Clinton's big globalist bash.

More than a thousand people--including current Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan--attended the Clinton Global Initiative, a confab organized by impeached former President Bill Clinton to coincide with the opening of the UN General Assembly last month. Modeled on the annual gathering of world elite in Davos, Switzerland, the meeting was described as the inauguration of a new network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) intended to provide support for the UN's global social agenda.

"Former President Bill Clinton organized the conference with goals in four areas," observed a September 25 Voice of America account. "One is to reduce poverty. Another is to use religion as a force for understanding and conflict resolution. The third is to use business and technology to fight climate change. And the fourth is to strengthen governments." The event reportedly raised more than $1.25 billion in pledges from business and government figures toward advancing various global initiatives.

"Clearly, the success of the entire venture was due to the charismatic appeal of the former President," rhapsodized James Zogby. head of the Arab-American Institute. "Who else, one participant observed, could draw 40 heads of state (competing with the United Nations General Assembly meeting across town) and the vast array of experts, leaders, and activists who turned out for the conference. And who else could have cajoled and/or inspired such an outpouring of commitments to act."

An informal but long-observed customary agreement among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council prevents each of them from nominating one of its citizens to be nominated as secretary-general. It's tempting to think, however, that Bill Clinton--for whom campaigning comes as naturally as lying--is gearing up for one last political run.