The president’s choice of Bob Zoellick to be the new World Bank chief seems pretty obvious after the fact. He’s a loyal Bush soldier rather than an out-on-a-limb advocate like Wolfowitz, which means he’s less controversial among administration critics yet more likely to actually do what the administration wants, whatever that might be. Perhaps most importantly, he gets along with Europeans. And it is the Europeans who, along with the U.S., control the bulk of the World Bank’s votes.
According to the Washington Post, Zoellick was actually supposed to get the World Bank job in 2005, “but then Condoleezza Rice claimed him as her deputy at the State Department.” Zoellick then left State in 2006 to become vice chairman of Goldman Sachs. Smooth move, Condi.
All in all, he seems like a decent enough choice. But I do think our way of choosing World Bank presidents and the World Bank’s way of doing business are both in need of a major overhaul. Is Zoellick the guy to do that? I sorta doubt it, but who knows.
Update: More on Zoellick from Michael Duffy.