A wolf in sheep's clothing

Rock star Bono was a possibility. Actress Angelina Jolie was a wild card. Former United States Secretary of State Colin Powell was an intriguing candidate. But Paul Wolfowitz, architect of the war on Iraq, to head the World Bank? No chance. Yet that's exactly what President Bush has done.

Wolfowitz's reputation as the chief mover for the war on Iraq - a development disaster - sits uncomfortably with a job whose main role is multilateral international development and not unilateral preaching of freedom and democracy, although these bedfellows may themselves be beneficial for health.w1 As a public relations exercise his appointment is a snub to the international development community, which spends much of its time carefully navigating political and cultural minefields. Many countries that Wolfowitz will be …