Felix Salmon, finance blogger for Reuters, looks at the effect on the IMF of the arrest of its managing director, especially as it deals with Greece and Portugal.
Felix Salmon, finance blogger for Reuters, looks at the effect on the IMF of the arrest of its managing director, especially as it deals with Greece and Portugal.
Comments [38]
It's obviously a setup considering those two NYPD cops that raped a lady are still out on bail and probably won't even be convicted and I'm not even sure they've been fired! Meanwhile this guy can't even get bail? Shea, Ok...
Strauss-Kahn was nick-named "the Great Seducer".
Does the IMF have a culture that accepts soft bribes ?
IMF decisions can transfer billions of Euros
in wealth either to or from banks, institutional investors and nations. In this environment, it is likely that many of these vested interests will seek to win influence or curry favor with senior IMF officials by soft bribes.
What is a soft bribe ?
One example might be providing attractive "companions"
for senior IMF officials. These companions may or may not be
directly paid for their work by the bribing institution.
(Other soft bribes might include :
valuable jobs, business or consulting contracts for close friends and family,
generous speaking and book fees,
board and senior management positions
on retiring, low interest loans or investment
advice to close friends and family, etc).
Why does this matter ?
Strauss-Kahn clearly wasn't the "Great Seducer" because of his personal beauty
or charm - rather because of his position.
When the IMF gives banks and big investors an overly generous bailout -
these billions of Euros in inappropriate
wealth transfer are paid for by the austerity
and suffering of millions.
The IMF should be investigated for a culture of tollerating soft bribes.
The cost of their senior officials libidos
and greed may be the extra needless suffering of millions.
never once on this morning's program did brian investigate/research/report about 1)any sign ("do not disturb," etc.) that mite have been on hotel room's door 2)hotel policy re: maid's opening door when NO "do not disturb" sign is on door 2)evidence that maid followed hotel policy.
shame on NPR for buying into the hullaboo without investigating/researching/reporting the facts.
IMF Chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn,
seems to have a track record,
when it comes to abusing women.
This time Bloomberg put a stop to him.
Kudos to NYC for having the backbone
to stand up to this thug.
IMF decisions can destroy the
economy of an entire country.
NYC didn't back down, even though
the world of the accused and the accuser are so far apart.
Please bring back that caller (the retired hotel worker). Her comments on the hazards and abuse faced in her line of work is so important in taking into account the hotel employee involved in this case. I loved what she said and how she said it. Amen sister!
Here is French journalist Tristane Banon talking (laughing!) about her attempted rape by DSK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUv67o8er1k
Apparently his problems were well-known in France. It's very sad when elite women in positions of power do nothing and by doing nothing allow less powerful women to be preyed upon. Shame on all the previous victims of DSK's attacks who allowed him to get this far.
Well, the analogy of a citizen of a former colonizer (even a socialist) trying to sexually assaulting an African hotel worker is almost cartoonish...
What's next? The Irish and Spaniards will be made to dance? The Greeks need to watch out for buggering?
Good god!
In the end, I'm sure this is a pattern of behavior with Mr. Kahn--this time he got caught.
Which kind of immunity or proctection of any kind (media, justice...) those behaviors might have benefit in the past so that a man with such amount of responsability, national and international, feels not in danger acting that way?
Good point, Fuva, as long as we don't lose sight of the fact that this (allegedly) happened to a real person who has to deal w/the effects.
Brian--You need to look seriously at comments # 6, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 17, and 22.
I had no opinion either way, but as I was listening to the retired "chamber-maid/housekeeper" I began to wonder. The caller says "this happens all the time." .. and I can see how these vulnerable ladies not reporting such assaults most of the time. Fair enough.
..And then one of them decides to report and guess what the dude is the head of the IMF!..
Now I am suspicious..
Really, Gil? Gimme a break.
No bearing whatsoever would that have on the probability of sexual violence.
Foolishness...
