Wolfowitz Goes on the Attack, but Hints at a Deal

Wolfowitz has come out fighting claiming that there has been “orchestrated leaks of false, misleading, incomplete and personal information” intended to “undermine my effectiveness as president.”

“The goal of this smear campaign, I believe, is to create a self-fulfilling prophecy that I am an ineffective leader and must step down for that reason alone, even if the ethics charges are unwarranted,” he said. “I, for one, will not give in to such tactics. And I will not resign in the face of a plainly bogus charge of conflict of interest.”

However, within those words are hints that he might step down if the bank's board finds that he acted in good faith rather than dishonourably.

Mr. Wolfowitz’s hint that he might be receptive to a deal was in the last paragraph of the seven-page statement released by the office of his lawyer, Robert S. Bennett, shortly after the bank president read it in a private session at the World Bank headquarters in Washington. At the end of the day, Mr. Wolfowitz sent it by e-mail to bank employees.

“Only when the cloud of these unfair and untrue charges is removed, will it be truly possible to determine objectively whether I can be an effective leader of the World Bank,” Mr. Wolfowitz said, in what was widely seen at the bank as an indication he would consider resigning.

The statement appeared to show his recognition of the loss of confidence he has suffered among a growing number of officials, for several reasons. Among those reasons have been his crackdown on corruption and his reliance on a small group of close aides brought from the Bush administration, where he had served as deputy defense secretary and an architect of the Iraq war.

Looks like Wolfie's heading for the door after all, but first he wants people to admit that he did nothing wrong.

What is the mindset of these people? He will only resign if people clear him of charges?

That's simply back to front and yet that is the deal that he is attempting to make. This ignores the fact that this is not the only reason that World Bank staff feel he should go.

Mr. Wolfowitz has also come under fire as internal documents have surfaced indicating that his aides may have pressed for Bush administration policies downplaying the importance of global warming and opposing contraceptives and abortion in family planning programs.

However, Shrub has raced to his rescue:

The White House has consistently supported Mr. Wolfowitz, and on Monday, President Bush did so again, though in a low-key manner.

“My position is that he ought to stay,” Mr. Bush said. “He ought to be given a fair hearing.”

Which is enough to make most Europeans determined to push Wolfie out the door.

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Tags: Wolfowitz, World Bank, Bush