France’s role in the Libya conflict has returned a lost prestige that France has wanted for a long time. President Sarkozy is seeing himself as equal to Napoleon or Charles de Gaulle. Meanwhile, in the United States, many among the Republican party are worried about the US keeping a low profile in the mission in Lybia, and therefore losing its leadership in world affairs.

No matter how good the intentions of the US, the US has a bad reputation in the Muslim world. So, when President Sarkozy and PM Cameron of England take the lead in world affairs, which is rare, it is like winning a trophy. The truth is that, despite Sarkozy’s rhetoric and arrogance, they still need US military power to achieve their mission in Libya.

Imagine if France was the world military power. President Sarkozy would be giving lessons to the world. As the Bambara of Mali say, “A butterfly thinks itself a bird because it can fly.”