As Libyan leader Muammer Gaddafi vows to fight “until the last drop of my blood,” what the Atlantic Community has to worry about is much more the probability that most of the blood that is spilled will be that of his own citizens.  In the Washington Post today, under the headline “Obama’s moment,” William Kristol reminds us that this is one of those moments of history that tests presidential timber. “This means much more than speeches – though speaking would be a good start,” he says. Jim Hoagland on the same page recounts the litany of murder for which we have already forgiven Gaddafi, after he gave up development of chemical and nuclear weapons – calling it “a giant plea bargain.” The Wall Street Journal over the weekend in its lead editorial reminded us of the second inaugural of George W. Bush.  Whatever you think of his performance in office, his words were prescient about the precarious nature of dictatorship.  World leaders must move quickly to help his people ensure that Gaddafi can’t cling to power through more murderous acts. 

It seems increasingly clear that Dominique Strauss Kahn, the man who was economics minister during the introduction of the 35-hour work week, is going to make a run for the Presidency against Sarkozy.  With opinion polls currently showing that he would be the favorite in such a matchup, The Financial Times today wonders why he doesn’t make it official.  After all, when asked whether he would run he says he listens to his wife, and wagging tongues in Washington say she is ready to head home.  However, perhaps part of what gives the IMF chief some pause is the fact that this election would get dirty.  Sarkozy’s people are already attacking Strauss-Kahn’s social class – “ultra-caviar left.”   The IMF also has allowed him to rise above the accusations of fraud (he was acquitted), which made it impossible for him to run in 2006. 

 

CHINA WATCH: MORE SIGNS OF SUPERPOWER STATUS 

 

You know you are a superpower (or beginning to become one) when you walk away from major world meetings with massive business deals. By that measure, China scores again as Kazakhstan announces billions of dollars in deals signed in Beijng by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Chinese leader Hu Jintao. According to reports by Radio Free Europe and the Associated Press, they went far beyond the plain vanilla energy deals of the past, and they showed the extent to which the U.S., Europe, and even Russia were being outmaneuvered by the cash-rich and energy hungry Chinese. There was a $1.7 billion loan to the Kazkh welfare fund, a supply deal for Kazakh uranium for the Chinese nuclear energy sector, and another agreement in principle to work together on a super high-tech project – an Astana-Almaty high speed train.  Kazakh officials keep telling U.S. diplomats they want more Americans in their country to counterbalance “the Chinese effect” – but instead there are even rumors that U.S. oil giants might sell off some of their interests to China.

A SHAME HE’S NOT DEUTSCH, BUT GOOD THAT HE’S DUTCH