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Washington Post: Criticizing Leaders is Wrong

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the watergate-was-a-long-time-ago dept.

Dazan writes: "The Washington Post has an interesting op-ed piece on its website today, Mr. Wolfowitz and the Bank. The Post, a popular liberal paper, says that now that Paul Wolfowitz is heading the World Bank, 'People... should think carefully before they damage [the Bank] by attacking its new boss,' and that bringing up Wolfowitz's record is unhealthy. Of course it doesn't hurt for us all to watch what we say, expecially our newspapers. What does the Slashdot community think?"

127 comments

  1. What does the Slashdot community think? by GillBates0 · · Score: 4, Funny
    Short Answer: No.

    Long Answer: Yes.

    --
    An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
    1. Re:What does the Slashdot community think? by MrAnnoyanceToYou · · Score: 1

      Is the slashdot community paying attention to this particular thread after all the jokes today?

      Therefore there isn't really a short or a long answer, there's just a, "Is this a real story?"

      --
      My little site.
    2. Re:What does the Slashdot community think? by Morlark · · Score: 2, Insightful
      As I am reading TFA now, I cannot conceive of how any rightly thinking person could possibly believe the sheer amount of tripe that this poor excuse for a newspaper provides. Do people actually pay for the dead tree version of this? I'm completely shocked as to how this can possibly be called journalism. That article is so wrong on so many levels that I just don't know where to begin.

      The article says that the World will approved a highly controversial dam in Laos, noting that this dam will endanger the environment and the indigenous people's lifestyle. In the past projects similar to this have been shown to have caused irreperable damage to the environment. And how does the article justify this? Laos needs 'electricity and development'. A dam like this isn't going to improve the quality of life overnight. There are far more effective ways to help developing countries, both economically and environmentally. I really don't understand why the World Bank keeps on pushing dangerous projects like this without any recourse to common sense.

      And then "People who care about this institution and its mission -- as many of Mr. Wolfowitz's detractors do -- should think carefully before they damage it by attacking its new boss." I think that statement is hugely inflated with hyperbole. I say that leaders should be criticised. No leader is going to do things in such a way as to satisfy everybody, and so if a leader exists that doesn't have their detractors, I'd say that's a fair indication that somebody is suppressing free speech. And by telling people not to criticise Wolfowitz, that's exactly what the Post is trying to do. Sure, it's a very minor attempt, and not entirely effective, but that's how these things always start out, with little insignificant things. And lets face it, Wolfowitz has done some bad things in the past, so there is no reason why he shouldn't be criticised.

      This article also assumes that the people doing the 'attacking' do care about the institution. I certainly don't. I reckon we'd all me much better off if the World Bank had never existed. I read another comment saying how the World Bank shouldn't cancel the debts of developing countries, because their whole purpose is to give out loans. But this comment misses a very fundamental point. Banks don't give out loans to people who can't repay them. For a start it's not ethical. And yet the World Bank encourages the developing countries to take out huge loans, knowing that these countries would be indebted to them for ever. That's right, interest on these loans is piling up faster than the countries can repay, so the loans will never be paid off. If any normal bank tried a scam like this, they'd be in court faster than you can scream "Cancel the debt!" If developing countries had been allowed to develop at their own pace, without any meddling from oppurtunistic money grabbers like this, they would be far more developed than they are now.

      --
      Santa's suicide mission go!
  2. A Wolf In Wolf's Clothing by ackthpt · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Warmonger Wolfowitz could show some of the humility and courage John Paul II has, change the world through dialogue, rather than engineering tragic events so conveniently you may exert your will by force upon an unpopular adversary.

    The Cold War is over, one hero lies dying, one monster is elevated to a position to restrict the flow of aid to countries which don't fall into line. Call a Spade a Spade. That's what the 1st Amendment is really for.

    Be near me when my light is low,
    When the blood creeps, and the nerves prick
    And tingle; and the heart is sick,
    And all the wheels of Being slow.     -Tennyson

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    1. Re:A Wolf In Wolf's Clothing by EnronHaliburton2004 · · Score: 3, Informative

      What's even more frightening is that the US got the EU to go along with the deal, despite Wolfowitz's horrible record.

      Big deals being made for some of those top posts...

      --
      94% of Repubs and 21% of Dems voted to renew the Patriot Act
    2. Re:A Wolf In Wolf's Clothing by WillAffleck · · Score: 3, Funny

      What's even more frightening is that the US got the EU to go along with the deal, despite Wolfowitz's horrible record.

      Gotcha! April Fools! We only pretended to approve Wolfie!

      signed, the EU

      p.s. we still won't help with Iraq, at least until you stop exporting WMD ...

      --
      Will in Seattle
    3. Re:A Wolf In Wolf's Clothing by exley · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      Warmonger Wolfowitz could show some of the humility and courage John Paul II has, change the world through dialogue, rather than engineering tragic events so conveniently you may exert your will by force upon an unpopular adversary.

      So Wolfowitz should start doing things like saying that condoms help spread AIDS and allow rampant pedophilia to go unchecked?

    4. Re:A Wolf In Wolf's Clothing by Taladar · · Score: 1

      Talking Bullshit is better than waging war.

      --
      Linux is not Windows
    5. Re:A Wolf In Wolf's Clothing by sumdumass · · Score: 1

      hmm.. to the victor goes the spoils?

      EER. History is writen by the winners..

      err. i know there is some catchy phrase that would explain all this. I cannot put my finger on the right one though. Somethign must be wrong when my book of catch phrazes lets me down.

    6. Re:A Wolf In Wolf's Clothing by FussionMan · · Score: 1

      Your comment is stupid and misleading.

    7. Re:A Wolf In Wolf's Clothing by Dyolf+Knip · · Score: 1

      Which, coincidentally, more aptly describes the bullshit coming from the Vatican on the topic in question.

      --
      Dyolf Knip
    8. Re:A Wolf In Wolf's Clothing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Warmonger Wolfowitz could show some of the humility and courage John Paul II has

      Anyone who discourages people from using condoms to prevent AIDS because it can travel through the gaps between molecules (!) does not deserve such praise.

