Wolfowitz Rewarded Iraq War Allies With Key Positions At World Bank
Wolfowitz Rewarded Iraq War Allies With Key Positions At World Bank
In an attempt to diffuse the growing controversy surrounding his tenure at the World Bank, Paul Wolfowitz asked his critics not to associate him with his previous position of having led the nation into the Iraq war:
For people who disagree with the things they associate with me in my previous job, I am not in my previous job. I am not working for the U.S. government. I’m working for this institution and its 185 shareholders.
But Wolfowitz has allowed his previous position to influence his management at the World Bank. He secured an exorbitant salary for his girlfriend Shaha Riza, who “reinforced Wolfowitz’s resolve” to invade Iraq. Moreover, of five top Bank officials appointed by Wolfowitz, three were senior political appointees of governments that provided strong backing for U.S. policy in Iraq:
Marwan Muasher, senior vice president for external affairs: “The former Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Muasher served as King Abdullah II’s ambassador in Washington in the run-up to the Iraq War in 2002 and reportedly played a key role in ensuring Amman’s cooperation in the March 2003 invasion.”
Jose Daboub, managing director: As chief of staff to former Salvadorian President Francisco Flores, Daboub helped secure deployment of “400 Salvadoran combat troops to Iraq, more than any other developing country” in 2003. Daboub has vigorously defended the World Bank’s decision to send more officials to lend in Iraq.
Ana Palacio, chief general counsel: As former foreign minister of Spain, Palacio was “an outspoken proponent of the U.S.-led Iraq invasion, and helped secure 1,500 Spanish troops to Iraq. Lauded by the U.S. State Department for her pre-war support, Palacio believed that Iraq was “deceiving the international community” and harbored weapons of mass destruction.
In February, the Government Accountability Project learned that Wolfowitz was “negotiating a contract with a new resident Iraq Country Director,” suggesting that “Wolfowitz intends to expand Bank-funded projects there dramatically in the future,” despite the presence of massive corruption and “no functioning banking system” to secure those loans.
Among World Bank staff, “it has been noted that Mr. Wolfowitz’s passion for fighting corruption, which he has said saps economic life from the world’s poorest nations, seemed to evaporate when it came to reviewing lending to Iraq.”
UPDATE: Wolfowitz asked to resign:
An agency that oversees the World Bank is asking for the resignation of the bank’s president, former deputy U.S. Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz.
In a document obtained by the Financial Times, the Independent Evaluation Group asked for Wolfowitz’s immediate resignation, saying a continuation of his leadership will lead to “irreparable harm to worldwide efforts in poverty reduction and sustainable development.”
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57 Responses to “Wolfowitz Rewarded Iraq War Allies With Key Positions At World Bank”
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Of course, world wide cronyism will make us look really good on the international political front. Way to go loyal bushies.
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:32 pmClinton, etc.
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:33 pmClinton did it, too. So did Pelosi.
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:33 pmSleazy is as sleazy does.
What a disgrace….
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:33 pmNo shock here
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:36 pmAnyone surprised?
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:38 pmJose Daboub …
With a name like that, I can see why neo-con incompetents like Wolfie would support him.
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:40 pmSome might say, one can’t expect much in the way of ethics from the Bushies.
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:43 pmDaboub has vigorously defended the World Bank’s decision to send more officials to lend in Iraq.
Good play on words, Satyam.
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:43 pmOther Wolfowitz appointees:
Dick Gozinya
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:49 pmJose Cañusi
Heywood Jablome
and a backbone emerges. Now does the oversight agency have any pull. The situation will only get worse until he does resign.
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:50 pmDoes his hair look kinda sticky, or is it just me?
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:51 pmHe’s just honoring the sacrifice of the troops:
“Our people risked their lives. Friendly coalition folks risked their lives, and therefore the contracting is going to reflect that.” — George W. Bush
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:53 pmDefeatocrats!
Legislating Defeat!
Pleasure of the President!
*end transmission*
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:55 pmWouldn’t it be odd if the AG and Wolfowitz were forced resigned on the same day?
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:55 pmMaybe we can get a twofer and have both Wolfowitz and Gonzo resign!
#10, nice names! :-)
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:56 pmI do have some sympathy for Wolfowitz. After all, his ability to pass out plum jobs, high-level security clearances and unjustified pay raises is the only thing that gets him laid.
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:57 pmComment by Wolfie
“For people who disagree with the things they associate with me in my previous job, I am not in my previous job. I am not working for the U.S. government.”
Sounds like some kind of “Mission Impossible” script. “We will disavow any knowledge…”
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:58 pmIts really hard to run when both your feet are stuck in buckets called Iraq and World Bank. Wish I could draw! That would make a great editorial cartoon.
Another corrupt Bushie!
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:58 pmRoger, you beat me to it!
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:59 pmWith the exploding scandals at the Justice Department and the World Bank enveloping his administration, President Bush voiced “full confidence” in Alberto Gonzales and Paul Wolfowitz this week. But as history has shown, there is no more certain confirmation of the criminality, ethical-wrong doing or imminent departure of a Bush team player than the President’s expression of “confidence” in him.
For the details, see:
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:04 pm“President Bush, Confidence Man.”
Jane: well, then, I guess my day wasn’t a total loss ;^)
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:04 pm“irreparable harm to worldwide efforts in poverty reduction ” That’s not too significant, that could be said of every Republic666an.
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:05 pmBush could always switch their positions. Make Gonzales head of the World Bank and Wolfowitz Attorney General. It makes sense. In a perverse and twisted way.
