A FRIEND IN FRANCE?

NICOLAS Sarkozy, the recently elected leader of America's oldest ally - and possibly the most pro-U.S. president in France's history - begins his first official visit to the United States today, a country he's called the world's "greatest democracy."

During a two-day visit, Sarkozy will meet with President Bush, go to George Washington's home at Mount Vernon and - following in the footsteps of Marquis de Lafayette - address a joint session of Congress, becoming the eighth Frenchman to do so.

Let's just say, we've come a long way since freedom fries . . .

Compared to his anti-U.S. predecessor, Jacques Chirac, "Sarko the American" (as he's sometimes scornfully called at home) has been nothing less than a breath of fresh Alpine air for Franco-U.S. relations. Even so, he's no Gallic lapdog.

In his electoral victory speech, Sarkozy said: "I'd like to appeal to our American friends to say that they can count on our friendship." But, he added, "I would also like to say that friendship means accepting that your friends don't necessarily see eye to eye with you."

Fair enough. But Sarkozy's record so far inspires some confidence.

In his first major foreign-policy speech, he called Iran's development of nuclear weapons "unacceptable" - and agreed that keeping the military option on the table was a good idea. But, choosing his words carefully, Sarko didn't advocate attacking Iran.

He supports punitive economic sanctions against Iran, even increasing them, but has yet to require French firms, such as energy giants Total or Gaz de France, to divest themselves of their Iranian holdings.

While not endorsing Coalition policy on Iraq, Sarkozy seems to understand the importance of success there. In fact, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner visited Iraq in August - an act that would have been treasonous under Chirac.

Sarkozy's also pretty good on Afghanistan. He originally advocated removing French troops from the NATO mission, but he's now in favor of staying, although French forces largely don't operate in the most dangerous parts of the country..."

Following in the tiny footsteps of Jake Chirac would make anyone seem bigger than life, but for once in my life I can say that we've not a backstabbing enemy in France and whenever one loses a foe it is time to DARE dream of yet another Disneyworld in Europe.