Wounded Chirac ‘losing grip’ of riot-hit France

Times of London ^ | November 13, 2005 | Matthew Campbell

[Zechariah11]

Now, let's hope this country (the U.S.) starts to pronounce the truth about Islam...it doesn't have a heart of "benevolence and love"..

Too bad it won't happen. Political correctness and all.

[NickatNite2003]

The effete stupidity of the socialist Left.
They can't reconcile their PC self-image of
"do-gooders for the common man", with their
need to defend their country, or even
themselves, without revealing the true
tyrannical authoritarianism that underlies
their position of "knowing what's best for
everybody else".

This will not be resolvesd, without the masks
being torn away, and i havew little doubt, much
blood spilled...curfews, un this situation, only
thwart & delay the inevitable clash for real
tangible control.

Now, is Chirac man enough to realise this is, in
fact about power> about who is in control? Does he
cede French soveriegnty, chunk by chubk, or does
he act with steel? ..perhaps he will be forced out,
and his authority given to one who will put down the insurrectionists with determind and thorough
mericilessness of the Laws of survival?

Sarkozy appears to be Fance's only hope.

Help them, Obi Wan Sarkozy!

[Dark Skies]

Too bad it won't happen. Political correctness and all.

And on this altar of PC, the Prez has kissed his legacy goodbye and Condi has turned away an otherwise courageous future.

The question is "who will fill the void."

[demkicker]

That may be my new favorite French pic, LOL!

Here's my other one:

[Earthdweller]

Ahhh...Hello..Mr. Bush...Remember when you were telling me about that Islamic jihad thing....

[The Red Zone]

grip? what grip?

[oldbrowser]

The initiative came as speculation mounted over a severely discredited Jacques Chirac’s ability to endure the last 17 months of his presidential term.

This fool Chirac has been denouncing violent Americans. Now we know why, his government can't handle a pack of spoiled brats on scooters. How would we expect them to handle a war ?

[The Red Zone]

If Le Pen would drop his anti-Jewish routine (or replace his stick with a carrot, i.e. France will provide a subsidy to any law abiding immigrant's moving to a different country, including Jews to Israel) he might garner enough votes to win next time.

[Xenophon450]

"Well, I'm not the quickest tractor on the farm
I don't have any skills or grace or charm
And most people look at me like I'm all covered with ants
But I'm a genius in France..."

[GBA]

Mr. ChIraq? Here's the problem. The rioters do not believe you are serious about making them stop, so why should they quit burning and destroying your stuff? Try this: "shoot to kill". Abhorrent? sure, to an urbane Frenchman like yourself, no doubt about it. But you know what? It works almost every time it's tried.

See, the rioters just don't respect you and you're not going to be able to talk nor appease them into respecting you. Actually, you probably should believe them when they say they are at war with you. C'mon, Jacquie. It's a new century. Don't make us come over there and show you how to win a war on French soil...AGAIN.

[Main Street]

[popdonnelly]

John Kerry fully supports his ally, Jacques Chirac.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Two possibilities here: A. some Frenchman got fed up and decided to retaliate, or B. some rioter decided to torch the mosque of an imam that told him to stop rioting.

C: The rioters torched their own mosque so they can fan the flames some more.

[dr_who_2]

He lost his grip a long time ago. I'm surprised he's not already picked up Muammar Qaddafi's fashion sense.

[nicmarlo]

Chirac’s response to the mayhem engulfing the country has been widely condemned. He has said virtually nothing about it, heightening perceptions of him as a politically irrelevant figure. He looked pale and deflated on Thursday in a rare public appearance.....

Even is body is waving a white flag. : )

[denydenydeny]

As some bloggers have pointed out, if these kind of nightly nationwide riots had been occurring in the USA, the entire MSM would have been calling it "a crisis in the Bush presidency" the second or third night.

[syriacus]

If the fires continue burning, France will begin to look like the Sahara Desert.

[Earthdweller]

Face it ...the part of the US that proclaims to be anti-Bush is just anti-Christian. The war is at our own doorstep.

[TASMANIANRED]

Was lost the 2nd night ..

[lawnguy]

The riots are a referendum on socialism. Socialism...and capitulation are dead as are its proponents. Europe isn't wimpy, but socialism is. This is the best thing that has happened on the continent since Charles Martel and Jan Sobieski.

This is the key point. I hope you're right, and it would really help matters if alternative religious leaders could emerge in Europe, and regain some moral authority.