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:10 pmDoes his hair look kinda sticky, or is it just me?
Comment by ForTruth
You look sticky, too. :D
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:17 pmRoger: apparently, then, mine was! :-D I guess I’ll go home and see what I can salvage out of the rest of the evening.
‘Night!
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:21 pmDoes his hair look kinda sticky, or is it just me?
Comment by ForTruth
You look sticky, too. :D
Comment by Zooey — April 23, 2007 @ 6:17 pm
Oooh and all I could think of was “Something About Mary” and then Wolfowitz’s face, I’m going to be sick.
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:28 pmDo you notice the look on Wolfie’s face? The press has been showing a lot of neo-cons looking either scowling, petulant, angry. (Of course Chainy has a perpetual scowl that never changes.) Not too long ago all you saw were happy and smiley faces.
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:28 pmCould this be because reality is catching up with them? For liars and deceivers the truth is a veeery scary and painful thing>
Caption Contest:
Wow. I can fit my comb in my mouth….
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:29 pmCommunists, traitors, comb licker haters! Paul Wolfowitz must stay and fight against corruption by setting an example of corruption so egregious that all who fail to meet that standard will be ashamed.
-GSD
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:30 pmThere’s something about Wolfie.
-GSD
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:30 pmCaption contest! A great idea!
My mouth is full of shit. Don’t ask me to talk.
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:34 pmAnother GOP political tool.
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:34 pmOooh and all I could think of was “Something About Mary†and then Wolfowitz’s face, I’m going to be sick.
Comment by Shane
Heh. ForTruth always has such great one-liners, I love getting one over on him. :)
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:37 pm#29…. Zoooey….
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:43 pmyou win this one! LOL
Caption contest:
Hmm, what will make my hair stickier than spit?
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:47 pmResign? This @hole should be tarred and feathered…along with most of the NWO tools!
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:50 pmHeh. ForTruth always has such great one-liners, I love getting one over on him. :)
Comment by Zooey — April 23, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
Mission accomplished!
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:51 pmCaption contest:
Hmm, what will make my hair stickier than spit?
Comment by Shane — April 23, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
Semen
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:58 pmCAPTION CONTEST:
“Yes, That’s right…
…I enjoyed playing Mighty Mouse for all those years”…
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:01 pmCaption:
I f*cked up, and all I got was an invitation to go huntin’ with Cheney.
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:01 pmRaven & Shane,
Heh. Thanks.
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:06 pmThrow the rascals out!
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:16 pmTo show the world how Americans could allow Bush to get away with crimes and murder just read some of the comments. Now Bill Clinton is at fault for all the problems of the past 6 years. It’s called dumbing down of Americans. Wolfie was ordered to reward those that helped lie to Americans and invade Iraq by giving jobs and money. May 9th Tony Blair will leave office with the money Bush gave him and his son was appointed in a job by the White House. If you go along with the crimes of the White House you got your pay off. Most of the Iraq people that lied and helped the US invade Iraq are now living rich in England with the stolen Iraq money. Hastert was smart he had the military fly his suitcase full of stolen money to his second home.
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:31 pmCaption:
Then she tells me: “…wolfie, I never said that. I promised you great sox…”
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:37 pmBring the Bushites and their gods to JUSTICE…
…if they’re in/on your:
families
neighborhoods
worksites
or general sphere of influence/contact…
…let them know how spiritually, morally and intellectually DEAD…
…they ALL are…
…THEN…
…let’s all strive to finish them off politically and where necessary…
…economically…
…DRY UP the red states…
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:41 pm“Ask” for his resignation?
“Ask” for his resignation???!!!
Just FIRE the F#cking Assh#le already!
JUST FIRE HIM !!!!
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:11 pmCAPTION CONTEST:
“Yeah — I’m toast … but the sex was worth it … (I just LOVE the way she SPANKS ME !!! …)”
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:21 pmOne more Caption:
Beware of a Wolfowitz wearing cheap clothing
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:24 pm“The press has been showing a lot of neo-cons looking either scowling, petulant, angry.”
As far as I can tell, they always look this way … that is unless they have /just/ successfully taken a good long dump on the Statue of Liberty and used that Goddamned Piece of Paper, The Constitution, to wipe. At that moment they allow themselves a brief satisfied smile.
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:25 pmHeckuva job, Wolfie.
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:35 pmPlease take a look at this:
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/002073.php
The title of the piece is “Is Shaha Riza a Spy?”
And the comments contain some further interesting information. Did you know that Wolfowitz and Feith both hold dual citizenships? Hmmm….
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:42 pm#52 Yep, they think Israel first and everybody else second. I really don’t understand what we get out of this one sided alliance.
April 23rd, 2007 at 11:47 pmYou’d think his cronies would at least buy him some new socks.
http://wonkette.com/ politics/ paul-wolfowitz/ paul-wolfowitz-too-busy-ruining-world-to-buy-socks-232624.php
April 24th, 2007 at 3:35 amWhat this country and the Mall in Washington really needs is a National Museum of Political Crimes and Policy Disasters — a Madame Tussades of Federal Corruption and Malfeasance. How else to keep memories of Neocon glory alive?
April 24th, 2007 at 7:42 amOne more Caption:
I could have had a V-8.
April 24th, 2007 at 2:00 pmWolfie looks way too much like the Gringott’s bank goblin from the first Harry Potter movie — scary!
April 25th, 2007 at 8:28 am