Bank investigates contracts linked to Wolfowitz (Guardian)

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Bank investigates contracts linked to Wolfowitz

Richard Adams in Washington
Saturday April 21, 2007
The Guardian

Paul Wolfowitz's grip on his job as president of the World Bank was
shaken yesterday after the bank's governing council declared it had
"great concern" and ordered an investigation into the contracts of
staff connected to him.

After an emergency meeting, the bank's executive directors set up
a wide-ranging inquiry into alleged breaches of the bank's code of
conduct and ethical rules, and into statements about the
controversy made by Mr Wolfowitz's office.

The decision increases the pressure on Mr Wolfowitz, since the
board's move widens the investigation to include the employment
contracts of two of Mr Wolfowitz's advisers. Robin Kellems and
Robin Cleveland moved from working for the Bush administration to
the World Bank alongside Mr Wolfowitz in 2005, and have formed
part of his inner circle, leading to accusations by bank staff
members of special treatment.

-snip-

Mr Kellems and Ms Cleveland are also thought to have received
open-ended contracts with salaries substantially above their
level of experience. They are said to have started on $250,000
(about £125,000) net of tax.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/imf/story/0,,2062342,00.html

[babylonsister]

1. Mr Kellems and Ms Cleveland: Thank you, Eugene, and who are these

cretins? And were they really worth all that dough?

[Eugene]

2. Robin Cleveland was Wolfie's partner in crime in Iraq.

She helped plan the post-invasion debacle there.

A Financial Times article, Wolfowitz’s bank aide choice draws comment
explains the controversy in hiring her, as she is described as a "wild-eyed"
conservative and a "polaraizing" figure with little experience in development.

Kevin Kellems is an ex-henchman of Dick Cheney.

As the Guardian article says, the World Bank pays them way above their
experience levels.

[IChing]

3. I heard on Keith that only the pResidnet can let him go?

It was a rotating position among world bank members
and the US time was up on this one.

[EST]

6. The US was the big dog in the creation of the world bank and

reserves the veto power solely by itself. By tradition and general acceptance, this remains unchanged, although many of the creditor nations have threatened to pull out or create a world bank of their own.
Thus, until bush chooses to replace wolfie, he's there to stay.

[tsuki]

4. Here's an article about them.

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/001196.php

and this from Wonkette

http://wonkette.com/politics/world-bank/exclusive-pissed+off-world-bank-employees-write-letters-251869.php

They sound like a charming Conservative couple.

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. That guy leaves a big stink wherever he goes.

Who the fuck is he anyway??