The man is old and senile and he's suffering from desert-fever like no other...most of us excuse his ridiculous behavior and chalk it up to social-retardation. You know who he is? He's the embarrassing uncle (by marriage) who everyone is quick to deny as a blood-relative. "We didn't choose him" is our defense.

Also, to the extremely irritable woman from the Netherlands: Who are you kidding? Women and men do NOT have equal status in the workplace or elsewhere. And the sad news is, they probably never will.

Besides that, the colonel wasn't talking about women who ENJOY their jobs, rather he was talking about the ones who don't--the ones who are forced into industries b/c their men can't be real men. Go back and re-read the article.

Sadly, your post was just a bunch of irrationally-defensive crap that only served to remind the rest of us how angry some females can be about their lot in life. You know what you should do? You should start shaving again, you'll feel better

Selsabella, Ottawa/Ontario, Canada

in answer to Joachim Kappert, Col. Gaddafi did not stay in the tent, which was erected for show purposes only...he stayed in a nearby hotel.

jonathan montmorency, cooden,

All of this is very realpolitikally tragicomic. Kadafi (or Gaddafi, whatever) today is lauded as a “moderate” leader and the brand-new “staunch ally of the West” (a term generally used to sweeten the appearance of USA/EU-friendly dictatorships, like Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Saudia Arabia, Singapore, Pakistan et caterva…).

But in fact he have not changed. It seems like the environment around Lybia is what have changed — for the worse. And the past ( http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,907040,00.html ) show us that Kadafi reintroduced the barbaric Sharia-based punishments when he took power, and expelled from his country thousands of Lybians of Italian descent for the simple sake of “colonial vengeance”. So how can the colonel defend the rights of Frenchmen of foreign origin?

Anyway, sadly France is no debutant in these things. Let’s remember the Valéry Giscard d'Estaing - King Bokassa the Maneater friendship in the 1970’s…

MaGioZal, São Paulo, Brazil/SP

The pomp of a state visit was rather humble compared to the appearance of European chiefs. Mr Gaddafi lives in a tent, and he clearly recognizes the deplorable situation of Europe's societies. So what are we complaining about? There are louder protests when Bush, Putin, or Sakozy are visiting countries.

Joachim Kappert, Gaia, Portugal

Give Gaddafi a break; first visit to Paris in 35 years and from all accounts he has introduced his own brand of humour and eccentricity. Inclusion reminds everyone of the issues; familiarity underlines the common ground we all share. He is unlikely to visit again so at least make him welcome.

MICHAEL COLLINS, ECCLES, UK

As a European woman - and proud of it - I would just like to remind Gaddafi that European women have fought bitterly and hard throughout the ages, for the right to be considered equal to men in all aspects of life: achieving the right to vote is a prime example of this. European women are proud and fearless and expect to be treated with respect and dignity - and dismiss being patronized with the contempt it deserves. European women are endowed with determination and willpower and contribute mightily both on the (inter)national political stage and/or through their work in NGO's; the armed services; police force; medical and teaching professions, etc., etc., on the home front and throughout the world. Let Gaddafi concentrate on encouraging his own countrywomen to 'ease their own tragic conditions'. European women can manage perfectly well without his misplaced concern, thank you very much!

Jean Booth, Hague, Netherlands

With Halliburton and Conoco in Libya today Mr Sarkozy is looking for some of the 65 billion USD oil income at near 100 USD barrels, Libya sees The United States as the power that can help them, and not the EU which still cannot see Libya's Grand Economic plans, The United States understood these plans and are making them happen. A real shame for Europe who never understood their EX Colonies like Libya and Algeria

mohsen, malaga, spain

On the one hand, I was delighted to have this clown in town for 5 days! His face tells it all. His arrogance and pure unadulterated ignorance was on parade for all to witness. And, did you notice his finger nails!
Normally, he enjoys strutting around Africa receiving obeisance from all the fools who govern there. Ghaddafi came to see if there were some fools in Europe to flatter and fawn on him and found one in poor old Sarkozy who had to hold his noze with one hand while stretching out the other for several billion worth of orders.
The more Ghaddafi exposes himself for what he really is, the better. The bad news is that his type die of old age in their golden beds but not before giving Europeans a damned good 5 days laugh and several billion, not a bad bargain I would say. However, we don't need to extend a further invitation - once is enough!

Once again, Lausanne, Switzerland

After our own German experiences with Napoleon IV. I am really glad that Gaddafi reduced Sarkozy's size to that of a political pygmy.

Dr. Rolf-Peter Lacher, Gammertingen, Germany

I believe the press is failing to do its real job, to get the muck out of government. Instead, they vaulter like silly ninnies at the mere behest of government. One is nearly aghast at the hypocrisy so blatant when the so called News tries and sells us an image of us English people as being righteous and law abiding when we have a history of nothing but contempt for law since we accepted piracy as a norm of life. England has done much worse than Libya and a press to do its dirty laundry seems more than content to play the bleach in the whitening of lies.

