Business Channel 2007-04-19&21

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz spent his two years in the job trying to build his credentials¹ as the banker to the developing world. But one of his first decisions back in 2005 put his job on the line. On Friday, the World Bank released documents showing Wolfowitz signed off on the promotion² and pay rise of his girlfriend Shaha Riza. Wolfowitz apologized for his involvements.

In hindsight, I wish I had trusted my original instincts and kept myself out of the negotiations³. I made a mistake for which I am sorry. But let me also ask for some understanding. Not only was this a painful personal dilemma⁴, but I had to deal with it when I was new to this institution and I was trying to navigate⁵ in uncharted waters.

The Board said proper procedures were not followed, noting (quote), "The Ethics⁶ Committee had not been involved in the discussions with the concerned staff member". And that "neither were the terms and conditions of the agreement commented on reviewed or approved by the Ethics Committee". Wolfowitz's move from the Pentagon to the World Bank was controversial from the moment President George W. Bush nominated him in 2005. Wolfowitz was one of the principal architects of the Iraq War. But he has also spearheaded an anti-corruption⁸ drive throughout the World Bank.

He wanted the countries where there was enormous corruption to clean up their act before he would give them the money. Now, that's not a bad idea, because the money gets into these countries and goes into corrupt⁷ pockets. So he had the right idea. But, when you take that kind of a holier-than-thou attitude, you'd better not have your own hands in somebody's cookie jar.

The bank's employee association called for his firing. Wolfowitz said he wanted to focus on what the bank does.

In the larger scheme of things, we have much more important things to focus on. For people who disagree with the things they associate with me in my previous job, I'm not in my previous job. I'm not working for the US government. I'm working for this institution and its 185 shareholders⁹. I believe deeply in the mission of this institution, and I have a passion for it.

The World Bank will have to rebuild its reputation, now tarnished¹⁰ by the Wolfowitz controversy¹¹. Jim Boulden CNN, London.

NOTES:

1. holier-than-thou

Exhibiting an attitude of superior virtue¹²; self-righteously pious¹³.
showing that you think you are morally better than other people - used to show disapproval¹⁴ [= self-righteous]

2. hindsight

the ability to understand a situation only after it has happened [↪ foresight]

with/in hindsight
With hindsight, I should have seen the warning signs.

3. tarnish

if an event or fact tarnishes someone's reputation, record, image etc, it makes it worse

1 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

2 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。

5 navigate   

v.航行，飞行；导航，领航

参考例句：

• He was the first man to navigate the Atlantic by air.他是第一个飞越大西洋的人。
• Such boats can navigate on the Nile.这种船可以在尼罗河上航行。

6 ethics   

n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准

参考例句：

• The ethics of his profession don't permit him to do that.他的职业道德不允许他那样做。
• Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict.个人道德和职业道德有时会相互抵触。

7 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

8 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

9 shareholders   

n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The meeting was attended by 90% of shareholders. 90%的股东出席了会议。
• the company's fiduciary duty to its shareholders 公司对股东负有的受托责任

10 tarnished   

（通常指金属）（使）失去光泽，（使）变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 )； 玷污，败坏

参考例句：

• The mirrors had tarnished with age. 这些镜子因年深日久而照影不清楚。
• His bad behaviour has tarnished the good name of the school. 他行为不轨，败坏了学校的声誉。

11 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

12 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

13 pious   

adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的

参考例句：

• Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。
• Her mother was a pious Christian.她母亲是一个虔诚的基督教徒。

14 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。