EMPLOYMENT NEWS – AT 10:09 P.M. ET:  This is a classic example of failing upward.  From The Times of London:

The former head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog has rocked Egypt’s political landscape by saying he will try to run against the country’s President of 29 years in next year’s elections.

Mohamed ElBaradei arrived home last week to a raucous reception after 30 years living overseas and 12 years as head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a post that he left in November.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner was met with a crush of hundreds of supporters so dense that he was forced to use an alternative exit from the airport terminal.

Since then, Mr ElBaradei — who has yet to announce his candidacy formally — has given a series of televised interviews strongly criticising conditions in Egypt. He said yesterday that he would be willing to run against President Mubarak, 81.

COMMENT:  ElBaradei was a colossal failure as head of the IAEA, and his Nobel Peace Prize was a farce, almost on the same level as Al Gore's or Jimmah Carter's.  In fact, the first IAEA report on Iran, following ElBaradei's departure, was dramatically more alarming than anything ElBaradei ever allowed to be released.  We also learned that ElBaradei had withheld some critical information that reflected badly on Iran.

But so what?  Hey, what are some differences of opinion among friends, right?

And if you mess up the IAEA, why not try running Egypt?

International politics increasingly look like Hollywood studios – where a guy who's made a series of flops gets an even higher job because he's "learned from experience."  He then makes more flops, and is finally eased out.  But, because he's "seasoned," he gets an independent production deal worth more than his previous jobs.  And then he gets a lifetime achievement award.

February 23, 2010