Sarkozy uses U.S. speech to demand U.S. leadership

Yesterday at Columbia University in New York, French President Nicolas Sarkozy veered off a prepared speech about the happy history of French-American friendship to deliver a lecture to Americans.

“You should reflect on what it means to be the world’s number one power,” he said, adding, “The world does not stop at the East Coast, the world does not stop at the West Coast. The world needs an open America, a generous America, an America that shows the way, and America that listens.”

Obnoxious, perhaps, but when was the last time your client dared to wade into an unfriendly crowd and stand and deliver?

(The question isn’t rhetorical: I’m looking for examples of speeches on the theme of “speaking with the enemy.”)