Sarkozy hopes the U.S. will do most of the heavy military lifting in the air and ultimately on the ground in Libya. As for Sarkozy, he would prefer reserving to himself "le grandeur" for instigating Gaddafi's overthrow, yet maintaining the French Foreign Legion OFF the shores of Tripoli. It would be very wise for us to be open-eyed about Paris' grand designs.
Despite President Sarkozy's Machiavellian preferences, I prefer French boots (as well as British, Egyptian and Saudi boots) -- not GI boots -- to be the preferred footwear on Libyan sand.
If Sarkozy wants the glory, he is going to have to earn it by putting French forces in harms' way all the way.
Until a few weeks ago, Paris has never had an obsession with Gaddafi. After all, Italy, rather than France, was the colonial power in Libya. Gaddafi's closest ally in Europe is Italian PM Berlusconi.
Amb. Marc Ginsberg: Memo to President Obama: Don't Stand in Sarkozy's Way in Libya