Sarkozy, Carla Invade India

(((After having embarrassed the stuffy Pope in Rome and humiliated grumpy Moslems in Egypt, the French President and his rock-star mistress blatantly confront millions of baffled Hindus. I'm not nuts about Sarkozy's politics, but the "hyper-President" is kinda growing on me. He's easily the most entertaining European politico since the heyday of Joschka Fischer.)))

(((Remember the dawn of perestroika, when impressed Americans used to mail Mikhail and Raisa Gorbachev their house keys? It was like a little groundswell campaign, like "Hey, Mr and Mrs Russian Communist, we trust you, drop on by." If every couple in America with the spotty marital backgrounds of Sarkozy and Bruni send in their house-keys, Europe's star lovebirds would never lack for shelter again.)))

Link: Sarkozy, Carla to attend R-Day? India in protocol fix .

"New Delhi: Europe’s hottest couple French President Nicolas Sarkozy and girlfriend Carla Bruni after combining work with pleasure are planning to the same in India.

"Sarkozy will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade and Paris has informed South Block that wherever Monsieur Le President goes, so does Carla, whether at Dilli Haat or the Taj Mahal.

"South Block is in a dilemma because the rules are only clear about VIP spouses who are clearly state guests. (((Oh, get over yourselves.)))

"Their stay and expenses are paid for by the host country, the spouse is accommodated in the VIP or presidential suite without any embarrassment.

"The spouse is entitled to an official welcome and has a separate schedule of engagements with a protocol official in tow.

"South Block's rules say nothing about girlfriends. Accommodating her in the same suite as the president would not go down well here...."