Bush to Sarkozy: I can leave quietly, little one. You will continue my task.
Sarkozy’s rise in France represents a move to the right and toward U.S. and atlanticism. France punches above its weight on the international stage through its permanent seat on the Security Council and its central role in the EU.
Bush and Sarkozy are both in the Middle East, and although they have not announced a meeting there, they’re going to some of the same countries… and more-or-less at the same times.
According to this article from the French L’Humanite, translated by the ever-consistent WatchingAmerica.com, the realignment in French policy toward the Middle East and in particular Saudi Arabia is a given – and the Saudis don’t like it. France is historically a strong Western supporter of the Arab Middle East. However, Sarkozy has already established himself as sufficiently “Anglo-American” in his current conception of the situation in the Gulf that he may have to take care to ensure he does not take over the “Bush’s poodle” role, vacated by Blair, according to cynical Brits, as Bush’s petit chien.
Read the very interesting piece, “Sarkozy in the Footsteps of Bush”, here on Watching America
Robin Koerner is a British-born citizen of the USA, who currently serves as Academic Dean of the John Locke Institute. He holds graduate degrees in both Physics and the Philosophy of Science from the University of Cambridge (U.K.). He is also the founder of WatchingAmerica.com, an organization of over 100 volunteers that translates and posts in English views about the USA from all over the world.
Robin may be best known for having coined the term “Blue Republican” to refer to liberals and independents who joined the GOP to support Ron Paul’s bid for the presidency in 2012 (and, in so doing, launching the largest coalition that existed for that candidate).
Robin’s current work as a trainer and a consultant, and his book If You Can Keep It , focus on overcoming distrust and bridging ideological division to improve politics and lives. His current project, Humilitarian, promotes humility and civility as a basis for improved political discourse and outcomes.