Making poverty history - one paramour at a time

Things continue to grow bleaker for beleaguered World Bank President and neo-con extraordinaire Paul Wolfowitz as the scandal surrounding the unusual career path of his lover, Shaha Riza, a World Bank employee who was given a significant promotion, a secondment to the US State Department working for Dick Cheney's daughter and a near 50% pay rise after Mr. Wolfowitz took over at the Bank continues to worsen. To make matters worse beleaguered American President George "The Decider(TM)" Bush has expressed, through a spokesperson, that Mr. Wolfowitz has "the president's support". The trouble is that these days Bush's support consists solely of about 30% of the American people, Australian PM John Howard and lame duck British PM Tony Blair.

Let us take a brief take around the world's press and see what the headlines have to say, shall we?

From the Boston Globe: "Wolfowitz dictated pay raises for companion, records show"

From The Scotsman: "World Bank chief fills girlfriend's account"

From the Los Angeles Times: "Wolfowitz's critics are having a field day"

From the International Herald Tribune:"Wolfowitz gathers his defenders, but there aren't many"

From Biznes in Poland:"Former legal adviser challenges Wolfowitz"

From Dick Cheney's home state of Wyoming the Casper Tribune informs us that "Wolfowitz's Friend Says She's the Victim". (Note the demotion of Ms. Riza to "friend". I can only assume that the editor's of the paper felt it would be to shocking for the people of Casper to find out that they are shagging.)

Last but not least from Faux News, never allowing reality to get in the way:"Documents May Give Wolfowitz New Lifeline in World Bank Scandal"

What this all means for Mr. Wolfowitz's anti-corruption campaign with it's slogan "Do As I Say and not As I Do" remains to be seen.

The good news is that with her new salary of 193,590 USD per annum Ms. Riza can double the incomes of around 200 people who currently live on one USD a day and still have plenty left over for naughty lingerie and sensible shoes.