It is hard to imagine that the way wasn't already cleared with the French and Germans during Rice's recent trip and another tip off is that the Clinton-appointed Wolfenson has *already* praised Wolfowitz as a nominee. But just a few years ago the Europeans nominated Caio Koch-Wesser to be head of the IMF. He was Germany's Deputy-Finance Minister and well qualified having spent a number of years in the World Bank, rising to be a #2. Larry Summers vetoed him as too "soft" on macro-policy. Asymmetries abound.
Paul
