(Why don't we see similar wake-up calls in the rest of the EU? Note France's cowering fawning in Arafat's death, keeping the Islamists (temporarily) off their back?)
France is actually the most aggressive at keeping the islamists on a short leash. They have for a long time infiltrated every mosque to find out what's going on. They have deported imams who have been in France all their life! The whole issue with the headscarf being declared illegal is part of the struggle of assimilating muslims in French culture. It's actually an important battle as muslims use the headscarf and burka to keep control over their women by preventing their assimilation into the host country's culture.
The French government has powerful powers that makes the Patriot Act look extremely weak.
Thank you! Finally someone sees what is going in France with the headscarves. Too many conservatives see it as a "freedom of religion" issue. It is NOT. You see something that many conservatives don't want to - that radical Islam keeps its hold over a population through its women.