IF SARKO'S THE POODLE, WHY IS PEPE THE ONE YAPPING?:

Bush's brand-new poodle (Pepe Escobar, 8/30/07, Asia Times)

With former British prime minister Tony Blair out of the picture, there's now a newer, leaner, meaner, adrenaline-packed "Made in France" version. Thanks to his unrelenting support for President George W Bush's war on Iraq, Blair used to be derided in all corners of the globe as Bush's poodle. Now the new self-appointed lap dog is French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The hyperactive "Sarkozy the First" - as he is widely referred to in France - has just pronounced his first major foreign-policy speech, to an annual conference of 200-odd French ambassadors from posts around the world. He took no time to engage himself in the current White House and neo-conservative-promoted Iran-demonization campaign.

Neo-cons and their ilk in France, plus mostly sycophant media, obviously loved it, with instant geopoliticians raving about the "prudent" and "firm" stand behind Sarkozy's rhetoric.

Mr. Sarkozy just recognizes that the only way for such a minor state to have any influence on world affairs is to line up behind America.

Posted by Orrin Judd at August 29, 2007 7:55 AM