What A Dear Man - Really...!

He most certainly has his detractors, but from this vantage point he's the man of the hour. Facing up to internal problems within France and those externally vexing problems without his country that bedevil and bemuse the world at large in attempting to deal with tyranical, autocratic governments whose main focus is to fail their people and cause no end of problems worldwide.

His internal formula for dealing with the immigrant-sequestered demographic of destructive youth is to promise a heavy hand in punishment. The education system requires revamping and he's extended the way forward. Assertive unions who will not see their gains rolled back are facing off against his reasoned explanation that it makes good sense to share work time with the vast unemployed.

He visits Russia and counters Vladimir Putin's bellicose Russian renewal with an understanding of the situation at hand, yet does not hesitate to read the riot act; two firm, self-assured and compelling personalities meeting as equals, albeit from opposite sides of the track. President Nicolas Sarkozy presents a neat counterpart to his equally-worthy EU peer, German President Angela Merkel.

Now, in Washington, he stands tall (for a height-challenged champion, but remember testosterone-gifted Napoleon?) and wins over The American Congress with heart-felt praise and a promise of partnership in world affairs. He expressed his deep appreciation for all that is best in the universal character of the United States. Along with his country's unremitting debt to the U.S. for its sacrifices during the Second World War.

He lauded the U.S. for being a "constantly renewed challenge to the inventiveness of the human spirit", before spiralling into inanity in naming pop-culture icons of Hollywood and the recording industry. Thus disarmed, he cleverly segued into authority urging the U.S. to demonstrate respect for its own "wide open spaces and nature reserves" by signing on to the global warming struggle, a "fight essential for the future of humanity".

"I want to be your friend, your ally and your partner - but a friend who stands on his own two feet", he orated charmingly. So trust me, and consider my offer ofa staunch alliance, but please remember I will not always agree with every turn your country takes. I have the sensibilities, sensitivities and global direction of my own country to consider first and foremost.

For, he elaborated, his message was that his visit was for the purpose "to say that one can be a friend of America and yet win elections in France". A brilliant, practical tactic. And he pounded home another message, that he and France were right on track with the United States and other countries in their determination to fight terrorism; that France could be counted on for the duration in Afghanistan.

"For me, failure is not an option. Terrorism will not win because democracies are not weak, because we are not afraid of this barbarism." Reaffirming too France's deep concern with the direction of Iran in its enduring pursuit of nuclear weapons. In direct response, it might appear, to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's declaration that Iran's nuclear program was "irreversible"; that he "could not care less" about Western sanctions.

Nicolas Sarkozy is proving his energy-driven agenda; he is here and there and everywhere; a Scarlet Pimpernel reborn but of French extraction, the literary analogy plot turned-about. His appetite for becoming embroiled in world affairs on behalf of a proud France unassuaged, his ardour for action and diplomatic confrontation undiminished. He glows in the public eye; abroad, that is.

At home things are somewhat problematical. That's where his work is laid out for him, truly. Where words lead to deeds and action that his people are restive with. Good man, that.