Letter from Paul Wolfowitz to Herman Wijffels, Netherlands Executive Director and chairman of Ad Hoc Committee
April 25 2007
Dear Herman
I have had a chance to reflect overnight on your request of yesterday evening that I appear before the ad hoc committee this morning. I am deeply troubled and feel that I am being treated shabbily and unfairly without regard to appropriate process...
It is important not only for me but for the institution, that this matter not be resolved by a rush to judgment. That would only compound the damage to all concerned...
Whatever the outcome of the present matter, the manner in which it is resolved will be part of the reputation of the World Bank Group far into the future...
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3 comments:
My heart bleeds for the man.
I hope the ED have armed police standing by when PW and Bennett appear before them Monday.
April 25 2007
Dear Herman
I have had a chance to reflect overnight on your request of yesterday evening that I appear before the ad hoc committee this morning. I am deeply troubled and feel that I am being treated shabbily and unfairly without regard to appropriate process.
As I said to the dean earlier this week, I need the opportunity to present my case to the board not only in the interests of fairness to me but in the interests of good governance of the institution.
However, there is simply no way that I can be prepared on such short notice to appear before your committee to answer questions about something that happened two years ago.
I need time to review the available documents and refresh my memory to the best of my ability. I need the opportunity to review the oral testimony of other witnesses which the committee has heard from and which I will need to be able to respond to. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with the committee next week after I have had the time to prepare properly.
It is important not only for me but for the institution, that this matter not be resolved by a rush to judgment. That would only compound the damage to all concerned.
This issue needs to be resolved with due process and good governance that is necessary for the interests of the institution, not just my personal interests. I have acted in complete good faith and in the best interests of the institution from the start of this difficult issue more than two years ago and I continue to do so. The same cannot be said for those who have chosen to prejudge the case based on partial and slanted public accounts of the facts or who now seek to use the public firestorm thus created to preclude responsible deliberation.
I am also troubled that you have advised me that my lawyer will not be permitted to participate.
I believe he could provide a valuable service to both me and the Bank if given the opportunity to address the committee. I can think of no good reason or rule which should prevent that from occurring. We do not seek confrontation only illumination and explanation.
Whatever the outcome of the present matter, the manner in which it is resolved will be part of the reputation of the World Bank Group far into the future. As difficult as it is to resist the pressure that has been generated, the reputation of the World Bank Group will be greatly enhanced by demonstrating clearly that it can deal with even an issue as serious as this one with due process and careful deliberation. I am copying this letter to the Dean and I would appreciate your sharing this with all members of the board.
Sincerely
Paul Wolfowitz
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