Liberalism sans frontieres

Man behind France’s hard line on Iran is a liberal interventionist, says jason burke in Paris

Bernard Kouchner has been on the radio every morning this week. Not the real Kouchner - the French foreign minister is far too busy visiting the Middle East, Moscow and Washington and sounding off about Iran to give daily interviews - but the hilarious imitation preformed by France's top mimic, Nicolas Canteloup.

Canteloup's Kouchner is always short of breath, running from meeting to meeting, saving lives here, setting up charities there, do-gooding at a frenetic pace, shooting his mouth off, schmoozing journalists. It's cruel, funny - and not unfair.

Kouchner, 67, has been running for 40 years. The twin events that triggered his relentless activity were 'May 1968' in France and the Biafran war in Nigeria. Kouchner (right) leapt straight from the politics of one to the humanitarian activism of the other. And the fusion of the two - into 'liberal

Kouchner’s relentless activity was triggered by ‘May 1968’ in France and the Biafran war in Nigeria

interventionism' a la Tony Blair - has been his trademark ever since, whether as founder of Medecins Sans Frontieres, or when backing the removal of Saddam Hussein in 2003 or now, testing the Iranians in his new role as Sarkozy's foreign affairs attack dog.

Kouchner hit headlines at the weekend by suggesting that the world needed to prepare itself for the worst scenario if Iran continued its bid to become nuclear capable - i.e. war.

He was (a) being typically realistic, (b) being refreshingly honest, (c) showing his inexperience in high diplomacy and (d) articulating what his boss wants him to say (French foreign policy remains the preserve of the President).

The reaction he provoked has annoyed European leaders already irritated by the hyperactive Sarkozy and his attempts to reposition France at the centre of pretty much everything. But it will not have displeased anyone in Paris. Kouchner was brought in to shake up French foreign policy - and particularly end its reflexive anti-Americanism - which is exactly what he is doing. As fast as his legs will carry him.