The public intellectual Bernard-Henri Levy is credited with a key role in persuading French President Nicolas Sarkozy to spearhead a drive for military intervention in Libya. He invoked the flag.French President Nicolas Sarkozy shocked the world by leading the push for a United Nations resolution to use force against Moammar Kadafi in his battle with rebels, and then unleashing French jets to launch the first airstrikes against the Libyan leader's forces.