Why are these people not in jail?

How true, sk8boardgrind, every time you hear a republican, now or ever, go on about values you can bet there are none to back up the assertion. I just don't understand how the religious right justify supporting their party, given the behavior.

These people i.e. Wolfie + all the neocons have NO SHAME !!!

" I just don't understand how the religious right justify supporting their party, given the behavior."

-You're kidding, right? The two are likes peas in a pod.

How odd for Wolfowitz to be disgraced in this way!? It’s unusual for one in power not to have some underling deal with his girlfriend’s transfer. Doesn’t it seem logical that if there was some ethics question, then he would have had one of his deputies handle the transfer? Something else is going on here, but our journalists never seem to get the right angle on these salacious news stories. Common?!? Wolfowitz knows how to play “the game”…as former Ambassador who helped the Indonesian military commit murders, and as an author to our preemptive-strike doctrine against Iraq, and then architect to bringing its oil wealth back in line with America’s interests??! I think Wolfowitz irritated the State department. Why doesn’t someone follow that lead?!?

Another great member of the Bush inner-circle. What rock did this guy crawl out from under.... oh wait... neo-cons dont crawl out from under rocks... they are "created!"

When you lie and cheat, you'll always remain a liar and a cheater. The book of Luke talks about it. This man was the architect of the Iraq war based on lies about WMD. He went to the world bank with the same dubious, corrupt mind set. Now, he has to resign in disgrace. Another one of Bush's gang bites the dust.

No investigation necessary - it's all in the paperwork.

You just can't take a news report at face value anymore.

Anybody else caught in this situation would be fired. Period. End of story. No negotiating a resignation. No dictating terms of departure.

Jail this sociopath NOW

Wolfowitz has served this country with distinction. It's always amazing that any qualified individual would leave a high paying commercial job and join the government. It's less than thankless. You get ripped to shreds. And since when is pre-emption a bad word, or neo-con? If Hitler had been pre-empted by a few more "neo-cons" in 1937, several hundred million lives would have been saved.

Looks like another rat of the Bush cronies
bites the dust. Who really cares if he
resigns in disgrace or not. The American
people know he is a disgrace as is the whole Bush Administration. Can't wait to
see who the "deciderer" will nominate to
replace Wolfowitz. Nice job Wolfie....

Bravo El Presidento! He is loyal to his men. Especially against the European punks.

Wolfowitz was told by the banks ethics committee to negotiate her salary. The ethics committe is at fault. Thhe European America-haters (because they can't stand our great success financially and militarily) want to slap America by blowing up this small personel issue.

Glad we have a President who stands up to these punks.

You can count Joseph in with the bunch A blind follower!

ari: Since when is pre-emption a bad word? Since Abraham Lincoln wrote that no real democracy would ever wage a pre-emptive attack against another country. His criteria was if an enemy army was standing on your border, ready to attack.

No Iraqi attacked the U. S. Not one of the hijackers was Iraqi. 90% of them came from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has a ruthless, inhumane, authoritarian monarch, yet, Dubya walks hand in hand with his good friend, the King of the House of Saud. You Cons are just pathetic hypocrites.

Curious George W Bush has the mental agility of a small soapdish.

Tom,
Are you really that deluded? The neo-cons have been an unmitigated disaster for this country. The damage they have done to the country, economically, militarily and internationally will take years and years to recover from. Blaming this on "Europeans" is just another case of blaming the wrong people.

So after such aggregious behavior, Wolfowitz thinks that all this can be erased by a face saving exit strategy to be negotiated by his high paid DC lawyer. How damn arrogant!
I wonder if my current employer would negotiate a face saving exit if I had been caught enriching friends and girlfriend???

dan.... they think they can do anything they want. they have god and G W Bush on their side remember.... well poor wolfie will be out of a job but im sure Bush will make some call and get him another high paying job for him and his girlfriend.... what sleazebags these neo-cons are... them and their morality and religon.. its pathetic.

"Curious George W Bush has the mental agility of a small soapdish."(tekk | May 16, 2007 8:51:24 PM) Absolutely THE BEST comment I've read in a l-o-n-g time. Thank you for a real smile.

Wolfowitz is a disgrace to the US and should be fired by the authorities of the World Bank without further ado. No face saving, no quarter!

The war in Iraq is a war that can't be won, a war that has no purpose, and a war that can't be brought to an end....

The "Architect of the Iraq War"...must be one of the stupidest people in the world.

