The current issue of GQ magazine features an extensive interview with Colin Powell, and a quote within the interview set off a certain Bono-ism alarm inside my brain. In response to a question about the threat of terrorism, Powell said:

“I would approach this differently, in almost Marshall-like terms. What are the great opportunities out there—ones that we can take advantage of? It should not be just about creating alliances to deal with a guy in a cave in Pakistan. It should be about how do we create institutions that keep the world moving down a path of wealth creation, of increasing respect for human rights, creating democratic institutions, and increasing the efficiency and power of market economies? This is perhaps the most effective way to go after terrorists.”

We’ve heard quite a few times from Bono in the past several years that he believes in a Marshall Plan for Africa and that “the war against terror is bound up in the war against poverty.” And that Colin Powell says so. For real, I half expected Powell to end the above quote by adding “And I didn’t say that, Bono said that. And he’s an Irish rock star, so maybe we should listen.”

Anyway …

It’s also that time of year again when everyone starts predicting who will win the Nobel Peace Prize. Bono has no chance. Just sayin…

There are some profiles of the “favorites” on the ABC News website. If the vote were all about facial hair and hoop earring (singular), surely Bono would win. But we all know it’s about more than that. Haircuts count, too. With that in mind, I’m betting on peace mediator Martti Ahtisaari because he has some serious Larry Mullen style action up top. Nice.

(After-the-Fact Update: What I meant to say was, clearly the winner will be Al Gore.)

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