In searching for high level career placement, professional ladder climbing and personal wealth, one could hardly do better than the recruiter that resigning World Bank President Wolfowitz must be using. First of all, this recruiter got Wolfowitz a very high profile and high paying position as head of the premier poverty fighting organization on the globe without any special expertise other than a disdain for the poor and non-white people. The placement package was so solid that Wolfowitz could hold down the job amidst continuing turmoil over his lack of effective leadership and poor management skills in running the World Bank. He could contrive with impunity to provide a 40% salary raise to his girlfriend [from $133k to over $190k] in violation of World Bank policies. (Perhaps Wolfowitz believes that at $133K per year, his girlfriend was impoverished and in need of special economic aid.) When the proverbial spam hit the public fan, he first claimed having nothing to do with the promotion, then retreated to the position that there was nothing wrong in it, and then further retreated to the position that he “acted in good faith.” Most of us would find it hard to grasp how granting a grossly obscene salary increase to ones girlfriend in a conflict of interest situation could sincerely be believed to be “in the best interests of the institution.” But the World Bank Board accepted his explanation. All the while, George W. Bush, that Master at assigning highly qualified personnel to highly sensitive official positions, expressed full confidence in Wolfowitz. A letter of recommendation from the Leader of the Free World is a handy resume enhancer. “Heck of a job Wolfie!”
As a parting expression of regard for his services, the World Bank will be giving Wolfowitz a $400k bonus on June 1 and keeping him around on a paid “consulting” basis until his successor is in place. Such legerdemain is truly remarkable on the part of that illusive recruiter orchestrating the Wolfowitz career. Most people would have no chance at all to head a major world institution having no critical skills or experience and a philosophy that directly opposes the mission of the employer. But political connections and cronyism seem to be a very useful substitute when Bush Administration HR Department screening is involved.
Consider the appointment of Bolton to the US Ambassador post and Brown to head FEMA as solid precedent. Looking at their collective attributes, being a bully, being incompetent in technical as well as diplomatic skills and being without conscience seem to rank as desirable traits. Wolfowitz earned his credentials in deliberately lying to Congress, the United Nations, the American people and the World in order to orchestrate the US invasion of Iraq. His success in that mission helped to create millions more displaced and impoverished people in Iraq and surrounding areas. So what better job for him to take than to frustrate the delivery of economic aid and reconstruction support to those people?
Most of us would be quite happy to get a somewhat less rarified job than Wolfowitz had, even the job that Wolfowitz’s girlfriend vacated in order to accept the modest $60k raise. My mission going forward in seeking a new career opportunity, therefore, has to be to identify and try to engage whoever the recruiter is that Wolfowitz is using. I realize that I may not be nearly as qualified for high positions because I cannot rid myself of a conscience and probably cannot completely disregard common sense, integrity and a belief in basic respect for other human beings, regardless of their socioeconomic status or political party affiliation. But even a lower level position for, say $250K per year salary and a $300k bonus for failure or getting caught violating employer policies, would be acceptable. When I find out who that recruiter is, I will be sure to let you know.
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