    9. Re:A Wolf In Wolf's Clothing by RWerp · · Score: 1

      The position of Vatican was not that the condoms directly spread AIDS, but that they do not stop it as effectively as its advocates say, and encourage dangerous behaviour by giving a false sense of security. While debatable, it is not equivalent to what you said. With regards to pedophilia, the Roman Catholic Church acknowledged its mistakes and made a lot of changes in its laws and procedures. Be so kind and compare this "we have erred, we are very sorry and we are correcting out attitude" to the "we are always right, no need to change anything" attitude displayed by various institutions (the U.N., the governments of various states) whenever the shit hits the fan.

      --
      "Long run is a misleading guide to current affairs. In the long run we are all dead." (John Maynard Keynes)
    10. Re:A Wolf In Wolf's Clothing by exley · · Score: 1

      By saying that condoms are permeable to the AIDS virus, and therefore ineffective in stopping it, isn't that implying that they help spread AIDS? You're splitting some pretty fine hairs to counter my statement. Now, had I said that the Church came out and said that the condoms themselves were responsible for AIDS, but I didn't. They came out with an opinion based on absolutely nothing just to fit their agenda.

      With regards to the pedophilia thing, do you really think that changing "laws and procedures" solves everything? It amounts to nothing but talk until some kind of real actions are taken. And they only did it when things were a complete mess and they were left with no choice but to pretend to be doing something about it thanks to public pressure.

      There was a surprising lack of accountability for years with regards to that whole scandal -- and it took years for them to take even token measures despite the fact that the epidemic was widespread and pretty well known.

      Trying to compare their response to how other institutions react to crisis is nothing more than changing the subject. I'm talking about the Church and no one else. I have to ask the question: are you Catholic?

    11. Re:A Wolf In Wolf's Clothing by RWerp · · Score: 1

      condoms help spread AIDS

      That's what you said. If something help spread AIDS, it's responsible for it, right? Who's splitting hairs here? Now, what I said the Church is saying, is that the condoms encourage promiscuous behaviour, and this behaviour help spread AIDS. Church is simply saying "condoms may or may not save you, but being faithful to each other in marriage certainly will". I'm not defending this doctrine, I think the Bible does not say anything about condoms. What it says that married people should have children, but it doesn't prevent them from exerting control over when and how many children they should have. Church sees things otherwise, but accusing it of helping to spread AIDS is simply unwise. Church with its members has done more to help poor people in the world than many of the loud-speaking liberals.

      With regards to the pedophilia thing, do you really think that changing "laws and procedures" solves everything? It amounts to nothing but talk until some kind of real actions are taken.

      Sigh. Changing laws and procedures is real action. It is how large institutions change themselves in reaction to problems. Exactly what else do you propose? Telling all priests to stay away from any child below 18? One of their roles is to educate and teach youngsters. As a child I knew many priests, and none of them raised any suspicions about his possibility of being a pedophile.
      And they only did it when things were a complete mess and they were left with no choice but to pretend to be doing something about it thanks to public pressure.
      They're not pretending. I read that now in Poland, priests, most of them who were never suspected of anything, are now very cautious with how they interact with children. They don't want to raise any doubts about their conduct.

      There was a surprising lack of accountability for years with regards to that whole scandal -- and it took years for them to take even token measures despite the fact that the epidemic was widespread and pretty well known.

      "Epidemic was widespread"? Exactly how many certified (eg., by court ruling) cases of pedophilia among priests in the U.S.A do you know? How does it compare to cases of pedophilia among teachers?

      Trying to compare their response to how other institutions react to crisis is nothing more than changing the subject.

      No, it's not. I wanted to highlight the fact that large organizations always display certain inertia when reacting to such problems. This is of course very bad, and the Church apologized for this too, but it's reality.

      I have to ask the question: are you Catholic?

      Why do you feel you have to ask this question?

      --
      "Long run is a misleading guide to current affairs. In the long run we are all dead." (John Maynard Keynes)
    12. Re:A Wolf In Wolf's Clothing by exley · · Score: 1

      Why do you feel you have to ask this question?

      Because bias is important. Our personal biases also speak to the fact that we're probably not going to convince one another either way on any of this. I could waste time with a lengthy response to your lengthy response and so forth, but it's highly unlikely to change either my clearly anti-Church bias or your pro-Church bias.

    13. Re:A Wolf In Wolf's Clothing by RWerp · · Score: 1

      Why do you think I am biased?

      --
      "Long run is a misleading guide to current affairs. In the long run we are all dead." (John Maynard Keynes)
    14. Re:A Wolf In Wolf's Clothing by pb64738 · · Score: 1

      Regarding AIDS, I believe that condoms do help to spread AIDS. The current estimated rate of condom ineffectiveness in first world countries due to human error (note that this says nothing at all about how good the condoms are) is about 15-20 percent. So, how do you combat AIDS in the third world countries where education is much lower (so ineffectiveness due to human error goes up) and promiscuity is higher? Well, Ugands cut their rate of infection of AIDS to a third over 10 years by heavily promoting chastity as the main part of their AIDS programme. The conclusions from this are pretty hard to escape.

    15. Re:A Wolf In Wolf's Clothing by fenris_23 · · Score: 1


      How is the parent post anymore flaimbate than the article. The poster was not violating slashdot TOS or even posting off-topic.

      When I get mod points, I don't f*****g mod people's posts down because I don't agree with them.

  3. What happened to the first amendment? by Carnildo · · Score: 1

    Censorship? Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    --
    "They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
    1. Re:What happened to the first amendment? by As+Seen+On+TV · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The fact that you have a right to say something doesn't mean that it's right to say that thing. There's such a thing as restraint, you know?

      Reasonable people can differ on what things it's okay to say. But all people should be able to agree that restraint is a virtue.

    2. Re:What happened to the first amendment? by Carnildo · · Score: 1

      I hope to God you're joking.

      --
      "They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
    3. Re:What happened to the first amendment? by As+Seen+On+TV · · Score: 1

      Thank you very much. Now I won't have to worry about reading your comments in the future.

      Slashdot becomes much more manageable when you take the time to identify the trolls and filter them out.

    4. Re:What happened to the first amendment? by Bobzibub · · Score: 1

      An American friend of mine puts it differently:
      "You have the freedom so say what you want, but don't think that there aren't consequences."

      I haven't pressed the point.

      Cheers,
      -b

    5. Re:What happened to the first amendment? by Alexander+Rubio · · Score: 1

      Consider yourself filtered out.

