RE: Dictators and the Good Doctor

Bernard Kouchner spent much of last week trying to back-peddle from his war talk against Iran.

Once again, though, he proved himself less than the artful diplomat while giving a talk in Washington. When the Code Pink women's peace group unfurled banners saying "Bush=Kouchner=Warmongers," Kouchner responded, "But I agree, stupid!" Kouchner did have the grace, however, to ask police to permit the protesters to return to the room after they were expelled.

Kouchner's loose talk obscured an more important initiative that he is launching on behalf of Nicolas Sarkozy's America-tilting French government: he is spearheading a diplomatic effort to convince Europe to impose new sanctions on Iran if the U.N. Security Council, due to Russia and Chinese opposition, fails to significantly tighten sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Such a move would have serious economic repercussions for Iran; European countries, notably France and Germany, maintain substantial trade and investment relations with Iran. Kouchner has already asked French companies to cease their Iranian investments. Major French business players in Iran include Total, Gaz de France and Renault.

Thanks to a second front opened by Sarkozy's France, the Iran crisis is heating up.

--By Scott MacLeod/Cairo