Why should the World Bank be run by one of the stupidest people in the world?

Preemption only exists if there is a real threat. There was never a threat; the Bushies knew it; and the world knew they knew it.
Our attack was illegal aggression. Period.
Period.
Period.

The neocons never quit, whether it's a ill conceived war in Iraq or resigning with some sense of dignity in the case of the World Bank.

At the end of all this, the Republican Party will be a pimple in American history.

Inadmissible, Wolfowitz should resign inmediately. Loose face? who is he trying to kid? How come world bank officials don't do what they are supposed to? This whole issue is making look the bank like it is run by a bunch of rookies, and first timers. Shame on this whole thing.

What?? Negotiations?? FIRE HIM !!!!!

he deserves to go to jail

I remember that Kissinger cancelled a trip to Europe once because he'd earned that Spain planned to charge him with complicity in the murders of Spanish citizens in Chile in 1973.
Wolfie and his pals may find themselves in a similar situation for their complicity in what is clearly an illegal war and therefore an international war crime.

We really need to start requiring IQ tests for elected officials and their cash-cow friends. Wolfowitz looks like Bambi in the head lights. How do such fools rise to power? Exit with grace? Just how stupid can an animal be?

It's too bad- but not surprising- that 99% of the persons who have posted comments in this thread don't know and/or don't care about the facts of this case.

Regardless of your view of Wolfowitz's past performance at the Pentagon, your political leanings, your complete distaste for the Bush admin, your opinion of neocons, etc., etc., the facts of this case absolutely do not warrant the actions that the Europeans and others are advocating.

You are all missing the big point that no-one is talking about. That is that the World Bank is an anacronism that should be done away with! Don't just fire Wolfowitz, find a way to do away with the institution that has long ago outlived it's usefullness. Itis just another institution that continues to live on as a plush place for a bunch of useless international bureaucrats to hunker down in overpaid jobs that no longer make sense.

Have you noticed how all the neocom supporters all seem to have the same personality? They just can't admit their 'hero' Bush is a unethical crook who hides behind his religion. They all make me sick.

Find out the facts here, people. Lefty's agenda will eventually destroy Lefty. Until then, "Beam me up Scotty. There is no...."

"Oh, innocent naive corrupowitz! Was induced to mistakes by the implacable strategists of the world bank." How recurrent his behavior to play dumb and claim victim when in fact his self-serving arrogance commanded it all. Iraq + this..great accomplishments indeed! Now hopefully he will be so busy trying to "rebuild" his life that no time will be left to preach invasion/destruction of other nations. Enough now...DTMFA!

Don't worry if he doesn’t get to save face he'll still have another one left.

A letter from the Ethics committee saying Wolfowitz had no conflict of interest is a figment of your imagination? A request to recuse himself prior to starting his employment in regards to his girlfriend's position was refused by the board. And it's Wolfwitz's fault? You guys are in for a rude awakening if you ever get hired to do some actual work in the real world.

I met Mr. Wolfowitz when he was still ambassador to Indonesia, I was at the time a American musician living there, frequently asked to assist the embassy for small projects, finding computers for visiting lecturers, performing at 4th of July celebrations, and such.
Once I was asked to assist in promoting a cultural performance by Jazz musician Benny Golson. As per verbal agreement, we would create banners, flyers, and posters, distribute them arrange sound an lighting and other logistics. The concerts were a success, Indonesia thoroughly enjoyed the show, and Mr. Golson and group made a lot of new fans. After all was said and done, the agreement to reimburse us for our costs (no profit,just cover our costs)was conveniently forgotten about, When I reminded them of their promise I was rudely told by one of the officers at the embassy not to tell "them how to do business". After my friends and I took a loss of almost $5,000.00, I decided never to help the US embassy again.

Let me get this straight. Wolfowitz's girlfriend worked at the World Bank. The World Bank tells Wolfi she must be let go due to their relationship. Wolfi asks the World Bank Ethics Committee how should handle the matter. The World Bank Ethics Committee tells him how he should handle the matter. Wolfi handles the matter the way he was advised to handle the matter by the World Bank Ethics Committee. Now the World Bank wants Wolfi to resign for doing exactly what they advised him to do...despite the fact that they admit they gave him "bad advice" on how to handle the matter. If Wolfi has to resign over this matter then shouldn't the entire Ethics Board be asked to resign as well?

