French President Sarkozy, in his first major foreign policy address, hits President Bush right between the eyes:

The Iraq tragedy cannot leave us indifferent. France was, thanks to Jacques Chirac, and remains hostile to this war. ... The political solution includes the marginalisation of extremist groups and a sincere process of national reconciliation, which must include every segment of Iraqi society -- and God knows there are a lot -- and every Iraqi being assured of fair access to the institutions and resources of their country. ... It also includes a clear horizon concerning the retreat of foreign troops. It is then and only then the international community, starting with the countries in the region, will be able to act most usefully. France, for its part, will be prepared to help.

This follows the first-ever visit by a French foreign minister to Iraq, earlier this month. After that visit, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that Iraqi PM Maliki should resign. Maliki was outraged, and Kouchner apologized, sort of. Here is his (rather funny) apology:

"I was very polite and apologized,'' Kouchner said after the president's speech. "Maybe I shouldn't have said it straight away. Maybe I should have said that `people' have told me that he is going to leave, because he is going to."

Writing in the IHT, Kouchner once again offered France as a mediator in Iraq:

France is ready to act as a mediator in Iraq, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Monday, calling for the United Nations and Iraq's neighbours to take a more active role in helping to end the crisis in the war-torn country.

"Although the (US-led 2003) invasion ended a brutal dictatorship, the methods used to build a secure and democratic Iraq have failed," Kouchner wrote in the International Herald Tribune.

"It is time to start anew. There can be no lasting military solution to the crisis. The solution has to be political."

The minister said at least planning for the withdrawal of foreign troops must begin, in consultation with Iraqi authorities, if not commence immediately.

"At the same time, a broad-based government of national unity must be established. France is prepared to act as a mediator in this endeavor."