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World Bank: Tainted boss
Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^ | 10 May 2007 | Editorial board

Posted on 05/10/2007 6:24:59 PM PDT by Kitten Festival

At the start of this week, European officials signaled that they'd had enough of World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz's dragging down the good name of the fine institution.

It's only taken them two years to get on top of the situation, assemble a panel and offer Wolfowitz a deal if he steps down after it was revealed that he violated World Bank rules by rigging a raise and a promotion for his girlfriend, Shaha Riza, in 2005. For the past month, these violations have hit the media, and cries for his resign have grown into slightly louder cries.

The man got the job two years ago, with his mission being to save the World Bank from its reputation as a corrupt establishment that has faced its own fair share of scandals. Critics have charged that its policies (in partnership with the International Monetary Fund) in places such as Russia, Indonesia and several African countries have increased poverty, disrupted indigenous tribes and stepped up the spread of AIDS.

As hard as it is to look bad at the World Bank, Wolfowitz pulled it off. Regardless, like a barnacle, he clings to that job. We have to give Wolfowitz points for sheer tenacity. And if he steps down, we'll credit him for having a sliver of a sense of honor.

(Excerpt) Read more at seattlepi.nwsource.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: girlfriend; scandal; wolfowitz; worldbank

1 posted on 05/10/2007 6:25:00 PM PDT by Kitten Festival
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To: Kitten Festival

Seriously, I don’t care if he is a Demorat or Repub, he should resign.


2 posted on 05/10/2007 6:43:43 PM PDT by freeplancer
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To: freeplancer

I agree. I don’t think he is either democrat or republican, the only thing that’s obvious about him is his desire to fit in and serve himself. I don’t think he has any principles at all.


3 posted on 05/10/2007 6:47:00 PM PDT by Kitten Festival
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To: freeplancer

Actually, he wanted to recuse himself from decisions on her, but the World Bank ethics group said no, he couldn’t.

The World Bank ethics group insisted that she get a promotion and raise in return for accepting her new position, so he agreed.

The right answer: Kill the World Bank. All it does if fund things that wouldn’t make sense in a free market, and help make socialist nannies feel better as they go about the world telling others what to do. I wouldn’t mind Wolfie leaving if the US never ever contributed another penny to it. If that was the case, then I would be glad for Wolfie to step down if that was one of the conditions.


4 posted on 05/10/2007 6:53:50 PM PDT by donmeaker (You may not be interested in War but War is interested in you.)
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To: Kitten Festival

Did we ever see these type of headlines about Kofi Annan and the Oil for Food scandal?


5 posted on 05/10/2007 6:56:01 PM PDT by Mr. Peabody
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To: Kitten Festival
Suggest you read post #4 ... according to knowledgeable sources writing in the editorial section of the WSJ this is a set up job by PW enemies within the World Bank ... without exception all euro weenies. Unfortunately many uninformed (such as yourself) are taking this all in at face value with no idea what a snake pit the world bank is.
6 posted on 05/10/2007 7:03:23 PM PDT by BluH2o
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To: BluH2o

The WSJ does not know jack. Their arguments are not based on facts but on selective facts, fully framed in attacking the motives of the critics. They’re just protecting a longtime source who was whining to them and who is valuable to them. In reality, he stands for nothing but himself and his well feathered bed.


7 posted on 05/10/2007 7:06:19 PM PDT by Kitten Festival
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To: Mr. Peabody

we should have


8 posted on 05/10/2007 7:06:48 PM PDT by Kitten Festival
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To: Kitten Festival
The WSJ does not know jack.

I'll take the reasoned opinion of the WSJ over the Seattle Post concerning this matter any day ... you, KF, are in over your head on this topic ... way, way, in over your head.

9 posted on 05/10/2007 7:22:15 PM PDT by BluH2o
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To: Kitten Festival

We had this arguement last week. The WSJ posted Wolfowitz’s request letter and the instructions from the bank board. You are in over your feline head.


10 posted on 05/10/2007 7:41:52 PM PDT by sgtyork (Liberalism worthy of the name emphasizes freedom of the individual, democracy and the rule of law.)
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