Free Republic

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz lashed back at critics Monday who he alleged were conducting a "smear campaign" against him and vowed he would not resign over what he termed unfair charges. In a statement to an investigating bank panel looking into whether he broke ethical and other rules in a pay-and-promotion deal he directed for his girlfriend, Wolfowitz said the treatment of the issue has become "circus like." Video More video Iraq war architect clings to his World Bank job amid a corruption probe. CNN's Zain Verjee reports (April 20) Play video "I, for one, would...

It is hard to figure out what Paul Wolfowitz is telling himself as he wages an unseemly fight to hang on to his job as head of the World Bank. Any hope he had of reforming the bank has evaporated in the face of allegations of conflicts of interest and undeniably poor judgment. Any hope of expiating his sins for the disastrous Iraq war have also disappeared as once again he stubbornly denies reality and the damage that denial is causing to his reputation and to the bank’s ability to do its work. In the latest no-confidence clamor, some 40...