2007年VOA标准英语-Decision on Wolfowitz's Tenure as World Bank Pr

By Barry Wood
Washington
15 May 2007
 

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz addresses the media at the European Council headquarters in Brussels, 02 May 2007

Paul Wolfowitz, a scholar and former number two at the U.S. Defense¹ Department, is expected to learn this week whether he will retain his position as president of the World Bank, the world's biggest development institution.  Wolfowitz has been ensnared in a controversy² involving his role in arranging a generous pay and promotion⁴ package for his female companion, a bank employee. VOA's Barry Wood has more.

When Paul Wolfowitz arrived at the World Bank two years ago he made fighting third world corruption⁵ his battle cry. Now he is fighting a different kind of battle. 

Colin Bradford follows the World Bank at the Brookings Institution, a Washington research organization. "I mean it is just totally inconsistent to advocate one thing for other countries to do and then in terms of your own personal behavior feather your own bed, take care of your own people and so on, in the way that he did. It is blatant⁶ cronyism," he says.

Ironically, Wolfowitz became involved in finding a new position for his companion, Shaha Riza, to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest.

"I made a mistake for which I am sorry," Wolfowitz said in a public apology.

The bank's 24-member executive board has reportedly concluded that in arranging a new job for Riza, Wolfowitz violated bank procedures. But Gene³ Rotberg, who served 19 years as World Bank treasurer⁷ and senior vice-president, says Wolfowitz's problem only minimally⁸ involves his female companion.

"I suspect that the main reason is rather straight forward,” said Rotberg. “It is Iraq. It is his failure even now to admit that he was wrong, that he made a mistake and that he caused great damage."

Many of the bank's over 5,000 professional staff say Wolfowitz's effectiveness in leading the bank has been irreparably damaged. Gene Rotberg agrees.

"Because if the countries say your effectiveness is damaged, if the staff say your effectiveness is damaged, then by definition you are damaged."

By tradition Europe chooses the head of the International Monetary⁹ Fund and the United States the president of the World Bank. President Bush has been standing¹⁰ firm for Wolfowitz. "My position is that he ought to stay," said the president.

Other world leaders have been silent. But several Africans have voiced support for Wolfowitz. Antoinette Sayeh is Liberia's finance minister. "He has been absolutely supportive, responsive, there for us, making advocacy that is absolutely essential."

Wolfowitz said last month that he will respect the decision of the bank's executive board. "I didn't hide anything that I did and, as I said, I am prepared to accept any remedies that the board wants to propose."

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 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。

3 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

4 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。

5 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。

6 blatant   

adj.厚颜无耻的；显眼的；炫耀的

参考例句：

• I cannot believe that so blatant a comedy can hoodwink anybody.我无法相信这么显眼的一出喜剧能够欺骗谁。
• His treatment of his secretary was a blatant example of managerial arrogance.他管理的傲慢作风在他对待秘书的态度上表露无遗。

7 treasurer   

n.司库，财务主管

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith was succeeded by Mrs.Jones as treasurer.琼斯夫人继史密斯先生任会计。
• The treasurer was arrested for trying to manipulate the company's financial records.财务主管由于试图窜改公司财政帐目而被拘留。

8 minimally   

最低限度地，最低程度地

参考例句：

• Food spoilage problems occur with minimally processed, concentrated frozen citrus products. 食品的变质也发生在轻微加工的、浓缩冷冻的柑橘制品中。
• So, minimally, they are responsible for such actions and omissions. 所以，至少来说，他们要对这样的行为和忽略负责。

9 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

10 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。