Too Many Wolves at World Bank

Isn’t it ironic that the last two outgoing presidents at the World Bank were both Wolves? Before they came to this mislabeled institution, there were many wolves at the World Bank, but they were not called Wolfensohn or Wolfowitz. The World Bank should have been called The World Political Crooks Bank, because more money went into the pockets of crooked politicians, than went to the people it was supposed to help.

The World Bank is not the only organization with wolves running the show. The other sheepskin garbed entity, The International Monetary Fund (IMF), should not bask in self-piety because they haven’t been mentioned so far. The IMF should have been named the Irresponsible Maniac’s Fund or perhaps even Irregular Money Fudges.

In the Third World, there’s always a wolf at the poor man’s door. That is, if he has a door in the first place. Most of the poor live on the streets, especially in Asia and Africa. The garbage dump is their local Zellers or Walmart. It is also their McDonald’s or Burger King. They are happy to find scraps to eat. The wolves are luckier –there’s always the poor they can eat.

Nothing has really changed since the Wolfs left. In fact, it is worse now in the Third World. The two visible Wolfs, like the other wolves at World Bank, took their orders from donor nations –especially the G8, now the G10. Corruption is just as rampant as it always was, maybe worse. There’s always a loan for a huge useless project. Loans to buy nuclear power plants, which nobody wants in the West, are readily available. Want to fight a neighbour? Loans for arms are readily available. But don’t try to buy nuclear arms, that’s a no-no. Also don’t bother to ask for money for new energy technologies or micro-lending. Everybody knows that micro-projects are helpful to the poor, but they aren’t scalable, so why bother? Micro projects are for fools and dreamers. Alternative energy programs are growing fast in the West, but its not for you, if you’re a Third World country. Corrupt Third World leaders and politicians are still getting stronger with ‘chai’ money. This ‘chai’ does not come cheap. Wheat and corn prices are now double what they were a year ago. If the West does not wake up, the same wolves in sheep’s clothing will come to feast in the West. God’s justice is not sleeping. Jesus said, “I will come like a thief in the middle of the night.” I think Jesus is watching and listening very closely.

Essay #358. Written on 10-Mar-2008

© 2008 Mahomed Ally Keshavjee. All Rights Reserved.