News Round Up, May 7, 2007
New York Times Panel to Find That Wolfowitz Broke Rules
Washington Post Wolfowitz or a Caricature? All Bets Are Off.
Financial Times The Wolfowitz affair and its consequences
Washington Post A Taxing Query for Answer Man
Wall Street Journal Wolfowitz blames woes on World Bank
1 comment:
The Wall Street Journal
Wolfowitz blames woes on World Bank
Greg Hitt
7 May 2007
WASHINGTON -- World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz intensified his defense against allegations of misconduct amid indications that a bank panel is preparing to find that he violated the international lender's ethics rules in securing a compensation package for his girlfriend.
In a strongly worded statement released Thursday, Mr. Wolfowitz contended that his troubles result from "ambiguous" guidelines governing conflicts of interest, and he blasted critics fueling the official probe against him, saying "I am deeply troubled and dismayed."
The statement underscored Mr. Wolfowitz's determination to fight for his job, and suggested that prospects are dimming for a compromise that would avoid a confrontation with the bank's 24-member board and allow him a face-saving way to step down.
Members of a special investigative panel created by the board appear to be coalescing around a report that will contend Mr. Wolfowitz skirted bank rules when he dictated the terms of a pay-and-promotion package for Shaha Riza, a longtime bank employee, bank officials said.
Bank officials said Mr. Wolfowitz will be given a chance to review the panel's findings before the conclusions are forwarded to the bank's full 24-member board.
The controversy has highlighted deep divisions within the 185-nation institution over Mr. Wolfowitz's management style and priorities, especially a high-profile campaign to curb corruption among borrowers.
So far, the U.S. and a handful of allies, including Japan and Canada, have stood by Mr. Wolfowitz. Leading the charge against him are several European nations, including Germany, France, and Britain. They contend the bank's credibility is at risk.
It isn't clear whether Mr. Wolfowitz's critics have enough votes on the board to fire him outright.
Post a Comment