Isn't it interesting that the man leading the charge to oust Wolfi is Mark Malloch Brown? Mark Malloch Brown is a former deputy to Kofi Annan and a current toady of George Soros. Mark Malloch Brown is the V.P of Soros' Quantum Fund and he also lives in a home owned by Soros. And in the event Wolfi should resign, Mark Malloch Brown would be a leading candidate to replace him. Just a coincidence I guess.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110010050

Fire him!

They, Wolfy and the WB Board are all responsible and should all be fired. If this were common Americans like most of us, there would be no face saving and we would have been escorted by security out the door long ago. This is just a bunch of BS. Typicl high faluting BS while the rest of us groble to pay the gas bills and eat.

So, Ratowitz will only resign if the WB board clears his name by admitting equal quilt throughout these sorry proceedings. What incredible arrogance. What a throughly corrupt and selfish SOB. If this is not a provocation to be fired outright I don’t know what is. The WB board has one last duty and responsibility: FIRE Ratowitz now! Let the ground open up beneath him and conduct him to the nether regions, along with his kept woman! And while we’re at it let’s CRUSH the Gonzales cockroach...

Don't forget that George said during his run for the presidency that it is much easier to run a country under a dictatorship. Posted 5/17/07, 9:30 A.M.

Are they negotiating how much time in jail he have to serve?

Don't worry Wolfie, you'll be credited and given 50% time serve for good behavior like Paris Hilton.

Bush rats gets the same treatment.

The article that appeared in the Washington Post On Thursday May 10 on Ms. Riza raised many questions in my mind. Was the package a pay off for services rendered in other areas? Was the relationship a "marriage of convenience" as a cover up for the real relationship? I find it strange that following Saddam's overthrow she went to "work with Iraqi women in Baghdad on forming a new government. Defense Department documents show that Wolfowitz, then still at the Pentagon, played a role in sending her." I found the comments of his wife Clare on Ms. Riza even stranger: "Shaha Riza is a dedicated and serious reform advocate who has my respect. I hope she will be able to continue her work in spite of everything”. Something seems to stink in Denmark.

Those familiar with the facts understand the Wolfie was set-up. With so many avenues available today for information gathering, it's still amazing to me that so many choose to parrot the Pravda-like pronouncements of MSM partners like ABC. ABC has done NO responsible reporting and sadly, that's no surprise.

Isn't it interesting that the man leading the charge to oust Wolfi is Mark Malloch Brown? Mark Malloch Brown is a former deputy to Kofi Annan and a current toady of George Soros. Mr. Brown is the V.P of Soros' Quantum Fund and he also lives in a home owned by Soros. And in the event Wolfi should resign, Mark Malloch Brown would be a leading candidate to replace him. Just a coincidence I guess.

I really don't think that Wolfowitz did that much wrong.

But the problems that starting to occur is that there is SOOOOO much abuse of power by these cronies, that even a little abuse of power by Wolfowitz or by any other of these crooks will not be overlooked.

It's like, we're going to throw the book at you on this one because we already know you did much worse and don't want to waste the time or money to have to prove it.

KV said it best: The world has been overtaken by psycohopatchic personalities and Wolfowitz is just one example.

From Wikipedia:

Psychopathy is currently defined in psychiatry and clinical psychology as a condition characterized by lack of empathy or conscience, and poor impulse control or manipulative behaviors.

Lacking in conscience and in feelings for others, they take what they want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations without guilt or remorse.

If that's not my man Wolfowitz (and a lot of other powerful people nowadays) I don't know what is.

You just described Bill & Hillary Clinton. Not Paul Wolfowitz

You just decribed Bill & Hillary Clinton.

Yaaaaawwwnnn.

Does anyone outside of the W hating press care about this story?

I hardly think so.

I haven't heard one person articulate the glaring fact that, once again, a woman has been thrust aside so that a man can be accomodated. Shaha Riza had been at the World Bank for 6 or 7 years when Wolfowitz was appointed to his position. Because it created a conflict of interest to have them working closely together she was moved to a new position.

Riza is, rightly, angry because she was forced to give up her job. Given the situation, offering her consideration for agreeing to step aside seems only fair.

It is time that men got the message: women are not pawns to be moved on a chess board for their convenience. Frankly I hope she gets to keep her new job with higher pay.

Jim, I really hate to disagree with you on this one. But Bill & Hillary Clinton are a lot more empathetic than you give them credit for. It's not fake like this admin shows time and time again.

