JP/6/ED

Another Wolfowitz mission

In announcing his nomination of the incumbent Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz as the next World Bank president, U.S. President George W. Bush described his hawkish inner-circle person as "a compassionate and decent man," and emphasized Wolfowitz's experience as U.S. ambassador to Indonesia from 1986 to 1989.

Wolfowitz -- one of the architects of the Iraq invasion and the U.S. "war on terrorism" -- will become the bank's most controversial president since the appointment of cantankerous former defense secretary Robert S. McNamara to the post in 1967.

Amid strong opposition from other countries and global activists to Wolfowitz's promotion, many people may wonder, why did Bush specifically mentioned his experience in Indonesia when attempting to convince the international community to accept his close aide as president of the global bank?

There are several factors at work here, including the fact that Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim nation, as well as being the world's fourth most populous country. Bush has in the past praised Indonesia as being a model for predominantly Muslim nations by demonstrating that an advanced democracy does not need to be incompatible with Islam.

Another factor is that Indonesia is among the largest borrower from this development bank. The World Bank-led Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI) is the largest money lender group for Indonesia and has a strong influence on the nation.

The 61-year old Wolfowitz, who received master's and doctorate degrees in political science and economics from Chicago University, is also expected to -- in the words of a The Washington Post's editorial -- "promote some democratic virtues -- openness, accountability and other anti-corruption measures" -- that underpin economic development.

Bush seemingly wants his confidante to boost the bank's poverty-alleviation programs because poverty and injustice are widely regarded as being the roots of terrorism. As the biggest shareholder in the bank, the U.S. administration can pursue its global strategy through economic means.

If the strategy works in Indonesia, then the country can be held up yet again as a model for alleviating terrorism.

A few weeks before his summit with President Soeharto in Bali in 1986, President Ronald Reagan presented a big oleh-oleh (gift) to his host by announcing the appointment of senior diplomat Wolfowitz as ambassador to Indonesia. In his own words, Wolfowitz has said that he served as an ambassador in Indonesia "where economic development was the most important issue on the agenda."

As an envoy here, he was the first foreign official to bluntly tell Soeharto to allow more political openness at a time when the president was being very tough in opposing democratization. Wolfowitz made the appeal in his farewell speech in 1989, provoking controversy and even anger among some of Soeharto's inner-circle.

The American diplomat is still remembered here as probably the most successful and popular American envoy ever to be appointed to Jakarta. And despite his hawkish stance as Bush's top aide, many Indonesians still regard him as a friend, although they may express some disappointment with his hard-line attitudes.

As the World Bank's biggest shareholder, it is highly unlikely that other global shareholders would veto the U.S. candidate.

As a friend of Indonesia, it is natural to expect that Wolfowitz will assist the country in becoming more prosperous and with better governance. Indonesia will continue to closely work with the World Bank and its development programs. Therefore, by having a friend in this institution Indonesia can expect that he will be able to assist us in combating our biggest enemies: poverty and corruption. Of course, the bank itself must first respond to worldwide criticism over its performance.

As he will be taking up the position in June, we can only hope that Wolfowitz will start adjusting himself to a totally new environment.