Riza Was a Key ‘Influence’ Who Helped ‘Reinforce Wolfowitz’s Resolve’ On Iraq Invasion
Riza Was a Key ‘Influence’ Who Helped ‘Reinforce Wolfowitz’s Resolve’ On Iraq Invasion
Today the New York Times is reporting that World Bank president and Iraq war architect Paul Wolfowitz has repeatedly used his professional position to help his love interest, Shaha Riza. In 2003, his deputy directed a private contractor to hire Riza.
Riza has played a “crucial role” in neoconservative circles since before the U.S. invasion. An 8/3/04 report in Canada’s National Post noted:
So Mr. Wolfowitz and Ms. Riza are not just close personally, they have also both long espoused the same deeply held conviction that democracy should be spread across the Arab world. With his ear, she is one of most influential Arabs in Washington.
“Paul and some others always had Saddam Hussein in their sights, but she helped reinforce that resolve,” said a friend who moves in similar conservative circles. “That was greatly helped by the fact that she is an Arab woman who is an expert on the process of democracy.” …
“This agenda is being pushed by a group in which Shaha has a crucial role. She has views she holds strongly, but she is a modest, polite person,” the friend said.
A 2004 New Yorker article called Riza an “influence” on Wolfowitz’s thinking about Iraq and in 2005, she was listed on the World Bank’s website “as a media contact for Iraq reconstruction issues.”
UPDATE: Cliff Schecter has more.
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49 Responses to “Riza Was a Key ‘Influence’ Who Helped ‘Reinforce Wolfowitz’s Resolve’ On Iraq Invasion”
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Why am I developing an intense dislike for this person even though I know virtually nothing about her?
April 17th, 2007 at 11:58 amI’m so glad that we’ve got a Libyan running Middle East policy for the United States.
Was that the whole reason that Bush appointed Wolfowitz to the World Bank? So he could conceal this woman who’s apparently a key US policymaker for Iraq…?
April 17th, 2007 at 11:58 amHow do we KNOW she was his “love interest”?
April 17th, 2007 at 11:59 am“C’mon Wolfie, do it, get them to invade, ooh, yes, yes, you know how shock and awe and power and glory turns me on ..oooh wolfie, ooh wolfie……
April 17th, 2007 at 11:59 amYeah the World Bank is about to drop the hammer on Bush/Wolfowitz. Good segment on Lehrer news hour lastnight. This was the final straw. The euros are going to start withholding funds.
April 17th, 2007 at 12:02 pmClinton did it, too. So did Pelosi.
April 17th, 2007 at 12:04 pmDoes post #4 answer your question, post #3?
April 17th, 2007 at 12:04 pm600 US Contractors Have Been Killed in Iraq
http://www.defensenews.com/ story.php?F=2688598&C=mideast
April 17th, 2007 at 12:05 pmI’d say that Riza is in as deep an abyss as her bunk-buddy, Wolfie, wouldn’t you?
April 17th, 2007 at 12:07 pmI read that she was reared in Saudi Arabia. So when are we going to push for “democracy” in Saudi Arabia?
That’s a bit snarky of me but the whole Iraq thing pisses me off to the max! I can’t help but wonder if she feels any complicity in the mess there or has she rationalized her guilt away somehow?
April 17th, 2007 at 12:08 pmI’d say that Riza is in as deep an abyss as her bunk-buddy, Wolfie, wouldn’t you?
Comment by veritas — April 17, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
I’d say Riza must be in it for the politics cause there’s not enough money in the world to make f**king Wolfowitz worthwhile.
April 17th, 2007 at 12:14 pmI’d say that Riza is in as deep an abyss as her bunk-buddy, Wolfie, wouldn’t you?
No, neither of them will ever be held to account for their crimes. Even if they leave their current jobs there will be other high paid secure position for them elsewhere. And when next we have a rethug junta, assuming he is not dead wolfie will be be in for Deputy Secretary of________ (fill in whatever cabinet office you like.)
