WASHINGTON, April 13, 2007
World Bank Chief Has Girlfriend Problem
Paul Wolfowitz Under Fire For Helping Gal Pal Get High-Paying Job
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Paul Wolfowitz 2005 photo (AP)
His apology didn't ease concerns among the bank's staff association, which wants him to resign.
The growing controversy has overshadowed major development meetings this weekend and is raising fresh questions about whether Wolfowitz will stay on the job. The White House, however, expressed confidence in the embattled bank president.
At issue are the generous compensation and pay raises of a bank employee, Shaha Riza, who has dated Wolfowitz. She was given an assignment at the State Department in September 2005, shortly after he became bank president.
"In hindsight I wish I had trusted my original instincts and kept myself out of the negotiations," Wolfowitz said. "I made a mistake, for which I am sorry."
The World Bank Group Staff Association is demanding that Wolfowitz step down.
"The president must acknowledge that his conduct has compromised the integrity and effectiveness of the World Bank Group and has destroyed the staff's trust in his leadership," the association said Thursday. "He must act honorably and resign."
Wolfowitz said he met Thursday morning with the World Bank's board and that members were looking into the matter. He declined to discuss what actions, if any, the board could take.
"I proposed to the board that they establish some mechanism to judge whether the agreement reached was a reasonable outcome," he said, referring to Riza's transfer. "I will accept any remedies they propose."
Wolfowitz dodged a question about whether he would resign over the flap. "I cannot speculate on what the board is going to decide," he said.
A World Bank spokeswoman would not comment on what range of options the board could consider or when it would finish its deliberations.
The White House voiced its support for Wolfowitz.
"Of course President Wolfowitz has our full confidence," said White House spokesman Tony Fratto. "His leadership is helping the bank accomplish its mission of raising living standards for poor people throughout the world. In dealing with this issue, he has taken full responsibility and is working with the executive board to resolve it."
The Government Accountability Project, a watchdog group, estimated Riza's salary at $193,590 as a result of the job transfer and pay raises. The group says she was paid by the World Bank and remains on the bank's payroll. The World Bank would not comment on Riza's compensation, citing confidentiality concerns.
"I take full responsibility for the details," of the job transfer, Wolfowitz said. "I did not attempt to hide my actions nor make anyone else responsible," he said.
The job change was made, he said, to avoid a conflict of interest when he took his post at the World Bank, where Riza already worked.
World Bank rules bar employees from supervising anyone with whom they had a personal relationship.
"I took the issue to the Ethics Committee and after extensive discussions ... the committee's advice was to promote and relocate Ms. Shaha Riza," Wolfowitz said.
"I made a good faith effort to implement my understanding of that advice," he explained.
Riza worked as a communications adviser in the bank's Middle East Department before she was detailed to the job at the State Department.
The State Department says Riza left in September 2006 and now works for Foundation for the Future, an international organization that gets some money from the department.
The World Bank's stated mission is to fight poverty and improve the living standards of people in developing countries. It lends about $20 billion a year for various projects.
Wolfowitz — who took the bank's helm on June 1, 2005 — asked for "some understanding" of his position in the controversy.
"Not only was this a painful personal dilemma, but I also had to deal with it when I was new to this institution, and I was trying to navigate uncharted waters," he said.
President Bush appointed Wolfowitz, a main architect of the Iraq war when he served as deputy defense secretary. His appointment was greeted with protests by international aid and other groups, and some worried he might use the bank to help America's allies and punish its enemies.
When asked about those fears on Thursday, Wolfowitz said: "We're not playing favorites with anybody."
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
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See all 102 CommentsI'd love to send Wolfowitz, Cheney, Rumsfeld & all the other PNAC founder/members along with little George, on a stroll through sunny downtown Baghdad!
It is not anti Semitic to believe there are millions of other good people in the Middle East with equally valid concerns! 50 years of bleeding, and buying support for Israel is enough! Play nice or America is leaving the Entire Middle East!