William, limbo,

If I remember right a few weeks ago the Queen received the leader of Saudi Arabia with pomp and ceremony. Is Saudi Arabia a better democracy than Libya? I recall the cartoons in the British press of the Queen and Prince Philip kneeling in front of a barrel of oil.
The reality is that the leaders of our democracies are doing the dirty work of selling weapons and anything they can to those who can afford it. And it happens that the countries with the spending powers are dictatorships with oil in their soil.
The politicians know all too well that the great hypocritical public when the elections come will have forgotten about the visits such as those of the heads of Libya and Saudi Arabia. They will want to know about their jobs, their purchasing power and how much the state is going to spend on them.
So thank you Sarkosy and Elisabeth for not listening to the hypocritical public, for holding your nose and doing our dirty work for us. Realpolitik works. What else?

Mikey, Barcelona, Spain

Next Sarkozy will be inviting Ariel Sharon or Tony Blair for a cosy chat.

Maast Dixon, London, United Kingdom

I fully understand what Colonel Gadaffi means when he says that in a democracy the will of 51 per cent of the electorate can subsume the wishes of the remaining 49 per cent of the population. However, it shows that he knows nothing at all about the British electoral system. Here the will of 27 per cent of the electorate is called a majority, and subsumes the will of 73 per cent of the population. Our politicians call this cynical charade "democracy".

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

"The West must tell next time the African leaders that they must confirm with the dress..."

Why should African leaders have to change the way they dress? Does that mean Western leaders should dress 'African' or 'Arabian' when they travel to Africa and the Middle East? I would love to see Sarko, Brown, or Bush wearing a dashiki or a keffiya.

Haile Mohawe, Cleveland, USA/ OHIO

"laughing all the way to the bank"
Not really, the value of the contracts is nearer €4M. than €10M. ; nothing is signed yet, the airbuses will be manufactured outside Europe etc.
Even the famous Rafale will probably be made in Seattle, or China !
Once back in Libya, the Guide might just take offence at some stupid remark Sarko comes up with and scrap the whole deal ! Too bad for the nuclear seawater transformer.

oblomov, Draguignan, France

Now these people are going to be in charge of a nuclear plant? I Think Homer could get hired there...

nir, Jerusalem,

Job well-done Gaddafi. His comments about saving European women were spot-on.

archie, london, uk

Thank you, Mr Bremner, for an exciting article, touching in an ironic kind of way.
I wonder, though, and you perhaps you do too, who is the bigger clown of the two, Sarko or Gaddafi ?
Anyway, staay in France long and produce a lot ot articles like this one.

nibaudeau, saintes, france

don't make me laugh; my lips are chapped!

leila, manchester, uk

A majority of voters elected the Presisent. Therefore, French voters asked for this humiliation. I bet it isn't the last we'll have to deal with.
I'm so sad for my country...

Philippe , Frejus, FRANCE

What better demonstrates the power of OIL
than the tragi-farce of Ghaddafi's visit to
genuflecting France?

Myron E, vestal, USA/NEW YORK

Gaddafi is an embarassment to himself and his people but Sarkozy and French industry is laughing all the way to the bank.

Mark, Msida, Malta

Charles Bremer you made my day!!! Christmas has come early. I am still laughing my head off. Sarko's the piñata and the Colonel wields the stick.

I guess FARC will be next up on the red carpet in Paris in exchange for releasing Mme Betancourt. I hope they dress better though.

Daisy, Toronto,

The french are very lucky to host guadaffi for only 5 days. What about the Lybians who have to cope with him till he dies.But then I am always wondering what on earth are they waiting to get rid of this excentric and ignorant kind of person who is full of contradictions and who will never change.
Malek from Algeria.

Malek, Setif, ALGERIA

Why should the great Sarkozy feel embarrassed? As if he didn't know who the great leader is.
Any great international circus would have raised the same problems (big tents, bizarre behaviours, traffic jams, tasteless shows and stupid speeches) without the chief clown spending several billion pounds of orders for military and nuclear gear.

Ronnie, PARIS, FRANCE

One gets what one asks for. Sarkozy asked to show off and got the grand show off of the Libyan dessert,with col.Gaddafi at the head of the tribe..
The West must tell next time the African leaders that they must confirm with the dress come of the West or else stay at home.
And no foreign guests must ever be allowed to have more then a dozen top two dozens with him, protection is provided by the host country..
Sarko -Sarkozy the E,U show off man must digest what he ask for,France made a colossal mistake by electing this person as its president, he will embarrass more the French people,this is juts he beginning of the grand African orchestra.

vespasianus, Paramus n.j, UNITED STATES