      Have a nice day.

      --
      Bitsofnews.com Giving you the latest bits
    6. Re:What happened to the first amendment? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your American friend is self-contradictory.

    7. Re:What happened to the first amendment? by RWerp · · Score: 1

      Why? I'd rephrase the guy's comment in a slightly different, maybe a softer way: "freedom of speech is sometimes freedom to make a fool of yourself". Why do people so often think their freedom of speech means nobody can criticize what they said, or kindly and peacefully advise they shouldn't have said what they said, that their words might be hurting someone or damaging to some institution? This is not censorship, this is open and fair discussion. If we cry "censorship" without reson, who'll listen when there is real censorship?

      --
      "Long run is a misleading guide to current affairs. In the long run we are all dead." (John Maynard Keynes)
  4. Me thinks it's an April Fool's joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    yesss

    1. Re:Me thinks it's an April Fool's joke by RonnyJ · · Score: 1

      The date on the linked article is March 31, 2005, so it can't realistically be linked to April Fools Day. It doesn't help that it's amongst the seemingly never-ending 'joke' stories posted today though.

    2. Re:Me thinks it's an April Fool's joke by mbone · · Score: 2, Interesting

      No, this is not April Fools. This is just the Post's slow descent into a government propaganda organ, which has been going on for at least a decade.

      The only joke is the part about the Post being a liberal paper.

    3. Re:Me thinks it's an April Fool's joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't you know... all newspapers and the media are liberal. Don't believe me, ask any republican.

    4. Re:Me thinks it's an April Fool's joke by LinuxLuver · · Score: 1

      I posted a comment similar to yours - remarking on and recording the migration of the Washington Post to propagandists status - and some dork graded it "flamebait"..... Moderators are NOT supposed to employ their own political views when grading comments.

      --
      Only boring people are ever bored.
  5. winner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    sickness

  6. Well, clearly that's B.S.... by Jooly+Rodney · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...but "liberal" newspapers often have conservative stuff show up on their op-ed page -- witness David Brooks @ NYT.

    1. Re:Well, clearly that's B.S.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >.but "liberal" newspapers often have conservative stuff show up on their op-ed page

      The token conservative's 1/16 a page opinion is about the same as a pro-basketball team have a token white guy so no one can claim the're biased.

  7. Why should Wolfowitz be World Bank Prez? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I mean, come on, why the hell would a Pentagon official, the very guy who started the Iraq War, be a good person to help 3rd world countries? Does this suggest something? Am I thinking what you're thinking?

    1. Re:Why should Wolfowitz be World Bank Prez? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hmmm, good question! (...)

    2. Re:Why should Wolfowitz be World Bank Prez? by halivar · · Score: 1

      I mean, come on, why the hell would a Pentagon official, the very guy who started the Iraq War, be a good person to help 3rd world countries?

      More people may get to vote for their rulers? This is, of course, assuming the World Bank keeps a military force with which they can invade said 3rd world countries.

      Which it doesn't. Besides, just because you disagree with his foreign policy decisions doesn't mean he's a bad banker.

      Oh, and don't forget: the World Bank is for us, too (speaking as a Westerner).

    3. Re:Why should Wolfowitz be World Bank Prez? by FriedTurkey · · Score: 3, Funny

      Oh, and don't forget: the World Bank is for us, too (speaking as a Westerner).

      Dude, the World Bank isn't like a bank that nations use to keep a checking account and get free pens.

      The World Bank is for fighting poverty in third world nations.

    4. Re:Why should Wolfowitz be World Bank Prez? by halivar · · Score: 1

      Dammit! Stop confusing the issue with the facts! You know I don't click the links.

    5. Re:Why should Wolfowitz be World Bank Prez? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dude you made me spill beer out of my nose... HA HA - that's the best come back I have seen/heard in a while.

    6. Re:Why should Wolfowitz be World Bank Prez? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      "The World Bank is for fighting poverty in third world nations."

      I think you mean "The World Bank is fighting for poverty in third world nations," according to Greg Palast's investigative journalism.

    7. Re:Why should Wolfowitz be World Bank Prez? by Clod9 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "Fighting Poverty" -- yeah, by lending money to governments whose officials then waste it/parcel it out to cronies/squirrel it away in offshore accounts, and then future generations of those nations' poor can be enslaved as these debtor nations go grovelling back to the World Bank to get more loans just to pay the INTEREST on what they got before. That's fighting poverty, all right!

    8. Re:Why should Wolfowitz be World Bank Prez? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "fighting povety in 3rdworld nations"
      Are you insane ? Do you have any realizationm of what the function of the World Bank is ? I can't go on because of lack of tolerance you ignorant person.

    9. Re:Why should Wolfowitz be World Bank Prez? by sumdumass · · Score: 1

      umm.. all that should be taken care of. When clinton sent an onvoy to convince opec that they could manipulate the production of oil to raise the prices and thereby increasing the amount of money availible to pay back the debt the third world countries encounter.

      The tird world debt is realy a conclusion made because forgiving it was a top conversation list at the time and the trip to riase oil prices seemed to ocme after congress lost anyt hope of passing somethign that would forgive third world debt that is directly related to the oil prices of the70's and 80's. there is also secret oil deals he made to control the prices and make himself look good or in control while president.

    10. Re:Why should Wolfowitz be World Bank Prez? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      MOD PARENT FUNNY!!!

      He used "Greg Palast" and "journalism" in the same sentance!!!!

      Halarious.

    11. Re:Why should Wolfowitz be World Bank Prez? by davesag · · Score: 2, Insightful

      you must be thinking of a different world bank. The World Bank always has been an instrument of US Power Projection and nothing more. It has worked well to suck what remaining economic life remains from developing nations. Only developing countries who rejected the World bank's Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) have prospered at all. Those who followed the SAPs got right royally fucked in the ass; just as they were supposed to. Wofi is the natural best choice for the world bank and is sure to advance their already well developed program for strip mining the rest of the planet.

      --
      I used to have a better sig than this, but I got tired of it
    12. Re:Why should Wolfowitz be World Bank Prez? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Freeep.