NOT ONE MORE DIME SHOULD GO TO THE MIDDLE EAST UNTIL OUR VA MEDICAL SYSTEM IS FIXED AND AMERICAN SCHOOL KIDS HAVE ALL THEIR SCHOOL SUPPLIES!
If you follow the money trail you will find that most of those elected officials who support the war in Iraq are under the influence of AIPAC.
http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipa
cClubs.htm
WRITE YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS! If you think Americas sacrifice is worth it contact your ELECTED OFFICIAL and tell them http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
Th
e House Speakers email address: AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov
info@go
p.com Here is the Republican Party email address too!
democraticparty@democrats.org Here is the Democratic Party email address also!
Draft Republicans.
Impeach Bush.
Posted by dj0114 at 12:41 AM : Apr 14, 2007
well yeah, but if isn't run out of office in complete disgrace then how does he expect Bush to be able to award him Presidential Medal of Freedom?
Speaking of which, whoever the next president is needs to do away with that medal and replace it with a new one, since Bush has sh*it all over the meaning of it by the appointees he's given it to.
Remember when Shrub said he would bring dignity and honor BACK to the White House? It is amazing how he and his co-conspirators love to ram down our collective throats unacceptable wars, behavior and personal conduct.
Most Americans (and the world) accept a stain on a blue dress rather than a stain on our country's reputation. Bush and Cheney and their numerous malodorous connected friends have left a slime trail so wide and offensive that it may take the next president the rest of his/her administration to clean up.
Paul should resign but we know that a Bushie never resigns when he/she is caught with their proverbial pants down.
Bob Woodward's book "State of Denial" describes Wolfowitz as a naive academic who "couldn't organize his office" (according to one witness) and who was in over his head at that level. He was basically hoodwinked by more powerful neocons like D*ick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld.
He isn't the villain of the piece, if Woodward is to be believed.
What they really said was that they value party families. Now that makes more sense.
"The president must acknowledge that his conduct has compromised the integrity and effectiveness of the World Bank Group and has destroyed the staff's trust in his leadership."
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World Bank Group Staff Association. HERE WHAT THE PRESIDENT THINKS BOYS AND GIRLS LIKE YOU ALL DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE DIFFERANT DID YOU.
WHAT A JOKE THIS COUNTRY IS AND CAN YOU BELEIVE THAT THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING ITS OK. WHAT A JOKE I GUESS ITS TIME TO LEAVE THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE THIS PRESIDENT AND ALL HIS CRIME FAMILY ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.OUR CONGRESS ARE TO SCARD TO SAY ANYTHING..
HE GOT US INTO IRAQ,
HIS KIND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE DEATHS THAN ANY WEAPON!
HE MUST BE TRIED FOR TREASON AND WAR CRIMES! IF HE RUNS TO ISRAEL WE GOTTA HUNT HIM DOWN AND BRING HIM TO JUSTICE!
"what an evil little rat wolfowitz"
These life forms are quite different from one another, however both of these descriptions seem to capture the essence of this man in full, (though actual worms and rats are obviously more respectable than Paul Wolfowitz).
It is difficult to imagine what might constitute "generous compensation" for any recipient of the demon-seed of Paul Wolfowitz.
Re: "President Bush appointed Wolfowitz, a main architect of the Iraq war when he served as deputy defense secretary."
There is really no single person with greater responsibility for the current disgraceful and morally bankrupt path of our nation, than Paul Wolfowitz.
In a way, it is appropriate that Wolfowitz is the head of the World Bank, since this institution also thrives on the misery of others around the globe.
Wolfowitz is swimming in the blood of his victims. There seems no limit to the blood and treasure of Americans and others, that Wolfowitz would not sacrifice at the altar of Israeli-oriented extremism.
Wolfowitz has done more damage to the U.S. than Saddam and Osama, combined, could have ever dreamed of. It does not make a lot of sense that Saddam Hussein was hung, while Paul Wolfowitz remains at large.
Paul Wolfowitz deserves a fair trial, if possible, and that's about it.
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