Paul Wolfowitz Scandal

I would write something about the Paul Wolfowitz scandal, but I could not possibly do a better job than this post on DailyKos:

Sex, Lies, and Wolfowitz

by Devilstower
Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:23:39 AM PDT
Even the most hackneyed of Hollywood schlockmeisters wouldn't dare to reuse a plot so often. Iraq. Katrina. The story is always the same. It starts with some vaguely formed plan that, while it may be packed in words we usually think of as good (freedom, democracy, etc.) lacks any real substance or detail. Said plan is then executed with blind arrogance, and a stiff-necked insistence that reality must be ignored until it can be made to conform with the goals. And while the rest of the world is forced to smash its nose against the fantasy, those in charge bumble on with the confidence that their vision is so innately superior that they can act as they will.

No one executes this script like Paul Wolfowitz. As the chief architect of Iraq policy, Wolfowitz was "certain we will be greeted as liberators." His plan called for us to march along flower-strewn streets wearing crowns of laurel leaves, watch as Iraqi's renamed their capital Georgebushdad, and ride the tidal wave of freedom that would sweep the Middle East. Funny thing is, that's still the plan. One of the core concepts of any neocon fantasy is that if at first you fail, just keep putting more people in harm's way until the bad guys tire of killing them. 100,000 U.S. casualties, maybe a million dead Iraqis. Then comes the flowers, just you wait and see.

After failing upward into the leadership of the World Bank, Wolfowitz launched a crusade against corruption.

The rest of the post goes on to dissect the neo-con way of thinking and how Wolfowitz abused his power to benefit his girlfriend.

[...]Having secured for his girlfriend a job at the State Department where the World Bank treated her to a $193,000 tax free salary (which is, by the way, greater than that of Condoleezza Rice), Wolfowitz's credentials as a fighter of corruption are now on par with Kim Jung Il's bona fides for pushing democracy.

He's followed the neocon script to the letter. Launch a quixotic but laudable-sounding quest, disregard how your actions may be harming the people you are supposedly helping, and demonstrate your disdain for the rules as they apply to yourself. Truly, nobody does it better.

I strongly recommend reading the whole post. ThinkProgress.org also has some good stories on Wolfowitz.

And can I just mention how much it sickens me that Wolfowitz got his girlfriend a raise of over $60,000 (from $132,660 to $193,590 tax free). I wish I could make $60,000 a year, but this woman got a raise of $60,000! That's almost a 46% raise! I am not gay nor am I remotely attracted to Wolfowitz, but I can understand why it would be tempting to date him.