FT: Bush and Cheney see the campaign to oust Wolfowitz as anti-American

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=FT&Date=20070509&ID=6862210

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European governments are hoping Mr Paulson and others with knowledge of the bank will advise Mr Bush that a negotiated exit is the least bad outcome left.

Dick Cheney, the vice-president, is said to be against letting Mr Wolfowitz, with whom he has a long political relationship, go. A spokesperson for Mr Cheney told the FT: "the vice-president solidly supports Paul Wolfowitz. He thinks he's done a good job at the bank and should ­continue".

A Republican with close White House ties said Mr Bush and Mr Cheney saw the campaign to oust Mr Wolfowitz as anti-American. He added that Karl Rove, a senior Bush adviser, believed the Europeans would hold to push him out.

It is not certain Mr Bush will hold to the same position as Mr Cheney but there remains a strong chance he will. That would set the scene for the endgame everyone wants to avoid: a US versus Europe vote on the board, with damaging consequences for the bank and transatlantic co-operation.