The US offers Blair a rosy future

By Yolande Knell
BBC News, Washington

Tony Blair could walk into a lucrative future in the US

Tony Blair is widely thought to be looking to the United States for inspiration and new employment opportunities.

While the links between the British prime minister and America have badly damaged his standing in the UK, his desire to stay influential on the international stage suggests he is likely to spend more time on this side of the Atlantic in future.

It may be that he takes up the White House's reported proposal that he become a Mid-East envoy for the "quartet" of the US, European Union, United Nations and Russia.

But the US could still be his main source of earnings after his departure from Number 10 Downing Street next week.

In spite of the unpopularity of the Iraq war, Americans still like Mr Blair.

"Most have a high regard for him as a friend of the United States and as an extremely talented political leader," says Daniel Benjamin, the director of the US and Europe programme at the Brookings Institution.

"I think Tony Blair will remain far more admired here, certainly in the near-term, than he will be at home."

Clinton's example

Former US President Bill Clinton is believed to be an important influence on the UK's former prime minister as he considers his next career moves.

Mr Blair could follow in the footsteps of Bill Clinton and write a book...

Like his friend before him, Mr Blair is stepping down from his top political job at the relatively young age of 54.

In recent years, Mr Clinton has created a foundation which works on issues he cares about, such as HIV/AIDS infection in the developing world.

His personal income has come from writing an autobiography, My Life - which sold in record-breaking numbers - and keeping busy on the lucrative US lecture circuit.

He is reckoned to have earned about $40 million (£20m) from speaking fees in the past six years.

Experts say Mr Blair could also make a fortune giving speeches, charging tens of thousands of dollars for each event.

Many expect him to join Mr Clinton on the books of The Harry Walker Agency in New York. The agency already employs Mr Blair's wife, Cherie, as well as the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, and Bono from U2.

Job offers

Another option is academia. Prestigious American universities would love to add Mr Blair to their staff.

... or take a lead from Jose Maria Aznar and move into academia

Georgetown University in Washington took on his close associate, Jose Maria Aznar, when he lost his job as Spain's prime minister in 2004.

Mr Aznar has taught classes and given public lectures on terrorism, European politics and the transatlantic relationship.

The dean of the university's School of Foreign Service, Robert Galluci, is keen to offer Mr Blair a similar position.

"He has eloquence and intelligence and has been at the heart of so many policy making decisions that he would have a lot to share with our students and our faculty," he says.

"He would bring something very valuable to Georgetown."

Olive branch

Proposals have also come from more unexpected quarters.

...or set up a charitable foundation like former US leader Jimmy Carter

Former US President Jimmy Carter has criticised Tony Blair for his "blind" support of the war in Iraq.

However, he suggests his organisation, the Carter Center, could work with Mr Blair, if, as expected, he now sets up his own charitable foundation to champion international affairs.

"I would hope that we could form an alliance," Mr Carter says. "One obvious goal would be to help bring peace to the Middle East."

The former president, who won the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, set up his centre in Atlanta, Georgia, 25 years ago after he left the White House.

It has programmes in about 70 countries - about half in Africa - focusing on conflict resolution, democracy promotion and health care.

A British member of staff, Paul Emerson, thinks Mr Blair is "extremely well-positioned" to follow Mr Carter's lead in Africa when he leaves office.

"We know he's committed through his leadership of the G8 a couple of years ago and his work on debt relief. He really did try to put Africa and African development at the forefront."

Next moves

As the Blair era comes to an end in the UK, it is clear that a new period of globe-trotting awaits the former prime minister.

Mr Blair's farewell to No 10 will not mark the end of his globe-trotting

Spending time away from home will help him avoid the accusations of being a "back-seat driver" in government, which dogged Baroness Thatcher after she was forced out of Downing Street.

Like his predecessor, Mr Blair will find that time in America can boost both his bank balance - and his ego.

Later this year, he is expected to return to Washington to collect his Congressional Gold Medal from President George W Bush in a ceremony on Capitol Hill.

Lawmakers awarded him the country's highest civilian honour in 2003 to recognise his role as America's "staunch and steadfast ally".

It would be hard to script a better start to Mr Blair's new special relationship with the US.