As French foreign minister, he led the opposition to the war on Iraq, making the most stirring speech of his life at the UN in February 2003.

BBC: Profile: Dominique de Villepin

Eleven months on, he is finally making his presence felt -- and stirring up controversies in the process.

CNN: A novice senator finds a new cause to fight for

My mom would be in the kitchen making dinner and talking on the phone, stirring and striding around with the phone tucked between her shoulder and her chin.

NEWYORKER: The Other Place