Mandela and 'The Elders' aim to save the world [Carter, Kofi Annan, etc.,etc.]

The Telegraph ^ | 7/18/2007 | David Blair

[bruinbirdman]

Nelson Mandela and five other senior statesmen will today form themselves into a team of international troubleshooters called "The Elders".

The initiative, funded by Sir Richard Branson, will be launched in Johannesburg during celebrations marking Mr Mandela's 89th birthday.

The former South African president, who spent 27 years behind bars during the apartheid era, is a figure with unparalleled moral authority.

The idea is that he will team up with Jimmy Carter, the former US president, Kofi Annan, the former United Nations secretary-general, Mary Robinson, the former Irish president, Desmond Tutu, the Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town and Mohammed Yunus, the Nobel Laureate and founder of the Green Bank in Bangladesh.

The membership of The Elders has been carefully chosen. Each one is a non-partisan figure with a rolodex packed with international contacts.

"This group can speak freely and boldly, working both publicly and behind the scenes on whatever actions need to be taken," said Mr Mandela in a statement.

"Together we will work to support courage where there is fear, foster agreement where there is conflict, and inspire hope where there is despair."

Sir Richard Branson cited hostage situations in Nigeria as an example of where The Elders could intervene.

During the build-up to the war in Iraq in 2003, Sir Richard persuaded Mr Mandela and Mr Annan to agree to travel to Baghdad and persuade Saddam Hussein to leave the country peacefully.

But the war began before the idea could get off the ground. Mr Mandela, who enters his ninth decade today, no longer travels outside South Africa and very rarely speaks in public.

He is unlikely to be an active, travelling member of the club. Instead, he is more likely to be an elder figurehead of an elderly group.

[Suzy Quzy]

They are ALL COMMUNISTS!!! Elder Communists!!

[bill1952]

I think that putting all of these kooks into one open group is a great idea.

[Porterville]

The arrogance of these arrogant “men”

[DesScorp]

By teaming up with Jimmy Carter and Kofi Annon, his moral authority is now nil.

[BenLurkin]

"Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said governments had frequently failed to tackle the world's big issues and conflicts because they were beholden to voters..."

[enough_idiocy]

Who or what did Carter or Kofi ever save or better?

[goodwithagun]

Where is their meeting place? A well directed bomb. . .

[Dilbert San Diego]

It’s laughable to say that each one was carefully chosen because they are non-partisan.

[VR-21]

Bono is going to be pissed off big time.

[popdonnelly]

Richard Branson, eh? Looks like we’re returning to the days of the aristocracy. The World will be run by wealthy idiots, who are fit to rule by virtue of their wealth. We already have Soros and Bill Gates. Branson might as well join in the fun.

[popdonnelly]

“The former South African president, who spent 27 years behind bars during the apartheid era, is a figure with unparalleled moral authority.”

I thought only Cindy Sheehan had absolute moral authority. If I recall correctly, Mandela was convicted of trying to blow up a powerplant.

[Dan Cooper]

"Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said governments had frequently failed to tackle the world's big issues and conflicts because they were beholden to voters..."

The inconvenient people, always mucking up the plans of the great and powerful.

[enough_idiocy]

LOL. I didn’t even get that far, I read the names and shat myself in laughter.

[enough_idiocy]

What voters prevented him from taking on radical Islam and fixing the economy?

[attiladhun2]

Amnesty International did not even side with Mandela in the beginning, because he was rightfully convicted as a criminal.

[Enchante]

"Each one is a non-partisan figure"

Holy thermonuclear nausea, Batman -- that wins a projectile vomit!!! What meaning can "non-partisan" possibly have when applied to the far leftists on this list??? Only that none of them is currently the official head of a political party, maybe. Jimmy Peanut is non-partisan???? The other communists are non-partisan??? Give me a break....

[rottndog]

Not wishing ill on anyone, but I must say the world will be a much better place when these idiots aren’t on it anymore.

[Enchante]

"During the build-up to the war in Iraq in 2003, Sir Richard persuaded Mr Mandela and Mr Annan to agree to travel to Baghdad and persuade Saddam Hussein to leave the country peacefully. But the war began before the idea could get off the ground..."

That's either the rankest dishonesty (they were never going to go) or idiocy or all of the above!! There were so many months of "build-up" to the war, either they were too stupid to know they'd better get off their duffs and jet off to Baghdad or else they were never really serious about going. Probably they knew that Saddam would be laughing at their attempted "mediation" so they never bothered to try it, even though they would have enjoyed being propagandists for Saddam's peaceful non-violent intentions...... what a pile of donkey droppings.

[himno hero]

nelson and annan and tutu!?!?!

they need not look far

the only one missing is Mugabe.

maybe they should consult there while they are picking him up