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| International-UN-NGOs |
| Mandela, Carter form "Council of Elders" to save world |
| 2007-07-18 |
| Gordon Chang, Commentary Magazine Nelson Mandela will celebrate his 89th birthday tomorrow. To mark the occasion, Mandela, along with Jimmy Carter, Kofi Annan, and other “elders” of our global village will launch an extraordinary worldwide humanitarian campaign. The Conceived by entrepreneur Richard Branson and musician Peter Gabriel, this new assemblage will tackle (and presumably attempt to eradicate) armed conflict, AIDS, and global warming. But are these people really capable of saving the world? Many of the big names on this list didn’t exactly distinguish themselves the first time around. Kofi Annan presided over the decline and (further) corruption of the United Nations; Bill Clinton, his successes at home notwithstanding, failed to use American power abroad wisely. Carter was weak as a president, and seems to have gone around the bend since leaving office. It will take people of great vision and courage to guide the world through the strife undoubtedly lying ahead. (As Washington journalist David von Drehle memorably put it, “some very different sort of world is roaring up at us.”) These “elders,” unfortunately, do not possess that vision. This new multilateralist group may have commendable aims; ironically, its charter members have helped discredit multilateralism as an instrument in global politics. I worry that this irony will be obscured by the pomp and circumstance attending tomorrow’s celebration. H/t to Kathy Shaidle, who comments: Funny how besotted these "progressives" are by Famous Last Names, huh? Acting like the aristocratic elite they pretend to hate. No "ordinary people" allowed in these "change the world" meetings, unless they're there to serve the food. |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #25 "Together we will work to support courage where there is fear, foster agreement where there is conflict, and inspire hope where there is despair." Isn't that a ripoff of the Prayer of St. Francis, perhaps most commonly recited these days in AA and other 12 step groups, where genuine people are trying to get over themselves and be of selfless service to others? These old hoots are not quite in the league of selfless people. Shame on them for hijacking a prayer genuinely about doing service to others to serve their selfish ends. Did they think no one would notice? Did they think anyone would really let them sit next to St. Francis and steal his words? |
| Posted by: Beau 2007-07-18 21:43 |
| #24 will be a “United Nations of the great, the good and the rich.” Oh, God, how that phrase must get their hearts pumping. Granted, their hearts pump bile and acid, but... Mandela states in remarks prepared for today that the fact that none of The Elders holds public office allows them to work for the common good, not for outside interests. Because nobody outside of elected (and accountable) office is on the take or just plain twisted. God, I hate the tranzis. They're not even bothering to hide their intent anymore, are they? |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2007-07-18 19:43 |
| #23 Where's Madeline I mean, if you're putting together a learned council of elders you're forgetting some of the folks who've done the world so much good lately. |
| Posted by: FOTSGreg 2007-07-18 19:29 |
| #22 The two wise Click for music |
| Posted by: Ogeretla 2007 2007-07-18 19:18 |
| #21 The Elders from Hell. |
| Posted by: AT 2007-07-18 16:51 |
| #20 They never called. A pox on them... |
| Posted by: Al Gore 2007-07-18 16:42 |
| #19 Make it that home from "Bubba Hotep", then they can shoot the shit with JFK and the King... |
| Posted by: mojo 2007-07-18 16:41 |
| #18 Put 'em in a rest home and let 'em talk all they want. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2007-07-18 15:58 |
| #17 The bit about the kids reminds me of the start of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy were the construction worker charged with demolishing Arthur Dent's house was a distant relative of Ghengis Khan and had a penchant for little furry hats and axes for decorations but didn't really know why. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2007-07-18 15:56 |
| #16 Too bad Anton Szandor LaVey isn't still around. He would fit right in. Or he could at least add the "responsible adult viewpoint" to these whineholes. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-07-18 14:28 |
#15 Mark Steyn comments on the Council's "junior auxilliary":But wait: What about all those elders who are too old and have already died? No problem: Meet the world council of elders’ offspring! They’re the Teen Titans to the council of elders’ Superfriends. Nick Clooney –– father of George and brother of Rosie — reports: |
| Posted by: Mike 2007-07-18 13:46 |
| #14 Can we nail the doors and windows shut and slide food in for the next 12-15 years? |
| Posted by: Oldcat 2007-07-18 13:39 |
| #13 Conceived by entrepreneur Richard Branson and musician Peter Gabriel, this new assemblage will tackle (and presumably attempt to eradicate) armed conflict, AIDS, and global warming. Don't quit your day job, Peter. Your music was good with moments of greatness before you decided to anoint yourself savior - since then: meh. Same goes for Bono, IMHO. |
| Posted by: xbalanke 2007-07-18 13:16 |
