Bunny, my French colleagues are saying the reason the Police don't shoot back is because it will lead to an escalation in tactics. They think that outside Islamist groups would start arming the locals.
That may be so, so what are they going to do, sit on their arse and say ok, you can have France as the newest Muslim Nation. Either way, non Muslims will die.
And they think that those outside islamic groups seeing Frances weak response will not feel emboldened and arm them anyway seeing how close a victory is in their grasps in Europe.....A ready made nuclear power falling to islam is to much of a temptation if they can manage it.
France made a very dumb move not responding strongly the first night now the damage will have strong repercussions all over Europe for a very long time to come.
Dang straight it's going to escalate.
Problem is: it's going to escalate anyway. Escalate it hard now, and there's a chance of stopping it. Appease, and it will escalate anyway to a point that will be much harder to stop.
About 65 yeras ago, France got a lesson on the consequences of appeasement. Apparently they didn't learn.