NeoCon Watch

Aiming to thwart this, Europeans are raising the spectre of Caio Koch Weser, the former World Bank official – and aide to Robert McNamara, no less – who five years ago was blocked from heading the IMF. Sauce for the goose will do for the gander, say Mr Wolfowitz’s opponents. Even the American-friendly press department at No10 was moved yesterday to point out that Mr Wolfowitz’s nomination was just that, a nomination, and that there may be others on the way.

But should Mr Wolfowitz's billing as the neocons’ necon preclude him from taking the job?