The saga adjourned yesterday. Will today end with a deal or a plain vanilla, You’re fired?
We’ve made a deal. He resigns.
Yesterday – it was reported worldwide,- here’s a sample headline, Financial Times, UK
Wolfowitz working on resignation deal
“Paul Wolfowitz on Wednesday began discussing possible terms for his resignation as president of the World Bank.
Although the White House was publicly standing by Mr Wolfowitz, his position looked tenuous, as the US administration appeared close to giving up the fight to keep him in office.
However, officials said that his agreed departure should not be taken for granted if he could not secure satisfactory terms”
We pick up with Wolfowitz’ lawyer:
How does Wolfowitz and friends make a deal?
Well, there’s this little raid, reported at Thinkprogress
Bank Counsel Hired By Wolfowitz Is Best Friends With Riza, Attempted To Block Investigation
“As last week’s Board meeting on Riza-gate was about to commence, Mr. Wolfowitz and Mmes. Cleveland and Palacio barged into the Board room and demanded to participate in the closed-door Board session.
An argument ensued between the Board and the executive triumvirate. … Ms. Palacio demanded to stay because she claimed she had a right to remain as counsel to the board. … A needless debate that lasted close to an hour followed and MS. PALACIO REFUSED TO LEAVE THE BOARD ROOM! The board was then forced to adjourn the meeting.”
The well sourced Steve Clemons and Forbes opines, “Wolfowitz is done.”
Yes. Stick a fork?
Oh my, his `ethical’ challenges aside, what went wrong?
What Happened to Wolfowitz the Strategist?
“Paul Wolfowitz has all but conceded that he is leaving his perch as CEO of the World Bank. The only question that remains is what gets scribbled in the last paragraph of the story on whether the “blame” for his departure is shared — and whether he resigned under his own steam or was actually, formally fired.
What is odd about this entire encounter is that “Wolfowitz the strategist” seems to be missing — and that may have been the problem all along.
Even one of Wolfowitz’s closest friends and the not-often discussed third political appointee (the other two were the more controversial Kevin Kellems and Robin Cleveland) brought in by Wolfowitz, Karl Jackson, has reportedly told numerous World Bank and diplomatic pals of his that “Paul has no plan. Everything is ad hoc, reactive — first we go this way, then we go that.” If his friends are saying that, imagine what Wolfowitz’s enemies think.
And in this sad public battle over whether Wolfowitz acted appropriately or not regarding the employment options, compensation, and performance evaluations of his girlfriend, Wolfowitz also seemed to operate in exactly the mode Jackson describes — without a plan, reactive, ad hoc, first this way and then that.
Seems Mr. Wolfowitz also has a on-the-job performance challenges. As Mr. Clemons opines:
“Whichever way the Bank’s board goes today in either allowing him honor as he exits, or just leaving things messy and not nicely packaged, Wolfowitz is done.”
Can Wolfowitz really expect to carry on as CEO?
Next up: Alberto Gonzales What is currently in the main stream may just be the tip of an iceberg.
