Still, given the cloud that was over his head from the beginning owing to his leading role in promoting the Iraq War, it would have been far more prudent for his girlfriend to take a leave of absence and go to work in the private sector.

That’s an unfair burden to place on people whose conduct is honorable but is the unfortunate nature of politics these days.

I don't understand this attitude James. If your enemies have an irrational malice for you then you should alter your behavior? Their malice isn't brought on by his behavior. If it weren't for the girlfriend would Wolfowitz really have an easier time at the Bank?

This just doesn't make sense. If you do what you're supposed to do and people pretend you haven't, then it doesn't matter whether you've accounted for the "appearance of impropriety" or not. In fact, he had accounted for it. People who hate you will hate you no matter what you do. You're not doing yourself or anyone else any favors by censoring your speech or actions.

The proper response is an aggresive defense of yourself and your actions and an insistence on accurate reportage. Altering honorable behavior for fear of how dishonorable enemies may try to use it against you won't help you at all. It just makes your life more complicated while winning you no benefit.

Christopher Hitchens says Wolfowitz did nothing wrong. (Outside the Beltway)......

The pattern is getting boring, it's so predictable.