Afghanistan - Ivory Coast - Libya: Nicolas Sarkozy, the new war president

The world need more Sarkozies - not fewer. The end of the colonial era was supposed to let the colonized people elect their leaders, but instead we have seen dictators, army generals and military coups, and despots masquerading as nationalist leaders thumbing their own people and preventing economic development and social harmony.

How do the former colonial rulers respond to those dictators and the civil wars they have instigated to cling to power, and the dozens of unruly and murderous militias ranging havoc across Africa? Well, unless there is a grave economic and strategic interest to them, they usually just express "concern," and let the bloodshed continue! Sarkozy deserves a grade A+ for leadership for France's active involvement to unseat Gadhafi in Libya and Gbabgo in Ivory Coast. By comparison, Baraq Obama deserves a grade C- for his lukewarm involvement in Libya and Ivory Coast, and for turning a blind eye to bloody pro-U.S. dictators Abdullah Saleh in Yemen and the Bahrain king.

I am sure the motto: "Give me liberty or give me death" can be re-written now by the Libyans and Ivorians to state: "Give me Sarkozy to prevent my death!" Nikos Retsos, retired professor