  8. Admit it by SparksMcGee · · Score: 1

    You don't care what we think. This is all part of your sinister plot to get people to add more comments to the plethora of April Fool's day articles by asking us our opionions in a politics thread. Since this appears to maybe not be a joke thread, I fear CmdrTaco that ye may know not what ye have unleashed.

  9. The Slashdot community by As+Seen+On+TV · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The Slashdot community really, really wishes that the Slashdot management would stop posting flamebait stories to drive up page views.

    1. Re:The Slashdot community by gad_zuki! · · Score: 1

      Yeah, describing the washington post as "liberal" just cracks me up.

  10. And I thought this was an AFJ by TheGuano · · Score: 1

    Well, it's an editorial so that's close enough.

  11. Well... by cy_a253 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "What does the Slashdot community think?"

    Well, at the speed new stories are being posted, this one will scroll off the main page before anyon...

  12. Dear God.... by NFNNMIDATA · · Score: 1

    I was hoping this was an April Fool's joke...

    1. Re:Dear God.... by ForresterInc · · Score: 1

      You mean it's not a joke?

  13. Screw Washington Post by roman_mir · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Screw Pope
    Screw RMS
    Screw Blair
    Screw Putin
    Screw April
    Screw May
    Screw that nice looking chick across the street
    aah, screw it.

    --
    You can't handle the truth.
  14. There are 10 stories in the mysterious future by Clockwurk · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    ThinkGeek ThinkGeek ThinkGEEK!
    The Almighty Buck
    Posted by CmdrTaco in The Mysterious Future!
    from the this-shit-never-gets-old dept.
    ThinkGeek writes "ThinkGeek ThinkGeek ThinkgEEk ThinkGeek! ThinkGeek ThinkGeek THINK geek think GeEk thinkgEek. ThinkGeek. (TG is owned by OSTG, the parent company of Slashdot, so activate all conspiracy theories now). You can also look into the new iPod accessory iCopulate which allows intimacy between mp3 players never before fantasized. And for the suit that has everything, Executve Pong. "

    See any serious problems with this story? Email our on-duty editor.

    ( Read More... )
    Apple: EU to Ban Macs
    Desktops (Apple)
    Posted by Zonk in The Mysterious Future!
    from the bite-out-of-the-apple dept.
    johnalex writes "Digit Online News is reporting that 'The European Union has revealed it is to ban the sale and use of Apple Macintosh computers by 2006 - citing the need for unification in a directive unveiled today.' Reasons for the ban include that 'Apple's lack of floppy disk drive is discriminatory to EU residents, and that the Apple logo doesn't hail from the apple-growing regions of Southern France.'"

    See any serious problems with this story? Email our on-duty editor.

    ( Read More... | apple.slashdot.org )
    Linux: Tokyo Zoo Adds Giant Penguin
    News
    Posted by CmdrTaco in The Mysterious Future!
    from the its-gigantic-i-mean-look-at-it dept.
    Ant writes "This Yahoo! News story is amusing and cute: "Emperor penguins looked up in awe as Tokyo's main zoo unveiled its latest addition -- a giant penguin said to be suspiciously close in height and weight to a human... As the cameras rolled, the real penguins rose their beaks and gazed up at the purported Lord -- but then walked away disinterested when he took off his penguin face to reveal himself to be zoo director Teruyuki Komiya."

    See any serious problems with this story? Email our on-duty editor.

    ( Read More... | linux.slashdot.org )
    Hardware: Opera Invents New P2P System
    Technology
    Posted by Zonk in The Mysterious Future!
    from the breakthrough! dept.
    jeffy124 writes "Opera Software has developed a new P2P communications technology, buzzword description being a platform independent real time short- to medium-range interpersonal communications technology. A press release is available on their website, as is a demonstration of the technology, which Opera has called "Soundwave"."

    See any serious problems with this story? Email our on-duty editor.

    ( Read More... | hardware.slashdot.org )
    Hardware: Ask Jeeves to Introduce Jeeves9000
    Robotics
    Posted by CmdrTaco in The Mysterious Future!
    from the i-can't-do-that-jeeves dept.
    delymyth writes "The future of search arrives and is brought to you by Ask.Com. He'll help you in your searches, he'll help you at home, and the price is affordable, only $399,99! If you still think it's too much, you can always get a free version, but sometimes he'll suggest you some products (you know, robotic adware). A demo video is available." Personally I still think Ask Jeeves bought for $2 billion is a hoax.

    See any serious problems with this story? Email our on-duty editor.

    ( Read More... | hardware.slashdot.org )
    Hardware: Screen Cleaner Brightens Fading Displays
    Displays
    Posted by CmdrTaco in The Mysterious Future!
    from the its-probably-a-worm dept.
    Dirty Screen Boy writes "Over time, your LCD or CRT monitor will gradually fade in brightness and contrast. This fading is inevitable, because the backlights for LCD screens eventually fade, and the photo-reactive substrate on CRT monitors eventually degrades. ScreenCleaner Pro rectifies this situation by altering the gamma of your monitor to compensate for monitor degradation, so it will look as good as new. Don't toss out that old monitor, just run ScreenCleaner Pro on it, and watch your old monitor gain a new life. Simply let ScreenCleaner Pro run in the background, and it will automatically analyze your monitor's gamm

    1. Re:There are 10 stories in the mysterious future by Infinityis · · Score: 1

      Wow! How'd you know all that in advance?!?!?

    2. Re:There are 10 stories in the mysterious future by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He's a subscriber (as can be seen from the fact that there's a * next to his nickname).

  15. STFU and GBTW by Tackhead · · Score: 1
    > What does the Slashdot community think?

    I think we should get CmdrTaco the STFU and GBT-oh, wait, this is his job.

    Never mind.

  16. In related news by mboverload · · Score: 2, Funny
    In related news the FBI has baned spotlights because they can blind pilots.

    Car dealerships are appealing the decision.

  17. Slashdot community by Christoff+Ka+Sin+Chu · · Score: 0
    The /. community thinks that we should return seriousness to politics.

    Worse April Fools' Day ever

    CC

    --
    CKSCIII
  18. Dazan is a dick. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's not what the story says, you know that's not what the story says, stop being flamebait, you dick.

  19. Paul Wolfowitz?? by FriedTurkey · · Score: 2, Funny

    Paul Wolfowitz, the guy who messed up Iraq, becoming the head of the World Bank? Good thing this is a April Fools joke.

