France Puts On the War Paint

Staff / Truthdig Sep 17, 2007 France's foreign minister has issued an alarming warning over Iran's nuclear program: "We have to prepare for the worst, and the worst is war," Bernard Kouchner said. Those are troubling words coming from a recently elected conservative French government that has tried to buddy up to the White House. It makes us wonder what he knows that we don't. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

French Jail Awaits Noriega?

Staff / Truthdig Aug 25, 2007 Once he's released in September from a Miami prison, where he's been serving time for the last 15 years, former Panamanian ruler Manuel Noriega faces yet another jail term, either in his homeland or, more likely, in France. On Friday, a U.S. federal judge refused to block Noriega's extradition to France, where he may endure yet another stint in a foreign prison. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Vive la Velorution!

Zuade Kaufman / Truthdig Jul 16, 2007 The French didn't invent the wheel, but with their latest urban project they're reinventing how it'll be used in their beloved capital. On July 15, Mayor Bertrand Delanoë and other green-minded Parisians were on hand at the launching of the "Velib' " program, which makes some 10,600 public-use bicycles available at 750 stations throughout the world's most visited city. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Broken Promises From the Divider in Chief

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig Jul 9, 2007 Cooling the flames of his campaign, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has turned toward "fraternité" in his style of governance, striking a sharp contrast with the divisive politics of George W. Bush (aka The Uniter). Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Sarkozy Critiqued for le Running Habit

Staff / Truthdig Jul 6, 2007 French President Nicolas Sarkozy is being widely criticized for his passion for jogging, which some members of his country's intelligentsia consider to be un-French, right-wing or even a ploy to brainwash his citizens . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

A Diverse Picture in French Cabinet

Staff / Truthdig May 18, 2007 Newly elected French President Nicolas Sarkozy has made something of a splash with his new cabinet. Seven of the government's 15 ministers will be women. Bernard Kouchner, the socialist founder of Doctors Without Borders, will serve as the conservative government's foreign minister. Justice Minister Rachida Dati is France's first senior cabinet official with an ethnic minority background. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The French Bellwether

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig May 8, 2007 Is Europe moving right? Is the democratic left in trouble? The decisive victory of Nicolas Sarkozy over Socialist Segolene Royal in France's presidential elections on Sunday was the most recent example of the battering that moderate-left parties are taking from the forces of globalization and discontent over immigration. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Bill Maher: Vive La France!

Staff / Truthdig May 7, 2007 The "Real Time" host says that conservatives have to stop rolling their eyes at the French, who have the best healthcare system, an informed and active electorate, public intellectuals and, above all, the common sense to stay out of Iraq. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Conservative Wins French Election

Staff / Truthdig May 7, 2007 Socialist candidate Segolene Royal has conceded to conservative Nicolas Sarkozy, the next president of France. In his acceptance speech, Sarkozy promised to unite a divided nation and urged Washington to address climate change more aggressively. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Final Hustle

Staff / Truthdig May 4, 2007 French presidential candidates Segolene Royal (above) and Nicolas Sarkozy are fervently pressing flesh and swapping barbs in the remaining hours before Sunday's vote. Royal, a socialist, warned that a win for Sarkozy could trigger violence, while front-runner Sarkozy sniffed that his rival's attack was a byproduct of her lagging status in pre-election polls. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

France’s Vote Turnout Highest in Decades

Staff / Truthdig Apr 23, 2007 France has experienced its highest voter turnout in nearly 50 years, with right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy and socialist Segolene Royal, pictured, headed for a runoff. If she wins, Royal will be France's first woman president, but she took in fewer votes than Sarkozy. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

French Intelligence Warned of Airline Terror Plot in 2001

Staff / Truthdig Apr 17, 2007 Months before 9/11, French intelligence warned the CIA that al-Qaida was planning an attack involving airplanes, according to classified documents and former French intelligence officials. The information was vague and possibly misleading, but it speaks to the intelligence community's inability to coalesce fragmentary warnings into something concrete and comprehensive. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )