Posted on 04/13/2007 3:56:19 PM PDT by blam
Wolfowitz's friend says she's the victim
By JEANNINE AVERSA, AP Economics Writer
Shaha Riza
WASHINGTON - The woman at the heart of the controversy that has embroiled World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz says she is a victim and was forced into a job transfer because of their relationship.
Shaha Riza's comments are included in new documents released by the World Bank on Friday that also show Wolfowitz had a direct hand in arranging her promotion and generous pay package. Wolfowitz is fighting to retain his job.
Riza said that at no time did she report directly to Wolfowitz and that he had proposed to recuse himself from any decisions involving her to avoid a potential conflict of interest.
She said the ethics committee of the World Bank's board had required her "to go on external assignment contrary to my wishes."
Riza was moved to a high-paying job at the State Department in September 2005. "I have now been victimized for agreeing to an arrangement that I have objected to and that I did not believe from the outset was in my best interest," she said.
Her comments were made in a memo to an ad hoc committee of the World Bank looking into the circumstances surrounding her transfer.
Wolfowitz has said he made a mistake and has apologized for his role in Riza's promotion. The White House expressed fresh support for Wolfowitz on Friday.
However, some of the bank's staff have called for him to resign.
The World Bank's board has been looking into the matter, which has overshadowed this weekend's meetings of the 185-nation World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
A bank official said the board was not discussing the Wolfowitz matter on Friday but was focusing on the meetings. The bank's mission is to fight poverty and improve living standards for the poor. It lends about $20 billion a year for various projects.
Before her transfer to the State Department, Riza worked as a communications adviser in the bank's Middle East Department. In her memo, Riza said she did not want to be assigned to duties away from the bank and did not expect "any special considerations."
She lamented "vicious public attacks" she said she has received over the matter. The episode, she said, has affected her "professionally, physically and psychologically."
The packet of documents released by the World Bank included new details about Wolfowitz's involvement in Riza's job transfer.
Two months after arriving at the bank on June 1, 2005, Wolfowitz sent a memo to the bank's vice president of human resources, laying out details concerning Riza's employment and compensation.
"I now direct you to agree to a proposal which includes the following terms and conditions," Wolfowitz instructed. "You should accept immediately her offer to be detailed to an outside institution of her choosing, while retaining bank salary and benefits."
The Wolfowitz memo went on say that Riza should receive a promotion, draw a salary of $180,000 and get annual pay increases of 8 percent.
Before the job change, Riza was believed to be getting paid close to $133,000. After the transfer, she received $193,590, according to the Government Accountability Project, a watchdog group.
Riza remains on the World Bank's payroll though she left the State Department job in 2006 and now works for Foundation for the Future, an international organization that gets some money from the department.
When asked what Riza does at the foundation, State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey on Friday said his "best understanding" was that she is an adviser to the foundation's board. "I do not have a job description for her, no," he said.
Riza's pay package has led to accusations of favoritism from bank employees. The World Bank's staff association wants Wolfowitz to resign. So does presidential hopeful John Edwards, the former senator from North Carolina who weighed in Friday.
"America's ability to lead in the fight against global poverty is undermined with Paul Wolfowitz at the helm of the World Bank," Edwards said. He said Wolfowitz's tenure at the World Bank has been marked by some of the same "failures as his term managing the war in Iraq — cronyism and rhetoric that does not match reality — and now serious questions of financial integrity."
President Bush appointed Wolfowitz — a main architect of the Iraq war when he served as deputy defense secretary — to the top job at the World Bank. The appointment was greeted with protests by international aid and other groups.
The United States — the bank's largest shareholder — is standing by Wolfowitz during the current turmoil. "The president has confidence in Paul Wolfowitz and his work at the World Bank," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.
Joaquin Almunia, the European commissioner for economic and monetary affairs, didn't speak directly about Wolfowitz's ability to continue leading the bank, but suggested there is concern.
"It seems there has been a scandal. I don't know what the consequences will be," Almunia said. "I have been this morning with the European secretary directors of the World Bank and they have transmitted to me that it is a real concern."
Yes but she will have to get in line. The couch is heavily booked.
Lol! Hangem Both!
Since when is it America's business to "fight against global poverty"? Only a John Edwards-sized fool could say such a thing.
It appears that her mistake was being mistress to a wimp.
I hear that Mike Nifong might be fired sometime soon. You should apply — you’re uniquely qualified.
Yep! Hang him too!
I’ve heard Wolfowitz called many things but that’s a first for “wimp”
Guilty.
The Wolfowitz memo went on say that Riza should receive a promotion, draw a salary of $180,000 and get annual pay increases of 8 percent.
Damn, how do I get victimized like that? Good riddance.
Wolfowitz hasn’t exactly dripped testosterone at the World Bank.
Whoh. I figured she would be a younger attractive woman. Wolfie must be hard up to shot himself in the head for this woman.
Riza remains on the World Bank’s payroll though she left the State Department job in 2006 and now works for Foundation for the Future, an international organization that gets some money from the department.
When asked what Riza does at the foundation, State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey on Friday said his “best understanding” was that she is an adviser to the foundation’s board. “I do not have a job description for her, no,” he said.
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Apr13/0,4670,WorldBankFlap,00.html
One must also wonder just what role of influence the “Foundation for the Future” plays in aquiring and distributing funds from the World Bank in addition to what the extent of the same is at/from the State Dept
That would make her a non-nappy headed you know what!
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