Bennett in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll must be turning in his grave. Paul Wolfowitz’s lawyer (surely spin-doctor, ed.) is trying to get his client out of trouble by comparing the board's investigation process to an Alice in Wonderland episode. Responding to the report that the board committee has already drafted a position recommending Wolfowitz’s removal, Richard Bennett told his favourite outlet Bloomberg: “If this is true, it is grossly unfair. It reminds me of Lewis Carroll's Red Queen who said the alleged thief of the tarts was certainly entitled to a trial, but she suggested they have the sentence first.''

It's been a while since I read the Alice books (think the learned Mr Bennett has got it wrong - the Red Queen appeared in Through the Looking Glass). But I don’t recollect the Red Queen subscribing to a set of Wonderland rules and ethics codes. Nor did she trouble to collect hundreds of pages of evidence.

The imaginative Mr Bennett might like to consider teaching his clients other lessons to be drawn from Lewis Carroll’s stories.

1) if you’re in a hole, stop digging.

2) if your head can’t fit through the door, try expanding the door or shrinking your head.

3) retire and take up croquet.

For a non-fantastical analysis by a different top lawyer, see Walter Todd in Harpers.

More satirical coverage of the Wolfowitz World Bank affair is available in The Spoof.

Alex Wilks ~ April 27, 2007

Comments

Another twisted scenario comes to mind in such situations:
Is it fair treatment and opportunity to defend his actions that The Prez and his lawyer want ?
or, since he is already in the hole that arrogance has led him to, is he trying (with the help of a well-known lawyer) to BUY his way out with a very nice settlement? After all this is in the "moeurs" isn't it?

In the very near future, he will be singing these lyrics from the Turtles:
"Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together"

Yul ~ April 27, 2007, 09:22 PM

Doesn't it seem that Riza should also be booted out of the Bank? Maybe even thrown out of the country? Between the article by Sidney Blumenthal and all of Steve Clemons wonderful work at Thewashingtonnote.com they point out she somehow received security clearance at the State Dept. and yet there is no record of it. Nor would the State Dept issue clearance to a non-citizen. Then Riza was moved to the Foundation for the Future and the State Department's press spokesman can't make heads or tails what her title is nor where her office is or anything else. Am I paying for this leech's salary? After reading that she will appear with Wolfowitz at the Monday special panel meeting, I am nauseated. What are they thinking?!

Marlene ~ April 28, 2007, 06:10 AM

Bennet...This is the relevant one.

Wolfie Dumpty sat on a wall,
Wolfie Dumpty had a great fall;
All the King's horses and all the King's men,
Couldn't put Wolfie together again.

Wolf To Man ~ April 30, 2007, 01:41 PM

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