Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Wolfie's love life, according to Arab News
Juan Cole says that if the story's true it's the "best thing [he's] ever heard" about Wolfowitz, which says a lot more about Juan Cole than Paul Wolfowitz.
Arab News:
While battle lines have hardened over President Bush’s nomination of Wolfowitz to become president of the World Bank, what many say is really fueling the controversy is concern within the bank over Wolfowitz’s reported romantic relationship with Shaha Ali Riza, an Arab feminist who is the acting manager for External Relations and Outreach for the Middle East and North Africa Region at the World Bank.
Political foes of Wolfowitz portray him as a leader of Washington’s Jewish neo-conservatives driving a blindly pro-Israel policy in the Middle East. Critics have also noted that his sister, Laura, a biologist, lives in Israel and has an Israeli husband.
But Wolfowitz, a married father of three, is said to be so blinded by his relationship with Riza, that influential members of the World Bank believe she played a key role in influencing the Pentagon official to launch the 2003 Iraq war. As his trusted confident, she is said to be one of most influential Muslims in Washington.
What they are said to share is a passion to establish democracy in the Middle East.
An adulturous Arab feminist dater with a sister who not only lives in Israel, but has an Israeli husband! An Arab's worst nightmare, I'm sure.
CWCID: Saudi Jeans.
UPDATE: A commenter points out that this story, it seems, has been floating around for a while. Interestingly, the Telegraph story says that Wolfowitz is divorced, which is a big difference.
4 Comments:
By 
, at
Wed Mar 23, 09:39:00 AM:
Laura Rozen mentioned this relationship several days ago in her blog. It seems to be an open secret in Washington circles.
"An Arab's worst nightmare"
You really need to get out and meet more Arabs.
- Levi
By 
TigerHawk, at
Wed Mar 23, 09:43:00 AM:
I'll refrain from claiming that "some of my best friends are Arabs."
I'm assuming that Arab News is writing to maximize its audience, just as other MSM does. Of course, in an ethnic group of many hundreds of million, there can be no uniformity of views. That having been said, you are right, Levi, that I was probably snarkier than necessary or even appropriate in that remark. You even made me feel a twinge of regret that I had written it.
By , at
Wed Mar 23, 10:21:00 AM:
TigerHawk,
Thanks for the friendly response to my point.
To follow up a little, I can see why Juan Cole would think this is a good thing. I feel the same way, since it would mean that Wolfie is less likely to see the conflict in stereotypical terms (this doesn't mean I agree with Wolfie's *policy* views though).
- Levi
By José M. Guardia, at
Wed Mar 23, 03:35:00 PM:
UK's Telegraph had the story back in august last year, so apparently what the Arab News says is true.
