Thomas C. Green
Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP
1501 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005

Dear Mr. Green,

The information you provided to my reporter concerning Mr. Taylor is most helpful.

Equally so, the communication suggests that contrary to what a variety of sources inside and outside of the IDB believe, honest attempts to obtain honest answers are not as difficult as perceived.

Indeed – notwithstanding your own statement that “the Bank has declined to respond to you [Mr. Andersen’s] incessant questions sent in various of your [Mr. Andersen’s] e-mail messages “ – I look forward to cooperation from all involved as we continue to investigate serious allegations of wrongdoing at the bank and among current and former employees and contractors.

As you no doubt are keenly aware, silence is not always golden and often can lead to suspicions of wrongdoing and worse, fears about cover-ups. Too often this then can lead to misconceptions and faulty reflections upon the good deeds of good stewards that may be tainted by the actions of a possible few.

So in the spirit of openness, we look forward to honest answers to the questions already submitted and to future questions that may arise from further investigation by this magazine and various government agencies.

Bearing in mind that messengers often get shot when delivering so-called bad news, I must confess that I find it amusing when attempts are made to besmirch or otherwise sully the reputation of any of my employees or colleagues – either from a personal vantage or a professional perspective.

For example: You have suggested that one of my employees may have had (or may be engaged in) an affair with someone you suspect is a source. You also have suggested that one of my employees may have one or more alleged conflicts of interest as a result of having more than one job or having been offered other jobs, e.g. at the IDB.

This seems to be as irrelevant as whether you may have had multiple affairs or have more than one client to whom you report. Would this suggest a lack of quality of any legal work you do? I should think not and hope that you and your employers would not only toss aside such silly Red Herrings, but also be suspect of anyone seeking to tamper with employee/employer relations just because one is doing their job.

Whether “you” like my reporters or do not doesn’t strike me as justification to go probing into their personal lives and throw around some perceived mud or suggestive innuendo in hopes of derailing their investigation or their assignment to dig out the truth.

It seems to me that regardless of the source of the questions, the focus needs to be on the allegations and the cast of possible hoary characters that may have done something wrong. Shining the klieg lights into dark corners and seeing what is exposed is what’s important. Maybe you have a different perspective on this; I don’t know.

What interests me is getting at the truth and examining why people may wish to hide it. I generally subscribe to the concept that innocent men and women have nothing to fear in telling the truth. At the same time, I also can appreciate why people of good character may be reluctant to provide answers to embarrassing or otherwise difficult questions when in the employment of, for example, government al or international organizations.

The job of newsmen is simple. Answer the 5 W’s: who, what, where, when, why & how.

Hence our repeated attempts to work with dozens of people, many of whom have been most cooperative notwithstanding that some others have not been forthcoming. But just as you were gracious enough to assist in obtaining answers to questions about the retirement of Mr. Taylor, we look forward to you continuing to be as cooperative and helpful in securing answers to all our previous and future questions.

So while “the Bank” may not be prepared to answer our questions, we’re finding many people associated and inside of the IDB willing to talk. And more every day thankfully, such as yourself notwithstanding the fact that like you, some previously have communicated less than flattering information about one or more on staff.

I do hope that those to whom you report to appreciate that our questions are centered only on obtaining the facts of what is true and what is untrue with respect to IDB operations. We aren’t interested in the personal lives of the bank’s employees,

Perhaps some future questions we ask might center on whether the IDB and/or IDB employees have sought to dig up personal information about individuals who are questioning official IDB-related activities. And, if so, then with whom such information has been shared, not to mention any details derived from such activities.

We also may ask whether such expenditure of funds, assuming such have been spent, fall within the realm of proper usage of taxpayer dollars and/or IDB funds. Ditto the assignment of IDB personnel not otherwise engaged in security procedures to conduct monitoring activities of those who raise questions about the bank.

I would think a full examination of such possible activities may raise a few eyebrows if, of course, such information were to be discovered and/or such expenditures lead to disinformation campaigns against individuals or organizations.

In any event, as we have no problem with any of our questions and your recent correspondence with my team being publicly shared with anyone at the IDB, including the Board of Directors, and/or with appropriate oversight bodies. And this includes, of course, this letter.

Again, thank you for assisting us in our continuing investigation into allegations of wrongdoing at the IDB. I look forward to your continued cooperation as a valuable source.

Cordially,

Paul Rodriguez

Editor- Insight Magazine & Insight Online

3600 New York Avenue, N.E.- Washington, D.C. 2002

202/636-3154 – office- 202/529-6326 – fax

Email: editor@insightmag.com