Is the Wolfowitz fight-back working? We still do not have a proper read-out from yesterday's board meeting with Paul Wolfowitz (check back here later for more). But one Bank staffmember, who prefers to conceal his identity, wrote to me saying that Wolfowitz emerged pleased and thinks he might get to hang on. The Bank staff member's reaction - he would have to leave: "if Wolfowitz stays, it will just prove to all of us that the Bank is a pure puppet of the US administration, and not the place where many of us want to spend their careers".

"Inside sources say that PW was very pleased with how his meeting with the ad hoc committee went. His lawyer's posturing, the 'I am a victim' line and threats to go public with the whole salary structure seem to be working. I was hoping the EDs would not be intimidated...but fear that they will fail to leave up to their responsibilities. If the countries don't push now, it won't happen. He'll stay. Mark my words".

He continues: "If Wolfowitz stays, it will just prove to all of us that the Bank is a pure puppet of the US administration, and not the place where many of us want to spend their careers. This organization, if PW remains as its head, will be dysfunctional and useless. I, for one, will go work elsewhere. I hope others will do the same rather than work for that hypocrite".

This comment evokes my post of 15 April and David Steven's one from way back in March 2005.

The latter - which know seems very prescient - is worth quoting in full:

Turn out the lights.
"A senior person at the world bank HR department told me today that the internal site that calculates pension benefits for world bank employees experienced its highest point yesterday in the number of hits," a correspondent tells us.

"I wonder how can Mr. Wolfowitz make his tenure a success if the most experienced staff, who qualify now for early retirement, decide to leave ?!"

"Just makes more room for all those new guys from the American Enterprise Institute," notes an emailer...

Alex Wilks ~ May 01, 2007

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