Islamic State sees the whole of Europe, including Ireland, as the “home of the Jews and the Crusaders” and one “vast battleground” for its terrorists, a leading expert has warned.

FOR some time now, a certain strategic vision has been gaining traction: the United States is becoming energy independent, paving the way for its political retreat from the Middle East and justifying its strategic “pivot” toward Asia.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy made a last-ditch appeal to far-right voters after failing to land a knockout blow in a heated televised debate with Socialist rival François Hollande before Sunday’s presidential run-off.

A win by François Hollande in next week’s French presidential election should be seen as an “invitation” to Ireland to say yes to the Fiscal Compact treaty, according to a former adviser to his Socialist party.

Trying to mend fences with Europe, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said today “it is time to turn away from the disagreements of the past” that alienated long-time allies over the invasion of Iraq.