a promise to bono

It has been a while since I had anything bono related but here is something:

spinner.com:

Those pesky Wikileaks cables are continuing to reveal how rock impinges on the crazy world we call politics.

After missives from South Korea showed how Eric Clapton became a pawn in relations with its fractious northern neighbour, the latest round of leaks published by The Guardian suggests U2’s frontman weighed on the mind of Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi.

In a memo, the US embassy in Rome’s economic advisor, William Meara, reports Berlusconi considered increasing Italy’s foreign aid budget during its 2009 G8 presidency to avoid an “embarrassing tongue-lashing” from Bono.

Their relationship had been strained since 2006 when the rocker accused Berlusconi of exploiting his image during an election campaign. He appeared in a brochure sent to Italian homes saying he was grateful for the state’s help to the world’s poor.

Straight talking Aussie John Howard was not convinced:

BONO, the global activist and singer with U2, has received a salutary lesson from John Howard: the Prime Minister does not respond to ultimatums. In Australia on tour, Bono, who hangs out with politicians in Europe and the US, let it be known he would like to meet the PM. On Tuesday, Howard said he was open to the idea if a formal request was made.

Then, says the PM’s office, Bono listed conditions – primarily that Australia increase the proportion of gross domestic product it gives in foreign aid from 0.3 per cent to 0.7 per cent. No dice, said the PM yesterday. “I don’t accept preconditions from anybody. I don’t commit in advance to businessmen in this country and I certainly don’t do it to – much in all as he’s high-grade – Irish entertainers.”