Austin Bay Blog

Nicholas Sarkozy strikes again — and again. Yesterday Saint Nicholas (”it’s Christmas for liberty”) appointed Bernard Kouchner as Foreign Minister. Touche’. Too-effin-che’. Magnifique. Kouchner supported the toppling of Saddam. Like Norm Geras and Christopher Hitchens, Kouchner’s a man of the Left who actually believes in liberty. Grind your teeth in your own buttock, M. Chirac.

The Times-OnLine has the background.

President Sarkozy yesterday appointed as Foreign Minister a socialist rights crusader who backed the US-British invasion of Iraq, causing bemusement and some anger in the French political world.

The appointment of Bernard Kouchner, 67, one of the most popular and outspoken public figures in France, was the most novel in a new “inclusive” government that mixes left-wing and centrist politicians with Mr Sarkozy’s Gaullist lieutenants.

The Socialist Opposition, in whose governments Dr Kouchner had served as Minister for Health and Humanitarian Action, immediately denounced him as a traitor and expelled him from the party.

Yup. Expelled. Cela va sans dire. Where the nutroots control, the purge shall follow. That’s because they are Stalinists at heart.

As the article notes, Kouchner supports pressuring China on Darfur by threatening a boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. That’s the smartest celebrity activist move in recent memory.

This graf is too good:

Dr Kouchner, a 1968 student activist, has dedicated his career to humanitarian relief in war zones since he co-founded the Médecins sans Frontières organisation after working in Bi-afra in 1971. He is best known for developing the theory of “humanitarian intervention” to justify international action against dictators who flout human rights. In 2003 he was the only senior public figure in France to approve the intervention in Iraq. A staunch pro-European, he will implement Mr Sarkozy’s promises to “oppose tyrants and dictators” and inject more morality in France’s dealings with the world.

Kouchner adds:

Dr Kouchner, who was never fully trusted by his Socialist colleagues, said that Mr Sarkozy had reassured him that he did not expect him to change his political views. “I am not betraying my camp,” Dr Kouchner said. “I intend to stay on the side of the oppressed.”

Kouchner is no odd choice– he is a brilliant choice.

As I’ve written — repeatedly– Iraq is a war of liberation. The War on Terror (as poorly named as it is) is a war for modernity. If you aren’t on the side of liberty and liberalization, if you aren’t willing to pay the hard price of winning for liberty and liberalization against the latest brand of fascism (Islamo-fascism), then you are part of the problem. No matter how many tattoos, ponytails, attaboys from Nancy Pelosi, and orientations you may wear, have, or profess, you’re at best a medieval frump, at worst objectively pro-terrorist.

What does Kouchner’s appointment mean for Iraq? Don’t dismiss it as too little too late. This is Sarkozy’s subtle comment on Chirac’s cowardice vis a vis Saddam (and possible connivance with Saddam). The time to evalute Kouchner’s role in the Iraq political game is late this fall. Let’s see Sarkozy-Kouchner’s response if General Petraeus provides a positive assessment in September of his Iraqi “surge.”

More from the Washington Post on Sarkozy’s other appointements.

These are also pretty sharp appointments:

Sarkozy named as defense minister Hervé Morin, a centrist who was a key adviser to failed presidential candidate François Bayrou.

Michèle Alliot-Marie, Chirac’s defense minister, was made interior minister in charge of security and counterterrorism. Rachida Dati, 41, whose parents immigrated to France from Morocco and Algeria, will serve as justice minister. Women were also chosen as ministers of education, culture, health and sports, agriculture, and housing.

France hasn’t had a leader this bold since…well, it’s never had a democratic leader this bold, savvy, bright, and hope-inspiring.