It's *Tick Tock* for Wolfowitz

It looks like Paul Wolfowitz may have gotten himself a small reprieve in his bid to remain as president of the World Bank.

Actually, in reality, it's just a little more time to avoid the hangman's noose.

From today's New York Times:

Bowing to pressure from the Bush administration, the World Bank board agreed Wednesday to give Paul D. Wolfowitz, the bank’s president, slightly more time to defend himself against charges of misconduct before the board decides his future.

In a development that might help Mr. Wolfowitz’s fight to remain as bank president, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has lobbied European foreign ministers in the last two weeks, expressing support for him.

"She has spoken with several European foreign ministers about her positive impressions of Paul and the job he’s doing at the World Bank," Sean McCormack, the State Department spokesman, said in an interview on Wednesday when asked whether Ms. Rice had become involved in supporting Mr. Wolfowitz.

Despite Ms. Rice’s efforts and the board’s decision to give Mr. Wolfowitz more time, bank officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the deliberations are confidential, said they saw no indication that the board was any less determined to oust him from the presidency.

Mr. Wolfowitz was given until Friday evening — two additional days — to make his case in writing to the board, and it was expected that he would appear before the board as early as Monday. The board is to vote on whether he deserves a reprimand, a vote of no confidence or outright removal.

But even those plans could change. Discussions continued Wednesday on whether to proceed with a vote next week. Many bank officials continue to hope that Mr. Wolfowitz will resign, making a vote unnecessary.

I find it remarkable that Bush and Co. will do just about anything to defend yet another person from this administration with sleazy, unethical behavior.

I'm not alone. Reportedly, World Bank staffers are wearing blue ribbons to protest Wolfowitz remaining at the bank. The New York Times also reported that many staffers booed him at a staff meeting that he called to explain his reasons for fighting to stay on.

For those unfamiliar with the controversy, Wolf got into trouble when he allegedly arranged for his partner, Shaha Ali Riza, to be transferred to the Pentagon (to work for Dick Cheney's daughter), with a $60,000 raise, with guarantees of future increases. With her new salary, Riza makes more than Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

His girlfriend's salary isn't the only controversy surrounding his tenure at The World Bank. I heard this opinion on The Thom Hartmann Show the other day, and I agree with it - Wolfowitz wasn't appointed president of the bank to replay a political favor to a "good guy"; he was put there to promote two important ideas on the neocon agenda...

World Bank board members and staffers have complained that Wolfowitz is imposing Bush administration policies to eliminate family planning from World Bank programs. Nicole Gaouette, in an April 19, 2007, Los Angeles Times story, reveals overly conservative World Bank policies regarding climate change, and repeated deletions of references to family planning from World Bank proposals.

In regard to Bush's motives in making Wolf president of the bank, that could certainly be called Mission Accomplished, until now.

Wolf is no stranger to controversy at the World Bank, either. Upon his confirmation as bank president, several people immediately resigned their jobs at the bank in protest.

Outside of World Bank Headquarters yesterday, a protest was held, calling for Wolfowitz's resignation. Ben Wikler, the man interviewed in the video above, is campaign director of Avaaz.org, a global activist site that tackles important issues head on, such as Mid-east peace, global warming, the War in Iraq, etc. It's a very interesting site that I recommend checking out.

Pressure is mounting for him to go - we'll see if it has any effect. European Union members are reportedly pressuring the Bush administration to show Wolf the door, and in return Bush will get to name the bank's new president (The US has traditionally named World Bank presidents).

By this time next week, Wolfowitz should know his fate.