dimanche 20 mars 2005

Doesn't this violate the "Don't shit where you eat" rule?


Hoffmania brings us this little tidbit that may give us insight into why Wolfowitz may want the gig as head of the World Bank:

Although many bank insiders and observers predict that the odds strongly favor Wolfowitz eventually getting the job, the furor yesterday indicated that at the very least a fight will rage for several weeks before the board approves him.

Adding fuel to the controversy is concern within the bank staff over Wolfowitz's reported romantic relationship with Shaha Riza, an Arab feminist who works as a communications adviser in the bank's Middle East and North Africa department.

Both divorced, Wolfowitz and Riza have steadfastly declined to talk publicly about their relationship, but they have been regularly spotted at private functions and one source said the two have been dating for about two years. Riza, an Oxford-educated British citizen who was born in Tunisia and grew up in Saudi Arabia, shares Wolfowitz's passion for democratizing the Middle East, according to people who know her.

Bank policy allows spouses and partners to work on the staff as long as neither reports directly to the other, so the Wolfowitz-Riza relationship may not run afoul of those rules. But some staffers, speaking anonymously for fear of offending their prospective boss, said sentiment is running high that the ethics requirements should be stricter in cases involving the chief executive. Through a spokesman, Wolfowitz said in response to a query from The Post: "Needless to say, if a personal relationship presents a potential conflict of interest, I will comply with bank policies to resolve the issue."


Now, the idea of an ardent Jewish Zionist who works for one of the most anti-feminist presidents in history "dating" an Arab feminist is pretty interesting; right up there with James Carville and Mary Matalin, only with hints of Montague/Capulet blood feuds added for spice.

However, the tin ear that this Administration continues to show in affiars that smack at all of conflict of interest wouldn't be tolerated in anyone else, particularly someone with a "D" after their name. Once again, the IOKIYAR rule is in full flower.

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