As the World Bank Turns . . .

Not Much to See on the 'Silver' Screen: "As the World Bank Turns . . .

It was approaching midnight Friday when folks in the World Bank's Middle East and North Africa department got an e-mail from their boss, Christiaan J. Portman , telling them that their colleague Shaha Riza was being detailed over to the State Department -- as of Monday.

The short notice sparked speculation that her reported relationship with bank President Paul Wolfowitz -- they're said to have been dating for a couple years -- may have contributed to her departure.

Not at all, we are assured by insiders. This was not an abrupt appointment but one that's been in the works for some time. Riza, who was born in Tunisia and educated in Saudi Arabia, is uniquely qualified to help the State Department design and launch a fund to promote democracy in the Middle East. She's also had more than 20 years working on these issues at the National Endowment for Democracy and at the bank.

. . . and Turns

Speaking of the World Bank, word that Wolfowitz is interested in getting some wingtips on the ground in Baghdad -- the bank handles Iraqi programs from Jordan -- is making some folks a bit nervous. "Bankers, as a rule," one wag opined, "prefer to go in after the shooting is over, not in the middle of a war." Well, times change.

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