom 2005-03-22 7:08:14 PM |