I'll see your blurt and raise you one

Dubya has often spoken of his admiration for Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi, two men successful in private business before politics (except for Duyba), both having or had ownership in successful sports teams (except for Dubya), and both having been forced to use mere wealth, powerful connections, and simplistic populism to combat liberal elites in their respective countries. And they both seem to be engaged in the act of dropping big policy announcements in surprise settings.

Yesterday it was Silvio announcing that he intends to start withdrawing the 3000 Italian troops out of Iraq starting in September. Except that, in making the announcement on a chatty national TV show, he never told Dubya or Blair that this was the plan:

At the Pentagon, a spokesman said ... "Although we are still awaiting the details of the apparent Italian policy decision, as we understand it, it would start in September with a phased or gradual withdrawal," the spokesman said. "There is ample time to work any potential issues that may arise."

Asked whether he thought Mr. Berlusconi had made his announcement because of the shooting of the intelligence agent, Mr. McClellan [White House spokesman] said, "I'm not sure I'd make a connection there."

Which given McClellan's standards of non-communicativeness, is pretty close to a 'Yes."

Anyway, whether he was peeved at Silvio or liked the idea of uncorking a stunner at an unexpected moment, it seems now that Dubya used a telephone conversation with Silvio to float his decision that Paul Wolfowitz, not Bono, is going to be President of the World Bank:

[WSJ] Mr. Bush said at his press conference he had already begun lobbying foreign leaders, noting that he had called Premier Silvio Berlusconi to talk about Iraq and other issues earlier in the day and said that he had discussed Mr. Wolfowitz, "my nominee,'' with the Italian leader.

and

[Washington Post] Bush revealed his choice in response to a question at the press conference, an unusual way for a president to first make public such a nomination.

which for this crisply-functioning White House, makes it sound like a decision made in a fit of pique (either by Dubya or Wolfie) requiring a hurried off-the-record briefing before the news conference.

Apart from the global ramifications, it means that an interest in Irish-USA policy decisions will require a lot of attention to the White House over the next two days, as Dubya will be in the company of another famous on-the-fly policymaker, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.