    ....Oh crap...

  20. Not a Democrat topic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This should have the censorship icon, not the donkey icon, as this should be a matter of importance to everyone, no?

  21. April fools joke? by cioxx · · Score: 3, Interesting
    The Post, a popular liberal paper,

    It has to be.
  22. Apr 1: Criticizing Leaders is Wrong by Celestial+Avenger · · Score: 1

    April 2, 2005
    Washington Post Headline:
    "April Fools! Bush Sucks!"

  23. Is april fools day over yet? by pg110404 · · Score: 1

    This is barely news. This is not even close to "being news for nerds, stuff that matters". .......and I have 5 moderator points I can use. At first I wasn't sure if slashdot was playing a prank on me or not. I'll just pretend I don't have points to use up until tomorrow, just to be safe.

    Shouldn't be too long now before slashdot returns to normal.

    1. Re:Is april fools day over yet? by Savage-Rabbit · · Score: 1

      Shouldn't be too long now before slashdot returns to normal.

      Slashdot was ever normal? When did this happen and how many seconds did it last?

      --
      Only to idiots, are orders laws.
      -- Henning von Tresckow
    2. Re:Is april fools day over yet? by pg110404 · · Score: 1

      Slashdot was ever normal? When did this happen and how many seconds did it last?

      Normal is a subjective term and I meant normal for slashdot. As in returning to how it was a week ago, how it was a month ago, etc.

      Running a story about how optimizing the idle loop for example can hardly be considered a joke, and even then, it's a pretty bad one.

      Processors have have had for a very long time a HALT instruction that essentially disengages the cpu clock from the internals to conserve power, and since the computer is sitting idle waiting for something to happen, why chase its tail when it can go to sleep until a hardware interrupt wakes it up?

  24. Inappropriate Comparison by beldraen · · Score: 1

    It just does not fit with today's works. Think about it: it's just one page versus the millions of documents that created today. It wasn't even explicitly copywrited. How can anyone treat any intellectual good as serious or usable if its not owned by a corporation? Hell, it has even had its admendments admended! It wasn't correct when it was written, how can we expect to use it today?

    --
    Bel, the mostly sane.. "Of course I can't see anything! I'm standing on the shoulders of idiots." -- Me
  25. I agree by dthx1138 · · Score: 1

    Leaders criticised is doubleplusungood Minitruth doubleplusgood 2+2=5 Apple Computer + Sledgehammer = Bad

    --
    I just found the box to change my sig. Um.... [timeless witticism].
  26. Quite the misrepresentation... by David+Ziegler · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The submitter seemed to read what seemed to fit his view. The quote with context:

    People who care about this institution and its mission -- as many of Mr. Wolfowitz's detractors do -- should think carefully before they damage it by attacking its new boss. Criticism of Mr. Wolfowitz's agenda for the bank may be healthy once that agenda emerges. But preemptive condemnation because of the Iraq war is not.

    To be more precise, the article (for those of you who haven't read it) says that Wolfowitz should not be prematurely criticized because of his role in the Iraq war.

    Mr. Wolfowitz's critics, domestic as well as international, should now get beyond their dislike of his role in the Iraq war and give him a chance to succeed at one of the world's hardest jobs.

    All the Washington Post's editors are saying is that we should criticize him for the work he does at the World Bank, not for past deeds.

    --
    -David Ziegler
    -
    1. Re:Quite the misrepresentation... by SQL+Error · · Score: 1

      Darn it, I was all set to post something snarky and sarcastic, and you go and point out that the article actually makes sense!

    2. Re:Quite the misrepresentation... by acaeti · · Score: 1

      I agree. Way to take a comment out of context. Even bad people deserve a second chance - Darth Vader anyone?

    3. Re:Quite the misrepresentation... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Excuse me? If massive failure in your last job, failure that paves the way for 150,000+ deaths and creates an ongoing disaster that practically can't be stopped shouldn't disqualify you from working anywhere but a retail toy store, WHAT DOES?

      And if we continue that logic out, we had better do away with sex offender registration, criminal records in general, and credit reporting too.

      Also worth noting is that this article doesn't have anything to do with criticizing the descison, and those responsible for it, to put Paul Wolfowitz into his new position.

    4. Re:Quite the misrepresentation... by Mr.+Slippery · · Score: 1
      All the Washington Post's editors are saying is that we should criticize him for the work he does at the World Bank, not for past deeds.

      Riiiiiiiiight. So if, for example, your local school board hires a convicted rapist as a principle, don't criticize him for past deeds - that might damage the school; wait and see how he does in his new job.

      Sorry, no. Rapsits, murders, and war mongerers are off this list of civilized human beings. Until and unless it is demonstrated that they have reformed, any move to put them in a position of trust needs to be resisted and criticised.

      --
      Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
      You cannot wash away blood with blood
    5. Re:Quite the misrepresentation... by intnsred · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      All the Washington Post's editors are saying is that we should criticize him for the work he does at the World Bank, not for past deeds.

      And let's remember that it's not only the Post that's saying that. Liberals and right-wingers alike are saying similar things.

      But let's remember the reality here. Wolfowitz has been cheerleading an attack on Iraq since the 1990s. Wolfowitz was a key advocate on the US invasion of Iraq which was planned from the first days of Bush taking power.

      There's no debating those points. Wolfowitz's own words and many high-ranking Bush administrations officials have reported the above.

      As such, this makes Wolfowitz a war criminal. He -- like Bush and others -- planned and waged/wages an aggressive war on a country in violation of int'l law and the UN Charter. Everyone from the Pope to the UN Secretary General to Tony Blair's closest advisors have said that the US/UK invasion of Iraq was illegal.

      Remembering that reality, what the Post (and the others) are saying is, "we should allow war criminals to take the top post at the World Bank, it's no big deal."

    6. Re:Quite the misrepresentation... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He should be criticized precisely for his role in the invasion of Iraq. He should not get off scott free from present criticisms for the ongoing conflict just because he has taken on the role of leading the World Bank. No one is criticizing the World Bank. We are criticizing Paul Wolfowitz for his criminal conduct in attacking Iraq. His past deeds aren't over.