So glad that your last caller pointed out the inappropriate, outdated, and slightly salacious use of the word "chambermaid" - words are powerful!
I had no opinion either way, but as I was listening to the retired "chamber-maid/housekeeper" I began to wonder. The caller says "this happens all the time." .. and I can see how these vulnerable ladies not reporting such assaults most of the time. Fair enough.
..And then one of them decides to report and guess what the dude is the head of the IMF!..
Now I am suspicious..
Gil [18]: Surely, you jest.
On the way more allegations come out once the first 1 or 2 become public, I don't think any of those against Tiger Woods were about nonconsensual sex, right? That's an important distinction to maintain. (Not that I think what he did was OK.)
A Socialist with a $3000 hotel room, no matter who is paying for it and his BMW SUV parked in his Georgetown house parking lot! A real man of the people.
According to the hotel maid, she was forced to perform oral sex on him-that is certainly assault!
His behavior is cultural and, as politically correct Americans who accept the cultural attributes of others even when it goes against what we consider good behavior or even legal behavior, we must accept his behavior just as we look the other way when latin american men or muslim men behave like dogs here in our country.
For the last time, conspiracy theories don't exist! I mean John McCain wasn't accused of having a out of wedlock, black child in the 2000 primaries. Let's stop being naive!
What did the "chambermaid" look like? If she's ugly, then that would detract from her claim.
Brian You are almost always so fair, but you are hyping "$3000 a night hotel l room" as though he's stealing from the poor box. What exactly was he getting, in a hotel in the downscale neighborhood of Times square? Bedroom, conference room, NYC hotel occupancy taxes, security?
Say what.
An African immigrant? The metaphor is complete...
When did attempts to seduce--even with touching--start to be described as "attacks" or as "attempted rapes"?!? BRIAN--YOU'RE QUITE THE HERD ANIMAL. YOU NEED TO DISTANCE YOURSELF MUCH MORE FROM YOUR COMMERCIAL NEWS EXPERIENCE (where, "if it bleeds, it leads").
As much as I would love to "kvell" over the downfall of another phony champagne leftist, the fact is, I'd like to see the evidence. Or is at all based on the testimony of the maid alone? I think in such cases, we need to have extensive lie detector and truth serum tests. I don't like even phony leftists taking a bum rap based just on her testimony alone!
check out a french journalist comment on D.S.K
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmTNSW5sD-0
Just a protester!
What a distraction. The $3,000 per night hotel room is such a "tea-party"-ish, trees instead of the forest argument (how DARE "they" charge taxpayers for a hotel room - while a trillion dollar tax cut for the rich is forthcoming in your own country).
People, regardless of whether this incident came to light or not, your future is every bit is as bleak as it was before. Have a nice day, suckers (I mean America).
He also flies first class. Oh and his wife doesn't believe he did this. Oh, right, that ought to help, lol.
How do we know that Khan allegedly raped? Can it be a setup to destroy a socialist? More wikileaks/assange type character assassination?
Is the accusation "attempted rape" or "sexual assualt"? Reports I've heard are using the latter term, which is different from the former. The distinction needs to be made.
I want to know what a Socialist Party member is doing heading the IMF.
When did attempts to seduce--even with touching--start to be described as "attacks" or as "attempted rapes"?!?
Never mind do they pay $3000 a night for this man on business for IMF, but I read somewhere this trip was for personal business!!
And just this morning on your own NPR news there is a report about someone else is coming out about another incident, not the previously reported one but a new one.
Excellent, Fuva, excellent and succinctly put.
Mastermind architect of the Bailout of the world's greediest banks -- at the expense of the people?
Spending 3 thousand dollars a night in the very seat of capitalism, Times Square -- right across the street from a $85 a night chain hotel?
Quick -- get my Rolodex! We need another French Socialist...stat!
Seriously, is this episode not an apt metaphor for what the IMF has been doing to "poor" countries for too long?
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.