Washington Scandal? Secret Love Outed
He may not look like a Romeo conducting a discreet romance, but Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, 61, is doing just that. Now he's been outed. His lovely lady is Shaha Riza who is said to be in her mid-50s. Even though both are divorced, the relationship could be scandalous for Wolfowitz and his ambitions to head the World Bank for two reasons:--Wolfowitz is Jewish. Riza is an Arab feminist.--Woflowitz is aspiring to head the World Bank. Riza is a communications adviser at the World Bank.
Click to see a photo of Arab feminist Shaha Riza. (Photo: World Bank) http://member.compuserve.com/wrap/linker.jsp?floc=wn-cs&ref=http://www.worldbank.org/springmeetings/images/SM03-MENA-5sm.jpg
Wolfowitz was nominated by President Bush to head the World Bank. Even though he and Riza are both single, London's Financial Times reports, "World Bank officials have expressed concern that his moral authority might be undermined if he was dating a member of his staff." Riza, who was born in Tunisia and grew up in Saudi Arabia, was educated at Oxford University in London. She is an expert on women's rights and is listed on the World Bank Web site as a media contact for Iraq reconstruction issues.
Do you think Paul Wolfowitz is the best candidate to head the World Bank? Why or why not? Should his relationship with Shaha Riza have any impact? Sound off in the NewsForum. http://member.compuserve.com/wrap/linker.jsp?floc=wn-cs&ref=http://community.compuserve.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&tsn=1&tid=193063&webtag=ws-newsforum
Washington Post "Reliable Source" columnist Richard Leiby reports that the two refuse to publicly discuss their relationship and are only seen together at functions in private homes. Friends say they have been a couple for about two years. So what do they have in common? The both want to see democracy come to the Middle East.
Click to see a photo of Romeo...er, Paul Wolfowitz. http://member.compuserve.com/news/bigpic.jsp?photoid=20050319WASG02D.jpg&this=1&searchpage=photosearch.jsp&cap=Paul+Wolfowitz&w=ap+or+reuters&max=8&first=&fs=&floc=wn-cs
If nothing else, the relationship is creating quite the brouhaha in an exclusive northwest Washington, D.C. neighborhood near American University that is home to a number of diplomats. Wolfowitz frequently spends the night a Riza's house. Since he is the subject of terror threats, Wolfowitz receives protection 24/7--even in his own home. While he visits Riza, his bodyguards wait outside in a car until he departs in the early morning. "They kind of picked the wrong place, if they want to be private about it," one neighbor, who declined to be identified, dished to the Post. "It's an international neighborhood and he's the icon for a fabulously expensive, tragic war. It's the one thing we talk about now."
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