Posted on 04/16/2007 10:07:13 AM PDT by Kitten Festival
ON Sunday, World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz vowed to stay in the job, despite revelations that he ordered a $US60,000 ($72,000) pay increase for his lover before seconding her to the US State Department. Australia's Treasurer Peter Costello, lobbied by Wolfowitz at the annual World Bank meeting last week, observed that we "want to see a good example coming out of the World Bank".
-SNIP-
Wolfowitz began his World Bank tenure with the arrogance so characteristic of the Bush administration. For instance, he demanded an increase in a salary that already approached $US400,000 so he would earn as much as the head of the International Monetary Fund, to the detriment of taxpayers across the world who pay their exorbitant salaries. Once ensconced at the bank, Wolfowitz installed, at high wages, Republican political operatives with no development experience. He also employed a peremptory style in dealing with executive board members and staff. As a result, the bank is awash in bad blood.
But his biggest mistake was insisting on the right to maintain "professional contact" with his girlfriend, Shaha Ali Riza. Ultimately the board decided that doing so was not possible, so Riza was detailed to work at the State Department. But not before Wolfowitz directed that she receive a nearly 50 per cent salary hike. As a result, Riza is now paid more than Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...
Let’s get up to date ...
REVIEW & OUTLOOK
The Wolfowitz Files
The anatomy of a World Bank smear.
Monday, April 16, 2007 12:01 a.m. EDT
The World Bank released its files in the case of President Paul Wolfowitz’s ethics on Friday, and what a revealing download it is. On the evidence in these 109 pages, it is clearer than ever that this flap is a political hit based on highly selective leaks to a willfully gullible press corps.
Mr. Wolfowitz asked the World Bank board to release the documents, after it became possible the 24 executive directors would adjourn early Friday morning without taking any action in the case. This would have allowed Mr. Wolfowitz’s anonymous bank enemies to further spin their narrative that he had taken it upon himself to work out a sweetheart deal for his girlfriend and hide it from everyone.
The documents tell a very different story—one that makes us wonder if some bank officials weren’t trying to ambush Mr. Wolfowitz from the start. Bear with us as we report the details, because this is a case study in the lack of accountability at these international satrapies.
More at link ...
http://opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110009948
Some people at the WB should be shown the door, but not Wolfowirz. I’d start with Mr. Melkirk, head of the Ethics Committee who demanded both that Woflowitz recuse himself and be involved. Also whoever leaked to the FT the memo dictated by Wolfowitz (neglecting to inform us that Melkirk had both directed he do so and had twice reviewed the terms.)
Documents May Give Wolfowitz New Lifeline in World Bank Scandal
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,266052,00.html
I also am disappointed in the view expressed by the IBD editorial writer whose take is that since he was smeared he has lost credibility and should resign. Sounds like a formula which is both grossly unfair and a recipe for disaster:Who in his right mind would take on a high profile, demanding position under such a preposterous standard.
The thing I don’t understand is why he got the job in the first place. His degree is in political science, not economics. I would think an econ background would be important if you believe the WB has something more than a political mission to fulfill.
The reason he got the job is because most third world economic problems are political problems. For example, Africa is economically a mess because their political systems are a mess. Fix the political problems in Africa and the economic solutions will follow.
You are absolutely correct in your assessment of the basic reason for Africa’s economic ineptitude. Wolfowitz is precisely the right man for his job, because he understands that to continue doing the things that have been facilitating disaster for decades is insanity.
In addition to his keen understanding of the reasons that the World Bank has been failing to solve problems, Wolfowitz is determined to impose accountability. This makes him persona non grata, not to mention his association with the hated George W. Bush.
Why do you keep posting this garbage over and over again?
That's right. Many on FR don't get it.
They're fixated by a girlfriend. This is probably the same crowd that can't get enough of stories about Anna Nicole Smith.
This is a very bad attempt at a smear. Whatever you think of Wolfowitz, he explicitly announced this relationship before he took up his job. A dutch politician (Melkert) was the head of the ethics committee which was installed to advise mr Wolfowitz how to handle this correctly. Wolfowitz followed the advice of this committee, and now they try to portray it as if he acted immorally. Whoever created this smear needs to be punished.
Agreed, and those aiding and abetting the smear on FR are disgusting.
So Wolfowitz and the World Bank are going to "fix the political problems in Africa"? I don't think so.
What Bull puckey. Almost every Friday night he was in Washington Wolfowitz spent with the wounded soldiers at Walter Reed. Honestly!
Excuse me. There ARE duplicate posts on this board, but they aren’t my doing - the duplicates are all of the one item the wsj has been doing in its campaign to defend him. I have posted no such duplicates, everything i have posted is unique and original and according to the rules. Doug Bandow is a flaming rightwinger and as such, his work is worth reading. If your mind is completely closed, why do you think the same errant thoughts over and over. Open your mind and read different points of view.
Excuse me. There ARE duplicate posts on this board, but they aren’t my doing - the duplicates are all of the one item the wsj has been doing in its campaign to defend him. I have posted no such duplicates, everything i have posted is unique and original and according to the rules. Doug Bandow is a flaming rightwinger and as such, his work is worth reading. If your mind is completely closed, why do you think the same errant thoughts over and over. Open your mind and read different points of view.
But until and unless Africa’s political dysfunctionality is corrected, no one, not Wolfowitz or the World Bank or anyone else will be able to make progress in resolving Africa’s economic woes.
And as extra information, this dutch politician Melkert, the head of the ethics committee advising mr Wolfowitz, was bound to be the successor of our socialist Prime Minister Wim Kok in 2002. Melkert was massively impopular, so he was promoted away by his political friends into the EU. I hope it can be proven he started this smear, or aided it, I have a big grudge against him.
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