REMARKABLE

Posted at 7:14 a.m. ET

We try to be careful here at Urgent Agenda to adhere to traditional journalistic standards, not the ones prevailing today.  That means looking at each story we read with a cold eye, and applying a healthy dose of skepticism.  Occasionally, though, a story comes along that is thoroughly intriguing, cannot be completely sourced, yet seems to correspond to other things we've read. 

The leftist Israeli newspaper Haaretz publishes a piece this morning that fits that description.  It seems to be exclusive to them, and provides insight into French President Sarkozy's view of Barack Obama's Iran policy.  I stress that the story has not been confirmed elsewhere, but appears well reported.  It also confirms other rumblings we hear about discontent in foreign ministries of a number of countries with Obama's seat-of-the-pants foreign policy views.  With those caveats in mind, here is what is reported:

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is very critical of U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama's positions on Iran, according to reports that have reached Israel's government.

Sarkozy has made his criticisms only in closed forums in France. But according to a senior Israeli government source, the reports reaching Israel indicate that Sarkozy views the Democratic candidate's stance on Iran as "utterly immature" and comprised of "formulations empty of all content."

Stunning.  Is it possible that France will be to the right of a new American administration?  The key phrase in that quote is "utterly immature."  It describes the Obama approach to foreign policy, but - I say this with hesitation - may also describe the American condition in this election year.

Until now, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany have tried to maintain a united front on Iran. But according to the senior Israeli source, Sarkozy fears that Obama might "arrogantly" ignore the other members of this front and open a direct dialogue with Iran without preconditions.

The One is arrogant?  No, say it ain't so.

Following their July meeting, Sarkozy repeatedly expressed disappointment with Obama's positions on Iran, concluding that they were "not crystallized, and therefore many issues remain open," the Israeli source said. Advisors to the French president who held separate meetings with Obama's advisors came away with similar impressions and expressed similar disappointment.

Yes, we've heard about those wise "advisors."

The French intelligence community believes that Iran has already obtained about 40 percent of the enriched uranium it would need for its first bomb, and that at its current rate, it will obtain the rest of the uranium it needs in the spring or summer of 2009.

However, French agencies are divided over what Iran is likely to do once it has this uranium. One view is that the Iranians will immediately make a nuclear bomb, in order to demonstrate their capability. The other is that Iran will continue enriching uranium without making a bomb - at least until it has enough enriched uranium for several bombs.

A dangerous picture either way.  And a remarkable story. 

What are we going to do next Tuesday?  Do the American people understand?  How can they possibly understand, when they're not being told.

October 28, 2008.