April 17th, 2007 at 12:14 pmTroll heads explode. Must support Bush lackeys, but also must attribute root of all modern day evil to Arabs!
You can smell the smoke.
-GSD
April 17th, 2007 at 12:16 pmWhat some guys will do to get laid.
April 17th, 2007 at 12:21 pmA British subject raised in lybia and saudi arabia working for the US State Department and making more than the SECSTATE and she has been vicitimized?
http://www.smh.com.au/ news/ World/ I-was-victimised-Wolfowitzs-companion/ 2007/ 04/ 14/ 1175971391565.html
Hell my head’s about to explode GSD
April 17th, 2007 at 12:22 pmI wouldn’t touch her with Saddam’s wiener.
-GSD
April 17th, 2007 at 12:23 pmContact the World Bank investors and threaten a boycott and bother them endlessly. Or, ask your representative to open an investigation into this.
But, to sit here and spew “witty” crap about this corrupt and despicable person only wastes time and produces nothing. Either do something or STFU about it.
’nuff said.
April 17th, 2007 at 12:24 pmMaybe she should be subpoenaed.
April 17th, 2007 at 12:25 pmThey both have to wear paper bags to bed or else they spend the night pucking on each other.
April 17th, 2007 at 12:32 pmThis is some Curveball. Was she also a Chalibi protoege? It gets more weird with each turn of events.
April 17th, 2007 at 12:34 pm’nuff said.
Comment by Fed the Fcuk Up! — April 17, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
Wow nice try stifling every thread. If you don’t want to hear it why don’t you go away. We can post here and take other actions as well.
April 17th, 2007 at 12:57 pmYes, was she also a Chalabi pal? It’s sounding pretty tightly knit.
April 17th, 2007 at 1:00 pm’d say that Riza is in as deep an abyss as her bunk-buddy, Wolfie, wouldn’t you?
Comment by veritas — April 17, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
I’d say Riza must be in it for the politics cause there’s not enough money in the world to make f**king Wolfowitz worthwhile.
Comment by Shane — April 17, 2007 @ 12:14 pm
Hey, we all knew she’s not darning socks.
April 17th, 2007 at 1:02 pmSo true Shane!
‘Fed up’ is not only holier than thou but apparently also knows what each and every one of us is doing in the background to improve the mess!
One would think the ‘fed up’ would consider it a waste of time just to read through the comments!
April 17th, 2007 at 1:09 pmFigures, when these guys F**k up, a raise is in order.
What a bunch of scoundrels.
April 17th, 2007 at 1:28 pmMy camel snorts and paws the ground when he sees her picture.
April 17th, 2007 at 1:28 pmWho screwed whom?
Beware of a wolfowitz in cheap clothing.
April 17th, 2007 at 1:29 pmPerhaps Mr. Wolfowitz doesn’t get why his wife might object to his lover’s influence over him. She apparently wrote to Mr. Bush some time ago, suggesting that Mr. Wolfowitz’s philandering would ultimately make him a national security risk.
I suppose that Mr. Wolfowitz might somehow be “street legal”, even if not divorced. But this administration ordinarily frowns upon Hepburn/Tracy-style relationships among its elders. His behavior would ordinarily get admirals and generals fired on the spot.
In any case, Mr. Wolfowitz’s blatant nepotism should get this “anti-corruption” advocate fired from his job as head of the World Bank. If he had the leadership qualities he and Mr. Bush claim he has, he would have resigned already.
April 17th, 2007 at 1:38 pmNo, Raven. Post #4 does not answer my question in post #3.
April 17th, 2007 at 1:41 pmOutSourced, how did Mrs. Wolfowitz know Riza was his “love interest�
April 17th, 2007 at 1:43 pmI don’t know that his current partner was the philandering Mrs. Wolfowitz had in mind when she wrote Mr. Bush. In any case, I gather that the spouse is among the first to figure it out, while the philanderer is the among the last to admit it.
