It is rare to see such a colossal example of bad judgement on display.

let's not discuss Alberto Gonzales then, or anyone Bush-related.

Anyway: Wall Street Journal article on Wolfie. This and other articles have lead me to believe the board also messed up. It's clear, though, that Wolfowitz has lost any traction with World Bank staff. Staying on just damages everyone. At least with Gonzales one gets the impression he stays to protect the others in the clique. At least there's a point then.

I've given up on caring about the catastrophic American presidency, so all that nonsense aside, Wolfie has a certain personal appeal to me. I am genuinely saddened by this.

But he's a bloody incompetent fool.

He exceeded his Peter Principle allotment. McNamara went to the WB for expiation and did an admirable job. PW's position is that he has nothing to expiate. With that attitude, anything short of sainthood was going to be controversial.

If he'd remained an academic or think tanker, he'd be known as an articulate guy with interesting ideas. As an homme engage, he hasn't put many scores on the board.

Col is correct that Wolfowitz effectiveness is most likely at an end, whether he remains or not.

The problem is that Wolfowitz allowed himself to be played, most likely by those who were unhappy by his proposals for handling African debt relief and reforming developmental policies. Or perhaps unhappy with Wolfowitz, period.

From what I have read,and I am no expert on World Bank matters, everyone was aware of the longstanding relationship and the Bank's need to compensate the gf for career impact from position changes to avoid a conflict of interest. Wolfowitz ought to have been smart enough to insulate himself so that decision process would not boomerang back upon him in exactly the political manner which it has.

Anyone with his Beltway experience should have seen this coming, particularly if he intended to alter contributor and debtor relationships during his tenure.