NEITHER David Cameron nor Nicolas Sarkozy has had much to be cheerful about in recent months. The British economy is at a standstill and the coalition government is creaking at the joints. The French president is distinctly unpopular at home and faces a difficult re-election next year.
The exception, of course, has been the success of the Libyan revolution in which Britain and France were the leaders of the United Nations authorised assistance. Prime Minister and President were fully entitled, therefore, to visit Libya together earlier this week and to bask briefly in the thanks of the Libyan interim leaders and the cheers and handshakes of the Libyan crowds. Mahmoud Jibril, the acting prime minister, praised Britain and France for their historic stance in helping Libya.
Comparisons have been made with George W Bush's ill-judged mission accomplished stance on Iraq in May 2003 but my impression was that both men avoided anything of the kind and gave full credit to what the Libyan rebels had themselves achieved. Although Gaddafi remains at large the timing of the visit was about right -- with the euphoria of victory still in the air and before the inevitable difficulties and disappointments set in as a new democratic nation is formed. Libya will need a lot more help in the coming months and years and will know where to turn for it.
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