SARKOZY'S FRANCE TO BECOME HELPFUL TO OUR SIDE IN IRAQ

BBC: French foreign minister in Iraq

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has arrived in the Iraqi capital Baghdad for a visit at the invitation of the country's president.

The trip marks the first time a French minister has been to Iraq since it opposed the US-led invasion in 2003.

The election in May of Nicolas Sarkozy as French president brought an improvement in relations with the US.

The French Foreign Ministry said Mr Kouchner was in the country to express a "message of solidarity".

The ministry said in a statement: "At the invitation of Mr Jalal Talabani, president of Iraq, the foreign minister has just begun an official visit to Baghdad.

"Bernard Kouchner is in Baghdad to express a French message of solidarity with the Iraqi people and to listen to the representatives of all communities."

THIS IS GOOD. IT COMES AT A TIME WHEN THE UNSC HAS MANDATED INCREASED UN PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ.

AND WHILE THE SURGE IS WORKING.

IF THE MALIKI GOVERNMENT WOULD PASS A FEW IMPORTANT COMPROMISES, THEN THE JIHADISTS - AND THEIR COMRADES IN THE LEFT AND THE MSM - WOULD HAVE NO PLACE LEFT TO HIDE.