A sharp-witted newspaper columnist once remarked that in Washington DC the ship of state always leaks at the top. The United Nations is perhaps no better -- judging by the circumstances surrounding the leaking of a confidential 51-page document in which Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is politically crucified by one of his own senior officials.

France is in disarray. According to opinion polls, Nicolas Sarkozy's popularity is at the lowest point seen in decades for a French president. Two weeks ago, two ministers resigned, but a parliamentary and media-sustained storm continues, fueled by conflict-of-interest charges against a minister suspected of corruption when raising money for Sarkozy's presidential campaign.