    7. Re:Quite the misrepresentation... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hitler anyone?

    8. Re:Quite the misrepresentation... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you -kidding-? I don't want that guy in my store.

      signed,
      --Toys'R'Us Kid

  27. Oh, Gee, Just another April Fools joke... by StevenMaurer · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ... wait a minute ... it isn't

    Two thoughts:

    #1 What a sublime joke from the Slashdot editors, slipping in a real news article among the obvious jokes. A NASA paper airplane is far more believable than thinking the Washington Post editoralizing like Pravda. I was suitably misled.

    #2 Be afraid for our nation. Be very afraid.

    1. Re:Oh, Gee, Just another April Fools joke... by swordgeek · · Score: 1

      With all due respect, nuts to your nation. The reelection of Bush lost any sympathy the US might have had in the world community. The sad thing is that there are about 150 million Americans who don't support him, and many of them are intelligent reasonable people, who are getting painted with the brush of "Citizens of Bush's America."

      I fully expect to see the US become a has-been world power before I die, and I'm sad to say that they've dug their own grave. What really scares me though, is the collateral damage that the rest of the world will suffer.

      --

      "People who do stupid things with hazardous materials often die." -- Jim Davidson on alt.folklore.urban
    2. Re:Oh, Gee, Just another April Fools joke... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The reelection of Bush lost any sympathy the US might have had in the world community.

      I'd ask for you to return it. All evidence points to the election having been fixed by vote counting machines, and unadjusted exit polls indicate that Kerry actually won the election. Sadly, the publications of expert statisticians and the reports of whistleblowers have been relegated by the mainstream media to the ruminations of conspiracy theorists, and so the general public remains blissfully unaware of the complete failure in accurate vote counting. The evidence is well documented if you care to look, just do a search for it. Much of it is summarized here.

      So we could use all the sympathy you can bestow. The problems we face now greatly exceed the results of that one election.

    3. Re:Oh, Gee, Just another April Fools joke... by swordgeek · · Score: 1

      I agree that the election was fixed. So was the last one. So impeach the SOBs! Get their criminal asses thrown in jail, and demand that politicians be accountable for their actions.

      If I see that happen, then I'll see some hope for the US recovering.

      --

      "People who do stupid things with hazardous materials often die." -- Jim Davidson on alt.folklore.urban
  28. Can the Title be any more Misleading? by popo · · Score: 4, Insightful


    The article doesn't suggest that criticising leaders is wrong in any way. What it does suggest is that perhaps Europeans were somewhat hypocritical in their objections to Wolfowitz.

    Once again we're forced to recognise that 'there are no good guys' in government -- either American or European.

    Yes it is wrong for the Europeans to be *more* critical of Wolfowitz than any other European candidate (as European selection processes and motivations are no more or less egalitarian than America's). But what we should (and by 'we' I mean Europeans and Americans) all be doing is being more critical of leadership in general.

    --
    ------ The best brain training is now totally free : )
    1. Re:Can the Title be any more Misleading? by ArrayIndexOutOfBound · · Score: 1

      > ... Europeans were somewhat hypocritical in their > objections to Wolfowitz. Now please redefine hypocritical so I can see how...

  29. I think by lungofish · · Score: 2

    I'm officially sick of april fool's day.

  30. I don't think people read the article... by SkankinMonkey · · Score: 1, Insightful

    The guy is saying don't criticize Wolfowitz just because of his connection to the Iraqi War, wait until he has actually started doing something within the bank and see what he does. He might not be evil after all, is the hope of the editor, I believe.

  31. Honeymoon/Probation time for "Individual/Role? by apenzott · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I don't believe that skeleton autopsies will matter much considering the menagerie we currently have at the UN from all countries.

    Dialog at this point is best limited to the following:

    o What is your agenda in solving this problem with ...?
    o What mistakes will you try to avoid in your new role?
    o How will you build consensus with other world players?
    o How will make the results of your department visible to the world and insure that all transactions are on the up-and-up?
    o To what special interests are you beholden to?
    o Under what circumstances/conflicts would you resign to protect the World Bank?

    (Yes I am being blisfully ignorant of his past.)
    (Perhaps this would be snowballed into a Slashdot Interview.B=)

    --
    The Roman Rule: The one who says it cannot be done shall not interrupt the one who is doing it.
  32. I heart CmdrTaco by damsa · · Score: 1

    CmdrTaco is our leader and can do no wrong. I love April Fools Day.


    neener neener neener

    batman

    oops leader

    leader

  33. Therfore, I am (too) by 6800 · · Score: 1

    puke

  34. Unimpressed by Movint · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Personally, I think its quite shoddy journalism.

    "Most people agree that the World Bank is necessary."

    I'm sure most people are unaware of what exactly the World Bank does, and i think a fair number would be unaware of its existence. People might approve of it in the general context of the status quo, but this does not amount to the same thing.

    The article is rather presumptive and un-critical. It mentions dam building and $20 billion but, for an opinion piece, it seems rather short on opinion. There's no analysis of the methods the bank uses, or how the money is spent. It seems to be arguing that, if the money's there don't knock it. Deciding to hold fire on spending money on ecological destructive constructions is not the same as "running away from hard projects".

    Personally, I do not support the work of the World Bank. It seems so driven by advancing the cause of world capitalism, that it is blind to the plight of the people that it is ostensibly supposed to benifit. I am not much of a fan of Mr. Wolfowitz either, and it seems likely that someone so deeply tied to the politics of the Bush administration is going to have something of a biased agenda in performing his duty.

    1. Re:Unimpressed by ColGraff · · Score: 1

      Really? Nothing beyond the cause of World Capitalism?

      Silly me. I thought that the World Bank works on project such as an urgently needed sewage treatment plant in Gaza,
      post-secondary education funding in Ethiopia,

      and rural electrification in Cambodia.

      The World Bank's proper name is "the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)". It's called that because, well, that's what it does - and it's done that ever since it was started following World War 2 to assist in the rebuilding of a war-ravaged Europe. Are some World Bank projects questionable? Sure - in the 1980s, there were *huge* protests over the World Bank's willingness to ignore environmental concerns in funding development projects - but since then, it's developed entire programs dedicated to biodiversity and other environmentalist concerns - hell, you can walk into the World Bank and grab a free book on biodiversity projects in South Africa. Yes, the linked article discusses a proposed dam. But the sorry truth is - dam construction is not an unmitigated evil. You need to balance the needs of environmental concerns against development needs, or find ways to combine the two - but environmental issues are very much on the table.