| #12 Norman and Maggie are not intersted in bribes and such so Kofi will not want their company. This is a group of "we know better than you" talkers, not a group of doers. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2007-07-18 12:42 |
| #11 If you don't mind Jimmy would you and Mandela not save me? You screwed up the Presidency during your one term. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2007-07-18 12:15 |
| #10 Who else should be on the Council? How about Maggie Thatcher? I figure she'd eat and excrete the rest of the councillors before lunch the first day. So, no. Instead, we'll probably have more Mary Robinson types. Who's that Bush-death-lusting Nobel Peace Prize winner? She's sure to be on it. Also Harold Pinter and Noam Chomsky. If Fidel retired, they'd welcome him with open arms. Oh, and Gorby -- he ended the Cold War, you know. An article in today's Houston Chronicle (originally from the NYT) quotes Richard Branson as saying, "Most individuals in the world would welcome a group of people who are above ego, who...are above partisan politics." I had a good hearty laugh at that. This is going to be comedy gold, unless anyone actually listens to them. |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2007-07-18 12:14 |
| #9 Elders of |
| Posted by: Skunky Glins5285 2007-07-18 11:42 |
| #8 Why isn't Norman Borlaug on this panel? What, you've never heard of Norman Borlaug? "All" he did was save the lives of hundreds of millions of people, possibly billions by leading the "Green Revolution". He (deservedly) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970. Unlike Carter, Mandela, and Clinton and the others on this list, he has actually done something with his life. |
| Posted by: Rambler 2007-07-18 11:25 |
| #7 Clinton should join them. He could be their chief of staff, you know, interns and such. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2007-07-18 11:12 |
| #6 Never trust anyone over the age of thirty, is my motto. Gah. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2007-07-18 10:36 |
| #5 Sounds like a wonderful high value |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-07-18 09:57 |
| #4 The usual suspects doing the usual things... JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — Melding statesmanship and a large slug of audacity, the former South African president Nelson Mandela and a clutch of world-famous figures plan to announce today a private alliance to launch diplomatic assaults on the globe's most intractable problems. Start simple. How about "Flaming tire necklaces", Nellie? Maybe you could start there? The alliance, to be unveiled today during events marking Mandela's 89th birthday, is to be called "The Elders." Among others, it includes the retired Anglican archbishop Desmond Tutu; Jimmy Carter, the former U.S. president; the retired U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan, and Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland. First order of business...expense accounts. Money is no object, of course? Kofi, why don't you head up that committee? Many, including Mandela, have been early and harsh critics of President Bush and American foreign policy, particularly toward Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The group's members and backers insisted however, that they are guided neither by ideology nor by geopolitical bent. We are as pure as the driven snow. Bushitler will be given every opportunity to grovel before us before he is villified. Mandela states in remarks prepared for today that the fact that none of The Elders holds public office allows them to work for the common good, not for outside interests. We're taking on THE MAN! "This group can speak freely and boldly, working both publicly and behind the scenes on whatever actions need to be taken," the remarks state. "Together we will work to support courage where there is fear, foster agreement where there is conflict, and inspire hope where there is despair." ..."spout empty cliched slogans when results are demanded". One of the group's founders and principal sponsors, the British tycoon Richard Branson, said that while "there will always be skeptics," government leaders he had briefed "very much support the initiative." Excuse me, sir. That rich old hippie guy is here. Oh. Ummmmmmm...send him right in. I guess. "Most individuals in the world would welcome a group of people who are above ego, who, in the last 12 or 15 years of their lives, are above partisan politics," Branson said. Yeah, no egos here. Right, Sir Richard? Precisely what problems The Elders will tackle is unclear; none have yet been selected. Well, I'm sure they know what's best, so we'd better just do what they say... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-07-18 09:55 |
| #3 Seriously, I just saw the headline and thought "God, please let this be The Onion." Someone wake me when they solve that armed conflict thingy (even in 1 country, like Darfur/Sudan). |
| Posted by: BA 2007-07-18 09:42 |
| #2 God save us from do-gooders, especially bad, stupid, corrupt ones. What part of "who asked you?" do they not understand? |
| Posted by: Spot 2007-07-18 08:20 |
| #1 I highly recommend they take an immediate five year sabbatical to Robben Island. The sea air is therapeutic and the solitude and privacy will enable bonding and a free exchange of ideas. Madidba can organize birding walks, ostrich on the braai and sundowners. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-07-18 08:18 |