Hey, I'm not talking about GW's hugging the families in Kansas after that Tornado. I'm talking about his actions after he leaves.

It's the, "Judge people on their actions not what they say." With that criteria, The Clinton's are head and shoulders over this administration and it's cronies and their actions prove it!!

"a condition characterized by lack of empathy or conscience, and poor impulse control or manipulative behaviors. Lacking in conscience and in feelings for others, they take what they want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations without guilt or remorse."

Bush and his 40 insolent reptiles fit this definition perfectly on a daily basis.

It does not matter if ethics board is also responsible. It is clear, however, that Wolfowitz did make a serious error of judgement regardless. He is not a schoolboy to blindly follow what he is told. He was supposed to avoid any appearance of inappropriety, and he did not. Thus, he is clearly at fault.

It is another business alltogether if someone else would be allowed by Europeans to stay after having done what he did. I'd guess, probably yes. What Wolfie pays for, is arrogance and ignorance of this administration, and his own towards Europeans - among others.

I think Europeans experience a moment of fun having slapped Mr. Cheyney et al. in the face. How embarrassing!

Lets see Wolf's girlfriend gets 197K a year tax free. I wish someone would let us know how that works but regardless this situation is just another example of the endless stream of political parasites that bush and his father have infested our government with.

It does not matter if ethics board is also responsible. It is clear, however, that Wolfowitz did make a serious error of judgement regardless. He is not a schoolboy to blindly follow what he is told. He was supposed to avoid any appearance of inappropriety, and he did not. Thus, he is clearly at fault.

It is another business alltogether if someone else would be allowed by
Europeans to stay after having done what he did. I'd guess, probably yes. What Wolfie pays for, is arrogance and ignorance of this administration, and his own towards Europeans - among others.

I think Europeans experience their moment of fun having slapped Mr. Cheyney et al. in the face. How embarrassing!

Oh yes. Bill & Hillary are empathetic. I forget that they "felt our pain". I forgot how Bill told us how as a child he and a friend rode in the back of the bus to show support for Rosa Parks. And how can I forget Hillarys recent account of how she babysat the children of migrant workers so the parents could go out and work the fields when she was only a child herself. Ya..right. She commuted to downtown Chicago to babysit so the parents could work those fields. I'm sure there were fields all over the city of Chicago in the 60's. And how can we forget Hillary telling us how she was named after Sir Edmund Hillary. Despite the fact that Hillary Rodham was born in 1947 but it wasn't until 1953 that Edmund Hillary became famous.
So empathetic. I listen to what they say and have said and I look at what they do and have done. They're nothing but pathalogical liars and two bit swindlers. But if it'll make you feel better my opinion of the W Administration is just as contemptable. They're all crooks, swindlers and liars. But I also have to say that this Wolfowitz things is way, way overblown.
It's a George Soros toady (Mark Malloch Brown) that's been pushing this whole Wolfi thing so I think that explains why it's become such a big brouhaha.

Wolfowitz doesn't even have the personal integrity to resign without subjecting the institution he nominally leads to international ridicule. A two-bit hustler in Bush's image.

It is surprising that you Americans are so absorbed by internal bickering that you are quite unaware of the economic disaster that you are courting, should you succeed in sowing doubt in the minds of foreign holders of dollars regarding the political stability of the country. All of you whether Democrats, Republicans, Wasps or Hispanics, Jews or Moslems, are living far above your means, as witnessed by the huge US Balance of Trade Deficit. Beware of the collapse of confidence, that might plunge you all into a worse crisis, than that of the Great Depression.

I'm not the top man at a gigantic and prestigious organization but I definitely know right from wrong. How could he possibly try to blame someone else for what HE clearly had to know stunk to high heaven? Maybe he should just go to rehab.

The way I read it is this: Wolfi has an ethics problem with his companion. He goes to the ethics committee to ask how to handle it. They tell him what they think, he disagrees. The ethics board then tells him to handle it himself since he does not agree with their conclusion (to let his companion go).

This is not a blank check. It is enough rope to hang with. He takes the rope and proceeds to loop it around the beam to proceed with the operation.

Really, anyone with half a brain would know, especially at that high level, what his enemies would do with this ethical dilemma. Really. No insight, no wisdom, no caution, no perception. No wonder!

Wolfowitz, fire the bum. Throw his ass out in the street. Who the hell does he think he is. Have Secutity escort him out of the building.