Tony Blair Minister with all the Talents - a faithful sort of guy.

Tony Blair now an official papist as well as war criminal , avoided talking about his religious views while in office for fear of being labelled "a nutter" This was revealed in November last year when the BBC screened The Blair Years, and he explained that his faith had been "hugely important" to his premiership.

Launching his Faith Foundation the BBC report that Tony Blair believes that faith is the new battleground. He believes it's been hijacked by extremists - from all religions, he's careful to say. Faith, he says, needs to be claimed back by those who believe in co-existence.

This is a huge departure for a man who as prime minister was reluctant to speak of his faith.

Is it ?

Recently with the star of an Illinois Senator rising we have been examining the complex world of Chicago politics and the movers and shakers, some who turned up a private (and unreported) speech the fledgling warrior for faith made when as the first serving British prime minister he addressed The Economic Club of Chicago on April 23, 1999, when the assorted force of NATO were bombing modern cities from 20,000 feet.

“While we meet here in Chicago this evening," he started , "unspeakable things are happening in Europe. Awful crimes that we never thought we would see again have reappeared— ethnic cleansing, systematic rape, mass murder."

Continuing in his very personal vein he continued , "On its 50th birthday, NATO must prevail.
Milosevic had, I believe, convinced himself that the Alliance would crack. But I am certain that this weekend’s summit in Washington under President Clinton’s leadership will make our unity and our absolute resolve clear for all to see. Success is the only exit strategy I am prepared to consider."

“Yet, as with the parable of the individuals and the talents so those nations which have the power, have the responsibility. We need you engaged. We need the dialogue with you. Europe over time will become stronger and stronger, but its time is some way off."

“I say to you: never fall again for the doctrine of isolationism. The world cannot afford it. Stay a country, outward-looking, with the vision and the imagination that is in your nature. And realize that in Britain you have a friend and an ally that will stand with you, work with you, fashion with you the design of a future built on peace and prosperity for all, which is the only dream that makes humanity worth preserving.”

Those interested in Blair's apparent acceptance of religious principle as a Prime Minister and prime mover in his world, are advised to read the complete speech and ponder how many UK politicians would ever use the parable of talents . ... and how many in the UK audience would understand it.

Those interested in the power world of Chicago politics might wish to consider the 22 year reign by Ms. Grace Barry as President of the Economic Club of Chicago, resident at swanky, exclusive 2440 Lakeview who gave Obama US$500 in Q1/2007 , US$3,150 in Q4 2007 and US$5,256 in Q2 2008 in his run for the Presidency.

Ms. Barry is an accomplished entrepreneur and business owner. In 1994, she co-founded Grabur International Inc., a retail gift and concession business. Grabur formed a partnership with W. H. Smith, a U.K. serving travelers forming Chicago Air Ventures in 1996, which operated news, gifts, and bookstores at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago which she sold in 2003. She also successfully founded and served as President of Café Galleria Inc. from 1993 to 1996.

From 1989 to 1996, Ms. Barry served as a Commissioner on the Cable Commission of the City of Chicago. In that position, she drew on her experience as the former Director of Cablevision Systems in Chicago, a leading national cable television company.

Ms. Barry has served as a consultant and advisor on economic development, public affairs, housing, human resources and education to The U.S. Departments of Labor, Housing & Urban Development; the Cities of New York, Buffalo and Chicago; The Carnegie Foundation; Fordham University; The Chicago Project; and to private housing developers in Boston and Upstate New York.

If interested you might kick off with this post Sunday, February 24, 2008 Joining some of the Dots : Pt 27 Nahdmi Auchi ,Ibitsam Auchi, Antoin "Tony" Rezko , Barack Obama, Talat Othman and George Bush via Peter Carter-Fuck especially The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, founded in 1922 as The Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, whose VP Community and External Affairs is Director Michelle Obama who has some fascinating pals at Sidley Austin LLP.