      The other big (legitimate) gripe people have with the World Bank is that loans tend to come with strings attached - market liberalization, government asset privatization and reduced government spending, free capital flows, and so on. This is bitter economic medicine, though mostly necessary in the long run (even committed free-traders like Jagdish Bhagwati admit that free capital flows, without regulation, can do great harm - see the Asian financial crisis.) But these standards (known as the Washington Consensus) are subject to constant revision and review, and the World Bank is starting to move away from "one-size-fits-all" macroeconomic solutions attached to loans.

      In short - the World Bank does a great deal of good. Are there problems? Certainly. But those problems can and should be discussed and solved without simply dismissing the World Bank as simply dedicated to "world capitalism...blind to the plight of the people that it is ostensibly supposed to benifit." This is a disservice to the men and women who work there, and to the institution itself.

      --
      I'm the stranger...posting to /.
    2. Re:Unimpressed by teromajusa · · Score: 1

      This is bitter economic medicine, though mostly necessary in the long run

      Not necessarly. When Argentina defaulted on its loans and refused the IMFs auterity measures, economists predicted impending disaster. Instead Argintina's economy underwent an immediate recovery. It seems that by taking the money it had been putting towards paying off interest and investing it in infrastructure, they were more than able to compensate for the loss of foreign capital. Just one case, but very interesting.

    3. Re:Unimpressed by ColGraff · · Score: 1

      Agreed, certainly. That's why I mentioned the World Bank is moving away from "one-size-fits-all" macroeconomic adjustment programs. But the general rule does seem to be that free trade and reduction in government spending is the way to go. One reason for this is probably that while some states - like Argentina - may use government spending to improve infrastructure, and thus create a better climate for investment (as well as aiding human development), others tend to blow it on bullshit. Corruption, infrastructure projects that are being built more due to political connections than the merits of the project, and so on. The other nice thing about austerity programs is that they necessitate greater transparency - hugely important in fighting the sort of corruption that can really hinder development.

      So yeah, you're right that there are exceptions - but as I rule, I'd argue that a *degree* of austerity measures (adjusted on a case-by-case basis) tends to make sense more often than not.

      You've also touched on another interesting point - the "debt crisis" in the developing world, and the harmful effect that the interest on all those lovely loans can have. It's certainly unpleasant, but it's hard to think of a way around the problem - few developed states are willing to simply give the money away.

      --
      I'm the stranger...posting to /.
  35. My 10p worth by TractorBarry · · Score: 3, Funny

    > What does the Slashdot community think?

    Well I can't claim to speak for the Slashdot community as most of them are currently busy in their basment fortresses constructing weapons of mass destruction to aim at the editors for todays piss poor "April Fools" edition. So I guess I'll have to speak for myself.

    "Fuck off Wolfowitz you cunt"

    After all you're an old man and Thoth will shortly be weighing your heart against a certain feather. It will be found wanting.

    --
    Sky subscribers are morons. They pay to be advertised at !
    1. Re:My 10p worth by NatteringNabob · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      I couldn't have said it better. Wolfowitz and his fellow cowards should rot in hell. W/R/T to the Post, I don't know how 'liberal' they are anymore. For instance, the other day we have this hatchet job http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A575 5-2005Mar27.html/ Which is basically a propaganda piece direct off the presses from Wolfowitz and his old buddies at the Whitehouse. Most notably, Diehl accuses Chavez of 'destroying' the economy of Venezuela. According to Economist, the Venezuelean economy grew at about 18% this year. Diehl also reports the terrifying news that Venezuela is buying 100,000 AK47;s and 25 or so fo the dreaded Brazilian made Super Tocanos http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/brazi l/emb312.htm/ According to the CIA world fact bookhttp://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/g eos/ve.html/ Venezuela spends about $1B/year on defense, or about 1/3 the amoun that neighborign Columbia gets in military aid from the US, or about 1/450th of the annual US defense budget. The US, unlike Venezuela, also has along history of invading and supporting terrorist movements in Latin America, So exactly which country is the destabilizing force?

      Finally, to Diehl's main point, he is afraid that reporters will go to jail for deliberatly spreading false information. Having read Diehl's column, I'm not sure that is such a bad idea anymore.

  36. I disagree by No+Such+Agency · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So if the guy's a dangerous, unprincipled hack, with a history of putting corporate profit ahead of human rights and life, we should just ignore all the past evidence of that and wait and see what happens when he runs the freaking World Bank?!

    --
    Freedom: "I won't!"
    1. Re:I disagree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The people have spoken, and they voted for four more years of this idiocy. I'm going to hide in my backyard bomb shelter.

    2. Re:I disagree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd say the voting machine manufacturers have spoken. Exit polls showed a different outcome.

    3. Re:I disagree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by incompetence. You're saying they couldn't even smuggle in WMDs to provide justification for their illegal war, but they somehow managed to steal the election against the express will of the people?

      I find it easier to believe that people are sheep, and will vote the way the mass media tells them to.

  37. Where do I post my faeces? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can anyone give me a land address so I can post him my faeces?

  38. Counterpoint by bezuwork's+friend · · Score: 2

    Umm, we don't always give people a pass. For convicted child molestors and rapists, the US generally has registries. Thing here is to decide if Wolfie warrents a pass or not. Since he played a very big role in starting a war that has killed 100,000s, I think not.

  39. Date? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    No one noticed that this editorial is from _yesterday_? "Thursday, March 31, 2005"

  40. Re:A Wolf In Wolf's Clothing - by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    >one monster is elevated to a position to restrict the flow of aid to countries which
    >don't fall into line. Call a Spade a Spade. That's what the 1st Amendment is really for.

    The spade includes the world leaders that take out 'loans' from the World Bank without ever ever planning to repay them.

    The countries that fund the world bank through taxes are under no obligation to build infrastructure in other countries.

    What's so wrong with insisting that the World Bank acts like a bank?

    The World Bank is like any other bank, it expects to get repaid for its loans. Take out a loan, fail to repay it, have a revolution coup d'etat, get a new dictator...

    That BS won't work anymore. What's wrong with insisting that the loan is actually used for the purpose it was loaned out for?

