Sarko Stays Out of Trouble in the Caribbean

Nicholas Sarkozy avoided trouble in the Caribbean by mainly confining his visit to well-guarded airports. I imagine that local prefects were taking no chances with the security details after reading about what happened to colleagues who allowed jeers to reach the president's ears. With his usual charm, the president dripped with sarcasm toward Jacques Chirac and Ségolène Royal, who he intimated had curried favor with islanders by dispensing warm sentiments unbacked by concrete actions. Not wrong, mais inélégant quand même. He offered the Martiniquais a referendum on autonomy, which should win him some points.