Paul D. Wolfowitz - Learn about this person!

NYT

Paul D. Wolfowitz has been a lightning rod in two major Washington institutions since President Bush took office. As deputy defense secretary, he was a leading voice within the Bush administration pushing for the invasion of Iraq, and was known as well for a hard line on issues like missile-defense systems. At the World Bank, whose presidency he assumed after being nominated by President Bush in 2005, conflict with the bank staff quickly became a staple of his tenure. Then in April 2007, those tensions boiled over after revelations that Mr. Wolfowitz had played a direct role in giving his companion an unusually large raise.

As outlined by Mr. Wolfowitz, military action in the Mideast was not to be a means to domination of the area, but rather the necessary first step toward breaking up ossified government and social systems that had made Arab countries fertile ground for terrorism. It would lead to the spread of democracy throughout the region. To his critics, the loftiness of his stated goals was less important than how unrealistic his plans were, and than what was seen as his arrogance in stamping out dissent within the Pentagon over the plan.

At the World Bank, Mr. Wolfowitz saw corruption as the entrenched obstacle that had to be overcome before the development aid provided by the bank could be effective in reducing poverty. But he alienated the bank's board, made up of representatives of donor nations, by taking actions against countries without consulting the board. Many top staff members were also unhappy over what they saw as Mr. Wolfowitz & apos;s tendency to rely on a small group of advisers he had brought in with him.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2005: Becomes head of World Bank
2001-05: Deputy Secretary of Defence
1989-93: Under-secretary for defence policy
1986-89: US ambassador to Indonesia
1983-86: Assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs
1981-82: Head of state department policy planning staff