Boiling point

Things are hotting up all over the place. In France the two presidential candidates will have a televised debate tonight - it's live 8-10pm on FranceSur in Ireland. Should be a good old ding-dong, if you can understand French.

Newspaper reports suggest there is a huge battle for France's soul at the moment. It appears generational; over 60s are flocking to Sarkozy, under 35s are sitting in Sego's pocket. The middle ground will be crucial; will they come out and vote? And if so... for who? How strong is the Anyone But Sarkozy factor?

From my perspective he may have some answers but he frames them in a deeply divisive and provocative way and I wouldn't support him if I were French. In fact, given the apparent pride in protest that exists in France, it's hard to see how he could push through any serious reforms without the country being brought to standstill by those who oppose him. Royal gives cause for concern to those on the Left and Right...but France can at least count on her not to sell out their values and isolate their minorities.

Elsewhere Israel's PM Ehud Olmert had his arse handed to him by an independent report into his disastrous crusade into Lebanon last year. It was an utter failure that left over 1200 Lebanese dead. It exposed the limits of Israeli military influence in the region and it convinced me that they were looking for any excuse to invade the southern part of that country. I don't apologise for Hezbollah, but innocent Lebanese citizens were being punished for the reckless behaviour of their countrymen. It was a shit time all round but credit must go to the Israelis for at least dealing with it in an open and honest way. Now all that's left to do is for Olmert to do the decent thing and resign.