Sarkozy and Bush get all buddy buddy

President Bush and his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy met today at historic Mount Vernon, no doubt to tap into George Washington's old whiskey supply at the top of the American Whiskey Trail. In a surprising shift of policy, Sarkozy has agreed to stand "shoulder-to-shoulder" with the US in international efforts, particularly as thery pertain to Iran.

But President Sarkozy says he would like to see aggressive action only as a last result to diplomatic efforts, or what he calls "the outstretched hand of dialogue" because he says Iran deserves better than isolation.

"It is unacceptable that Iran should have at any point a nuclear weapon, but Iran is entitled to the energy of the future which is civilian nuclear energy," said President Sarkozy. "I believe in the effectiveness of sanctions. I believe even in the need to toughen the sanctions."

Bush also emphasized the need for diplomacy. Guess the whiskey loosened his lips for the entire international community. "The idea of Iran having a nuclear weapon is dangerous," said President Bush. "And therefore now is the time for us to work together to diplomatically solve this problem."

Iran says it is not secretly developing nuclear weapons. The government in Tehran says it is enriching uranium solely for the peaceful civilian purpose of generating electricity. While Russia and China are resisting tougher UN sanctions, France is with the United States and Britain in calling for harsher Security Council action against Iran.

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President Sarkozy says Bush needs to come to France and sample the wine selection at Palaise de l' Elysees soon.

Brace yourselves for the pro-France campaign due to start in December across the US. Public relations experts and press advisors for the President are already brainstorming ideas. I wish them luck in finding something more creative than "Freedom Fries."

Photo : Aug. 7, 2007 Bush and Sarkozy took a boat ride to Goat Island in Kennenbunkport, Maine. (BRIAN SNYDER/Reuters)