Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Yale, which until now I had believed to be a university dedicated to standards in scholarship has just appointed Tony Blair to teach its students about Faith and Globalisation! Here is the announcement.
Yale President Richard C. Levin says “The appointment of Mr. Blair provides a tremendous opportunity for our students... it is essential that we explore how religious values can be channeled toward reconciliation rather than polarization. Mr. Blair has demonstrated outstanding leadership in these areas and is especially qualified to bring his perspective to bear. We are honored that he is planning to join the Yale community.” If there was a God Mr Levin would have been struck down for his disrespect for the innocent dead of Iraq. Unless, of course, he was exercising deep irony in a desperate search for even more funds.
T he announcement is also the first time I have seen official confirmation that the man is going to announce the creation of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation - or Bad Faith foundation, to be more accurate. Its a Goebbels PR thing. If you are going to be shameless be utterly shameless. Pity about Yale, its YaleGlobal edited by Nayan Chander is a great publication, let's hope its not contaminated.
Comments
You're being very unfair Anthony! Now that he has brought peace to the Middle East, why shouldn't he take time to reflect on his work as Uniter of Faiths and pass on his knowledge to next leaders of the Free World?
Possib,ly the students at Yale can teach Blair something about globalisation. It is something about which he has said a lot, exposing himself as a very shallown thinker.
Personally I think that the Yale authorities should be congratulated for this altruistic ploy. They have sacrificed one of their minor departments to stop him strutting around on the World's stage to the annoyance of the rest of us.
Mr Blair teaching about 'His Faith'. What is all that about? A man with a Masters in Spin and a Phd in Obfuscation. A consumate 'Blah Merchant' of the Barnum & Bailey Snake Oil Salesman type. Now he will endow a Blair Foundation at some unfortunate UK University with tall tales of how he single handedly 'Saved the World'. Oh the tales they tell!!
'Smoke and Mirror'
[...] the Africa Progress Panel; - accepting an advisory position at Swiss insurer Zurich, - taking up an interfaith teaching position at Yale (linked to the upcoming Tony Blair Faith [...]
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