A Stabilizing Force

The French view of the world. Mentioned by Fred Barnes on Brit's show, and by Captain's Quarters. Haaretz:

Iran is a significant, respected player in the Middle East which is playing a stabilizing role, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said earlier Monday in Beirut.

"It was clear that we could never accept a destabilization of Lebanon, which could lead to a destabilization of the region," Douste-Blazy said in Beirut.

"In the region there is of course a country such as Iran - a great country, a great people and a great civilization which is respected and which plays a stabilizing role in the region," he told a news conference.

Other stabilizing forces by this light are probably Venezuela, North Korea, perhaps Cuba.....not to mention France itself.