April 17th, 2007 at 1:50 pmApologies, Elizabeth, at first take your post had the ring of a resident troll virus.
April 17th, 2007 at 1:58 pmIt was common knowledge at the World Bank that the two were an “item”, before Mrs. Wolfowitz knew, it is necesary to read foreign news services to get stories which never make into American media.
BBC for one…
Had Bill Clinton been president of the World Bank, does anyone think his relationship with an Oxford educated Muslim of mixed North African descent would NOT be front page news in America? Why the double standard for Mr. Wolfowitz?
April 17th, 2007 at 2:15 pmWolfie and this woman should be fired. Riza should have to give back her raise. I want to know what she did for a $61,000 raise? Is there anyone that Old Bushies put in high authority that is Honest? What is happening to our beloved America? I want my country back.
April 17th, 2007 at 2:17 pmBehind every ghoul man is a ghoul women
April 17th, 2007 at 2:18 pmPlease post if anyone has the link to such “proof.”
April 17th, 2007 at 2:26 pmI would ignore Elizabeth.
Folks you are just going to waste time bringing this person up to speed. And all the while you were distracted from the mission. Who knows if this person can even be brought up to speed.
I also don’t trust it. For all I know this person has been around before under a different name. I am beginning to think there are only a handful of trolls who change names often. The supply of people who can actually defend this non-defendable admin is dwindling quickly.
April 17th, 2007 at 2:35 pmIf Wolfie was attractive like Bubba, and Riza was somewhat female looking, we might have a news story. Just sayin’
April 17th, 2007 at 2:36 pmDear Amanda,
I dislike Wolfowitz as much as the next person, and recent revelations about his lies about not using the World Bank to undermine support for family planning ought to be grounds for his removal, but it appears from World Bank documents that he and the World Bank went to a lot of trouble including following recommendations of their ethics committee to try to handle his woman friend’s situation in a fair and above board manner. This ought to be clarified. Even dirtbags deserve an aopology when warranted.
Steve Jung
April 17th, 2007 at 3:24 pmWith all due respect Steve Jung - this thread is about her INFLUENCE re: the Iraq disaster.
April 17th, 2007 at 3:33 pmWolfowitz was attempting to push the World Bank into making huge loans for Iraq reconstruction, in violation of World Bank policies.
I’ve got a post on this up at DailyKos… more details there.
April 17th, 2007 at 4:58 pmCan’t wait for someone to expose exactly what she does at the State Dept. Where is the office, what are the phone numbers, what does she do for that handsome tax free salary?
April 17th, 2007 at 4:58 pmThis story gets weirder and weirder, I think she may be a secret agent
April 17th, 2007 at 6:50 pmWay to go Pauly, I’d like to get my wife any job she wants and a pay raise too. Why can’t I do that? Oh, because I’m not some over paid, under worked A hole who hasn’t got a clue what I’m doing. Being a former neo con doesn’t hurt either. This guy is about as honest as a used car saleman who’s got a crack habit and owes money to a mob bookie.
April 17th, 2007 at 8:58 pmpaul wolfowitz was a direct student of leo strauss…the guy who believe it’s ok to lie to the little people to serve the country’s “best interest.”
he and extremist muslims have something in common…they both believe “liberalism will be the downfall of society.”
April 17th, 2007 at 9:35 pmShe was “…an expert on the process of democracy.â€
…presumably she was also an expert on the process of performing fellatio.
Why can’t I ever find a boss/boyfriend like Wolfie? I deserve a raise.
April 20th, 2007 at 9:51 pmI wonder if Strom Thurmond’s black mistress believed in segregation…
April 30th, 2007 at 4:56 pmThis article gives my belief that the State Department of th USA should disbanded. Start at the very top and fire everone that works there. What a mess? Where is our oversight committee?
May 18th, 2007 at 4:20 pmNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!
May 23rd, 2007 at 11:51 am