Sarkozy in the Footsteps of Bush

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