Whether it's Ahmad Chalabi in Iraq or Bernard-Henri Levy in Libya, history occasionally throws up these men impassioned with the righteousness of their cause, who have banged the drums of war.
In April 2011, as Libyans were in the thick of their uprising against Muammar Gaddafi, a Frenchman in a white shirt unbuttoned to reveal swathes of chest arrived in Benghazi to hold yet another meeting with opposition leaders.
The naysayers may now eat their words: contrary to the dire predictions so popular in some circles, the Libyan elections went smoothly. Now what about that much-predicted Islamist wave?
If nothing else, this past weekend’s gathering in Chicago of NATO Allies and partners demonstrated the type of political resolve and commitment that has been the core of the Alliance’s ability to keep its members secure for over 60 years.
Okay, it’s the end of the long, loud road to revolution. Muammar Gaddafi is dead and now we start the longer, laborious road to democracy – or some form of it – in Libya.
The G8 summit came and went last week and was a relatively low key affair. It is testament to the rise of countries such as China, India and Brazil that the G8 no longer retains the same importance.
