President Bush has been clear about his plans for World Bank for over five years. He intends to reduce aid and increase free trade and investment requirements. He also will only give to those countries that are willing to “play ball” with the United States. Paul Wolfowitz’s focus at the Bank will likely be three areas of the world rich in oil over which the Administration would like a firmer grip: North Africa, the Caspian Region, and the Middle East. U.S. oil and oil support corporations such as Halliburton, Bechtel, ChevronTexaco, and ExxonMobil—all with direct links to the Bush Administration—want the World Bank to be more aggressive in opening up these regions.

Wolfowitz is a capable advocate of the Bush agenda— moving forward regardless of the impact on people, public opinion, or even the U.S. economy. I offer Mr. Wolfowitz the following advice: You will do well to remember that in the past you have implemented an economic and military agenda hell-bent on empire from behind closed doors. Now the whole world will now be watching.