Sarko the Mysterious

Am I the only one who is totally intrigued by the Gigantic Ego that is the new French president?

Not two hours ago, I posted about the hopeless (irony alert!) mess that is Samantha Power’s “advice” on how to rethink Iran and just now I come across the brass-balls-out maneuver of Sarkozy that has even Marc Lynch—who knows a LOT about the Arab world—scratching his head [e.a.]:

Speaking of the Gulf, I’m struggling to understand the significance of the stunning announcement that the UAE had agreed to the establishment of a major French military base in Abu Dhabi. … A long-term French strategic position in the Gulf challenges American exclusivity, and potentially undermines the fundamental architecture of the hegemonic American position in the Gulf. Perhaps Sarkozy truly is a neo-Gaullist after all….

Here’s the announcement, from Wednesday, January 16 [e.a.]:

PARIS - In a major strategic shift, France is setting up its first permanent naval base in the Persian Gulf, just across from Iran, President Nicolas Sarkozy announced during a visit yesterday to the United Arab Emirates.

The 400-strong military base will be built in Abu Dhabi, the wealthiest and most influential of the Emirates, and will include a significant intelligence operation, French officials said.

It will make France one of a small number of Western countries alongside the United States to have a military presence in a region that is of increasing geopolitical importance both because of its lucrative gas and oil resources and because of its proximity to Iran.

The agreement is “a sign to all that France is participating in the stability of this region of the world,” Sarkozy told reporters after signing the accord, the Associated Press reported.

“France responds to its friends,” he said.

Only one week earlier, Sarkozy was telling the French press that it was free to ignore his steamy personal life (my characterization, not his), remember?

Very interesting. I have no idea what the guy is up to, but it’s clear he is intent on making himself known far and wide.

Here’s a link to the various things I’ve had to say about Sarkozy recently (none of them about politics or foreign policy).