Wolfowitz Backed Friend for Iraq Contract in ’03

[habitual]

Source: New York Times

Paul D. Wolfowitz, while serving as deputy secretary of defense, personally recommended that his companion, Shaha Ali Riza, be awarded a contract for travel to Iraq in 2003 to advise on setting up a new government, says a previously undisclosed inquiry by the Pentagon’s inspector general.

The inquiry, as described by a senior Pentagon official, concluded that there was no wrongdoing in Mr. Wolfowitz’s role in the hiring of Ms. Riza by the Science Applications International Corporation, a Pentagon contractor, because Ms. Riza had the expertise required to advise on the role of women in Islamic countries.

The investigators also found that Mr. Wolfowitz, now president of the World Bank, had not exerted improper influence in Ms. Riza’s hiring. Earlier this week, Science Applications International said an unnamed Defense Department official had directed that she be hired. She had been a World Bank employee for five years at the time.

Mr. Wolfowitz’s office said it could not comment on the latest disclosure. Ms. Riza’s lawyer, Victoria Toensing, did not respond to a request for a comment.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/20/washington/20wolfowitz.html?hp

[saigon68]

1. FREEDOM IS ON THE MARCH

[whistle]

2. Chronic cronyism is one of the 14 characteristics of fascism

<snip>
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

<MORE>

http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html

[lonestarnot]

3. Oh shock and awe compliments of comblicker.

Not.

[tanyev]

4. Awww. Wolfie was getting lonely over there in Iraq.

Had to figure out a way to get his girlfriend there for a visit.

[youngdem]

5. She's obviously a spy, and the request to place her with a company for a month was cover

This is all her playing the field for her real job. Her World Bank job was a similar move I suspect, getting friendlies inside the bank to further direct World Bank actions as an arm of the White House.