Wolves Circle Wolfowitz

Embattled World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz is hanging tough in the face of a crescendo of calls for his resignation after improperly promoting the interests of his live-in girlfriend. In a weekend of maneuvering, the bank's development committee offered no shelter, issuing a vague but harsh statement that the organization" adhere to a high standard of internal governance."

Some member nations are expressing support, including Canada, the U.S., and  beneficiaries of his campaign to increase aid to Africa. His most outspoken critics are from Europe, where doubts about his  role as an architect of the Iraq war run deep. A combative email message sent Saturday to bank staffers to protest "misleading information" in circulation did nothing to mollify critics within the bank.