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Journalism of Courage
On Delhi8217;s Raj Path preparations have already begun for the Republic Day Parade. Often a spectacle that draws interest in the last stages when air force pilots show off their manoeuvres, this time it promises to be interesting. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is the chief guest, and word is still not out whether he will arrive accompanied by First Date, supermodel-turned-folk-singer Carla Bruni. Even if he does not, look forward to some extremely interesting diplomacy. Less than a year into his tenure, Sarkozy has shown himself to be keeping extraordinary company. Run through some of the appointments on his calendar, and it is clear that he is becoming the embodiment of a new internationalism.
Just this month, Sarkozy hosted Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi in Paris and over some banquets sewed up 15 billion worth of contracts. The colonel8217;s visit, his first to France in more than 30 years, drew criticism even from members of the French administration, but others saw it as a step towards updating ties with France8217;s old colonies. Before that, in August, Sarkozy broke bread 8212; to be exact burgers 8212; with US President George W. Bush at the Bush family8217;s home in Kennebunkport, Maine. We don8217;t know if they had a side order of fries, but if they did, be certain that Bush would have cheerfully called them french, not freedom, Fries. The media dwelled longer on the absence at the meal of Cecilia, Sarkozy8217;s subsequently divorced wife. In between repairing relations with hyperpowers and former colonies, Sarkozy has been trying to reorient the diplomatic map of the region by advocating a Mediterranean bonhomie.
