SARKOZY THE IRON MAN - AT 8:46 A.M. ET:  How often can we call a French leader an "iron man"?  But watching French President Nicolas Sarkozy confront Iran gives us confidence in awarding the title.  Sarkozy has become, spiritually at least, the leader of the West on the Iran question, as the Washington Post points out:

PARIS, Sept. 30 -- Under President Nicolas Sarkozy, France has adopted an increasingly hard-edged approach to Iran, often out ahead of the Obama administration with uncompromising language criticizing Iranian leaders and warning that their nuclear program threatens world peace.

Applause, please.

...French analysts said Sarkozy feels that Europe got nowhere with Iran in several years of what was called "constructive dialogue" and that it is time to move on to stronger measures in tandem with Washington.

"In tandem with?"  Let's hope Washington is on board, and that Mr. Softee, cozy in the White House, understands the stakes.

As a result, French diplomats at a crucial meeting Thursday in Geneva are likely to push for swift, punitive sanctions unless Iran pledges unequivocally to open its entire nuclear program to international inspection to ensure Tehran is not developing atomic weapons. Jean-Pierre Maulny, a specialist in European defense at the Paris-based Institute for International and Strategic Relations, said Germany and Britain are likely to agree because they also feel the constructive dialogue bore no fruit and, to some extent, have been aligned with Paris.

COMMENT:  Late reports say the talks are underway at this hour.  There are two key issues:  What will Iran offer, if anything?  How will the Obama administration react?

Obama has already pulled the rug out from under our East European allies on missile defense.  We wonder what he has in store for Britain, France, and Germany.  He's already insulted Britain several times, Germany went right in Sunday's election, which cannot please The One, and on his recent, D-Day visit to France, he seemed decidedly indifferent to the country. 

Stay tuned.  Presumably, Iran has until December to shape up in the nuclear talks.  But Obama throws deadlines under the bus as quickly as he does his friends.

October 1, 2009