Sarkozy, the new Blair

[T_i_B]

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/soumaya_ghannoushi_/2007/09/sarkozy_the_new_blair_please_k.html

Sarkozy has his eye on Blair's old role. He is keen to fill the position Blair's departure from 10 Downing Street has left vacant. With Brown's decision to withdraw British troops from Basra and other southern Iraqi cities, and the new margin of differences between Britain and the US, Sarkozy is moving to take on the part of America's "close ally" and "reliable partner".

But change has not been confined to Paris. The impact the Iraq disaster and escalating conflict in Afghanistan have had on Washington cannot be overestimated. Donald Rumsfeld's arrogant tone and cowboy-style vocabulary have made way for Condoleezza Rice's more measured words and manufactured smiles. Bush is in dire need of "partners", and Sarkozy is more than happy to oblige.

The new French president is actively working to transform the de Gaullian bases of French foreign and defence policy, which have been in place since the end of the second world war. According to these, French national interests were to be pursued independently of the US and its Nato umbrella, while the EU was to be strengthened through the French/German partnership.

But these are no longer the principles guiding the Elysée. It is progressively abandoning its position of autonomy and binding itself ever closer to the US.

[ccpup]

1. The French political establishment are laughing

at the utter vanity and wide-eyed innocence of our "Commander in Chief". Sarkozy -- who infamously turned on his mentor Chirac when it politically suited him -- is playing * like a violin and has no intention of twisting himself into pretzel-like submission like Blair did. Sarkozy has no problem saying "Yes" when he really means "No" and letting the Americans believe anything they want while having absolutely no intention of giving it to them. If * thinks he is easily manipulated a la Blair, he's wrong.

Or, as a friend of mine in Paris put it, "Sarko's moved into checkmate while * is still excited over the fact that there are horsies on the board to play with" (or something like that ... she said it much better)

[rpannier]

2. The poodle is now a french one.

I'll be interested to see how much longer he lasts if he pursues these policies.