    If you borrow money to build a house, the bank can ensure that you actually spend it on build the house.

    The World Bank makes loans and not handouts.

    *** EMPHASIS ADDED ***

    You can always write a check on your personal account for $10,000 or more if you do not think you are giving enough handouts to the countries defaulting on World Bank loans.

    We need much better proof that the World Bank is doing any good than the 50 year lack of forward progress in most of the third world countries receiving World Bank loans.

    >the US got the EU to go along with the deal

    The US gets to appoint the World Bank leader, while the EU picks the IMF leader.

  41. The right doesn't care much for the World Bank by Brian+Stretch · · Score: 1

    either. Defense of the institution seems to be heavily qualified at best. They do some incredibly stupid things.

    Traditionally, the World Bank has been run by European socialists pretending to be capitalists. Bush pulled rank this time (since we're the largest funder of the thing) to put Wolfowitz in charge. I suppose it was easier to try to reform it than to kill it, from a political perspective. Personally I'd have zero-funded it (and quite a few other things; I laugh at people who think Bush is an "arch-conservative").

  42. Fuck Leaders by fhwghads · · Score: 1

    If they can't take criticism, they don't deserve to lead.

    --
    Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!
  43. Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press by Atroxodisse · · Score: 1

    You suppress those you might as well head for the hills. Bring a gun.

    --
    Read my short stories - You won't regret it.
  44. Interesting development by ArrayIndexOutOfBound · · Score: 3, Interesting

    We will obviously see what all this is about in the coming years.

    At this point is smacks of the war on Doha Accord. US believes they will benefit more from bilateral and multilateral trade agreements as oposed to one global same-for-all agreement. The main benefit is, of course, the power that comes from selective trade agreements - there is allways a third side that is at a loss from a bilateral agreement. Take recent US-Chile agreement which has hit Brazil hard. These agreements are controversial because they often divert trade as opposed to creating new trade (some regional agreements excluded).

    US has maintained control over the world bank from the very beggining, but there is not much to argue about there - US based investors are the large majority.

    Washington Post fails to ask the right questions.

    Mr. Wolfowitz's critics, domestic as well as international, should now get beyond their dislike of his role in the Iraq war and give him a chance to succeed at one of the world's hardest jobs.

    Why should he be given the chance? Are there no real professionals who can run this enterprise without controversy?

    In fact, the real question is why Wolfowitz? One must immediatelly note the amount of work and political credits that have been put into this appointment. It is not only the 'old' Europe who were appaled by the choice. Mr Wolfowitz has travelled the world and among others, spoke to Bono from U2, apparently getting his blessing. Why? Why does he want to do this job so much?

    My answer is that Wolfowitz is the best candidate to establish control over increasingly important part of the world trade and delay the Doha accord as far as possible. As a master of spin he has already excelled in convincing US and satellites into a perpetual bloody war. All while it is universally obvious that those resources could be put to a better use for dealing with real problems we are facing - environment and poverty. You can expect to see many ex-world bank employees and many new ones as well...

    sosumi

  45. this isn't an accident by idlake · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Bush may be a moron, but his administration isn't stupid. When they appoint people like Wolfowitz or Bolton to participate in international organizations, they know full well what the consequences are inevitably going to be.

    If people acquiesce like the WP suggests, then you just let these people get away with murder. If you speak up and expose these people for what they are, then you do indeed risk of damaging those organizations, but if people like those can come to power in those organizations, then maybe there is something fundamentally wrong with the way those organizations are set up, and maybe those organizations should be replaced.

  46. WaPo is Liberal? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh, is that why they repeatedly attacked Clinton over all those BS scandals? And attacked Gore repeatedly. And gave Bush a pass on his boundless lies. Geez they completely torpedoed Gore. Now there may be some level of liberal proclivvity in the Op-Ed page, but that in no way makes up for the completely proGOP slant of its front page.

  47. President Bush to Liberate Alaska by core+plexus · · Score: 1
    Just in time for ANWR: "US president George W. Bush, in a speech to Congress today said, "Now that the situation in Iraq is under control, and after we've overthrown the governments of North Korea, Cuba, New Zealand, Iran and Madagascar, I'll be asking you for a further $50 billion toward my administration's efforts to help liberate Alaska, and give freedom to the Alaski people."

    The Alaskan governor, Frank H. Murkowski has long been a thorn in the side of the federal government by frustrating their plans to grab control of the entire world's oil reserves by the year 2010 to present to Dick Cheney as a birthday gift." President Bush to Liberate Alaska

  48. WashPost nol longer Liberal by LinuxLuver · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    The Washington Post hasn't been a liberal newspaper for some time now. Their cheerleading of Bush's lies about WMD - and of the subsequent illegal invasion of Iraq - proved that at least for now, the WashPost is just one more corporate media propaganda organ.

    --
    Only boring people are ever bored.
    1. Re:WashPost nol longer Liberal by LinuxLuver · · Score: 0, Troll

      Whoever graded my previous post as 'flamebait" has a tenuous grasp on the facts relating to the Washington Post. If they find the truth antagonising.....then the problem is theirs - not mine.

      --
      Only boring people are ever bored.
  49. Re:A Jew in charge of a bank ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    hahaha

  50. Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Pre-emptive war is ok, but pre-emptive criticism is bad?!

  51. wolfowitz and world bank by SMOKEY05 · · Score: 1

    this is plane and simple. illuminati trying to gain total control. its not as crazy as it seems. things are really out of control with this administration....wow

  52. Not surprised by sellin'papes · · Score: 1
    I think the answer can be found by reading the Wolfowitz Report written in 1992.

    In it Wolfowitz advocates for direct US invasions of certain countries if they gain enough power to challenge the United States. The plan is to insure that no power shall overcome the power of the United States (an idea reiterated by W. Bush in September of 2000).

    I believe that the World Bank was designed as a tool to maintain the current power of western states and most notably the US. Paul Wolfowitz will insure that the World Bank preserves the current global power structure, his career is a testament to this.

    --
    This is my last post.
    [6th Estate]
  53. tell me who is your leader, i'll tell u who u are by khalid300 · · Score: 1

    so now that he is the new boss of world bank we should forget about his old records, and start a new beginning?....i would love to do that but it is not Real Life, and yes people will judge him based on his past, whether he likes it or the world bank likes it or not.