French diplomat and author Dominique de Villepin has been named prime minister of France. De Villepin first gained fame — and in some quarters infamy — when he spoke out in the United Nations against the then-impending war in Iraq. A New York Times report about the appointment by Elaine Sciolino notes that “Even though the French prime minister does not deal with foreign policy, the appointment of Mr. de Villepin is likely to deepen the Bush administration‘s suspicions about France,” because “As foreign minister, he enraged the Bush administration, particularly former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, with his relentless criticism of the American-led war and occupation in Iraq.” As a commentary about the appointment at Red State.org, puts it, “it is a garbage worldview we get from the poet de Villepin.” Meanwhile, an Associated Press story tackles the question “To ‘de’ or not to ‘de’?” Notes the A.P., “Dominique de Villepin’s appointment as France’s new prime minister is almost certain to resuscitate a conundrum on whether the “de” in his surname stays or goes in newspaper headlines or on TV.” An International Herald Tribune article by Katrin Bennhold, meanwhile, noting the many difficulties facing the new prime minister, also notes Villepin’s reply to those troubles: “When things are difficult, everything is possible.”