Something was up. Earlier, Reuters had the following reports:
Wolfowitz told to stay away from meeting
“World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz is not welcome at an Africa forum the bank is holding in Berlin next week if he is still in his post at the time, German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said.
Speaking to reporters in Berlin on Wednesday, the minister said she did not want the issue of the World Bank’s leadership to distract from a discussion of development aid for Africa at the two-day meeting which begins on Monday.”
and “Germany slams Wolfowitz as bank board meets”
Next came the Reuters news banner “World bank board meeting postponed to 2:30 PM at request of Whitehouse” (link removed)
But the Financial Times reports,
White House close to conceding on Wolfowitz
This from Steve Clemons
Wolfowitz Appears to be Heading Towards Face-Saving Exit Deal
“World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz pleaded for a second chance and offered to dump his gaggle of advisers who followed him to the Bank from the Bush administration.
But senior officials report to me that the damage is too deep at this point and that there is no conceivable strategy of helping the Bank return to a credible position without a complete shift in management.
Every account I have thus far from those close to Bank Executive Directors report that a deal is now being negotiated for Wolfowitz to resign, but in a “face-saving way.” The deal should be completed by this evening.”
and from ABC News The Blotter
Wolfowitz to Resign This Afternoon?
Can we make it a two-fer? Later. There’s no deal
REUTERS JUST IN:
Wolfowitz will not resign from World Bank: lawyer
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz will not resign under the current “cloud” and would rather push the matter to a vote of the bank’s board to clear his name, his lawyer said on Wednesday.
“Mr. Wolfowitz will not resign under this cloud and he will rather put this matter to a full vote,” Wolfowitz’s lawyer, Robert Bennett, told Reuters.”
BBC and NPR reporting World Bank Board deliberation will resume tomorrow, Thursday.
A Two-fer would be nice. How about Alberto Gonzales?
Senator Hagel just joined the chorus….. Alberto should resign now.
Yep. Gonzo and Wolfy, two sides the same coin. One blames his No. 2, the other his girlfriend.
This report from Sky News corroborates the report.
World Bank’s Wolfowitz ‘To Resign’
My attempt to UPDATE failed. Confirmed by Reuters/AP
World Bank board negotiating Wolfowitz exit
.
WASHINGTON D.C. (The Nation – David Corn)
According to Ms. Riza, she arrived at the figure of $180,000 [for her new salary] by taking into account her view that “two consecutive MENA [Middle East and North Africa] Vice Presidents” had not promoted her due to “discrimination,” because she is “a Muslim, Arabic woman who dares to question the status quo.”
This explains it. Riza was angry. She was mad (as the report notes) that she had to leave the Bank because her romantic partner was taking over. But she also harbored a grudge, believing, rightly or wrongly, that she had been the victim of discrimination at the Bank. (In a previous article, I explained how she was turned down for a promotion to a job for which she did not meet the minimum qualifications.) According to the panel’s report, it was Riza who came up with the specific terms of her reassignment. It seems she was trying to turn lemons into champagne–that is, using the opportunity to settle old scores and award herself the money she believed she deserved. And Wolfowitz went along with his gal-pal.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."This is seen as another blow for America’s standing
“Shift in Balance of Power” notes The Financial Times, UK
“His resignation in circumstances of good health would be unprecedented in the history of the bank and mark what could be an enduring shift in the balance of power at the institution, which has traditionally been
dominated by the US-nominated president.
It would also bring to a close a turbulent two year period in which Mr Wolfowitz clashed with bank staff and shareholders over his implementation of a controversial anti-corruption drive and his reliance on a small coterie of aides with Republican party connections, before being consumed by controversy over Ms Riza.”
And for Wolfowitz;
. “A Painful Defeat – The London Times, UK
“Nonetheless, his departure, after weeks of calls for his resignation from bank staff and international development experts, marks a painful defeat for Mr Wolfowitz, who was adamant that he should stay on, and the Bush Administration, which has campaigned for him to hold on to his post.
Time and support appeared to have run out on Mr Wolfowitz this morning when the White House distanced itself further from Donald Rumsfeld’s former deputy in the Pentagon.”
A recurring meme:
Never accepted by Worldbank staff when he brought along his cronyism.
And you can’t make this UP?
Thinkprogress has more closet details:
“Bank Counsel Hired By Wolfowitz Is Best Friends With Riza, Attempted To Block Investigation
I quote at length. (emphasis mine)
Shameless. Pathetic. But
Pass me the popcorn.
BREAKING:
REUTERS REPORTS:
“Wolfowitz will not resign from World Bank: lawyer”
“WASHINGTON (Reuters) – World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz will not resign under the current “cloud” and would rather push the matter to a vote of the bank’s board to clear his name, his lawyer said on Wednesday.
“Mr. Wolfowitz will not resign under this cloud and he will rather put this matter to a full vote,” Wolfowitz’s lawyer, Robert Bennett, told Reuters.”
why do l get the feeling that part of the deal was the u.s.,ie: BushCo™, not appointing his successor?
the old..fire me, l dare ya!…
don’t bogart the popcorn idredit
lTMF’sA
From my read the deal hung on Wolfy’s demand for the World Bank to accept some of the responsibility for his conflict of interest actions. Not likely, given all the unrevealed acrimony.
He’s damaged goods and the US does not have the support of allies on this. None of the G7. Canada and Japan were the last hold-outs in support of US. They’ve since caved.
Europeans call for bank chief to go
The fact is the news of his negotiating an exit has been reported in major news feed worldwide.
In the end it’s all about ego. SO now it’s likely he’ll be voted out.
BBC: New adjournment on Wolfowitz fate
Grant him his wish. As the Brits would say, Let’s see the back of him.