France reacts to 'shockwave of riots'(Paris/France burns Live Thread Night #12)

Times of London ^ | 11/07/05 | Simon Freeman, Charles Bremner

[Dane]

French police made 395 arrests last night as riots intensified for the 11th consecutive night, with violence and fire engulfing towns from the North to the Mediterranean.

In the impoverished suburbs and satellite towns around Paris, where the unrest began on October 27, churches, schools and warehouses were set alight. At least 1,408 vehicles were destroyed, many more than on previous nights, and the random attacks have spread into the heart of the city.

In Grigny, south of the capital, a gang of around 200 youths are reported to have lured police into a housing estate before opening fire with hunting rifles. At least 30 officers were injured, two seriously with lead pellets in the legs and neck.

Riots broke out in beacons of disaffection across the country from Lille, on the border with Belgium, to Montpellier on the Mediterranean coast. In Toulouse, police used tear gas to disperse a mob. Cars were set alight on the streets of Nantes, Orleans, Rennes and Rouen, and youths in St Etienne forced passengers off a bus before burning it. Churches were set ablaze in northern Lens and southern Sete.

SNIP

In Strasbourg, youths stole a car and rammed it into a housing project, setting the vehicle and the building on fire. "We’ll stop when Sarkozy steps down," the defiant 17-year-old driver told an Associated Press reporter.

Police are calling for a night-time curfew in affected areas and some senior officers have demanded that troops are brought on to the streets.

Michel Gaudin, France's most senior police officer, said today: "We are witnessing a sort of shock wave that is spreading across the country."

[texasbluebell]

And I bet the Muslims get their own "territories," as well. Of course, we've all seen how well that works.

Dr. Walid Faris was on Laura Ingraham's radio show this am.

He says that's exactly what the moslem leaders want, then it will be turned into another Gaza situation, no police etc. to monitor what's going on inside. (Of course, the police already do not enter these neighborhoods, apparently.)

[alisasny]

I agree with you of course.

Liberals confuse Islamic history and then think multiculteralism.

I truly believe liberals need to look at Islam today and then go back into history. We can no longer afford to blame the past for todays behavior regarding terrosim. It is here and will not be going away any time soon.

[Personal Responsibility]

At least 1,408 vehicles were destroyed,

Will the NY Times write up a nice 4200 word piece when they pass the 2,000 vehicle dead milestone?

[mainepatsfan]

Do we know how many were SUV's?

[mainepatsfan]

He's busy spinning in his grave.

[Personal Responsibility]

Why isn't Jimmy Carter rushing over there to mediate?

Because unless there is some America Bashing to be done there is very little he can do.

[lemura]

I was sure the old power would come out and defend itself. But what if there's really nothing left? What if they're just broken cowards?

Today's France is France in name only (FINO). It bears absolutely no resemblance to the national power that once drawfed Britain's GDP - enough so to build Palace Versailles (proportionately equivalent to our own moon shot in the 60s).

This is a country that had no qualms about executing thousands of people during the Revolution, overran all of Europe until 1815, and lost millions of troops in WWI.

The last item is the key to France's current predicament: their very best (ie most athletic, aggressive, pro-active) were killed off, leaving only cowards and weaklings to re-produce, with the end result being today's generation.

[Personal Responsibility]

My god, think of the Reneaults!

[No Blue States]

How long before the do this in the broad daylight?
Its not like much is being done to quell the situation.

Maybe its time for some UN peacekeepers to go to France and molest their chidren and rip off their treasure.

[Spktyr]

Correction, this is WWIV. WWIII was the Cold War - and Reagan won that for us.

[nina0113]

Is that 'Che' in the banner?

You didn't notice the Mickey Mouse ears on him, did you?

[mainepatsfan]

Perhaps the Serbians should send troops to keep the peace.

[soccer_maniac]

[KevinDavis]

[mainepatsfan]

I haven't heard anything yet.

[The Red Zone]

outside groups will start smuggling them weapons

As if it wasn't already going on?

[Dark Skies]

Here is a live webcam in Paris posted by freeper "11th_VA" last night (Place de la Bastille)...

[Choose Ye This Day]

What are our appeasement-loving friends over at the DUmp saying about the Paris Intifada? A few DUmmies are actually speaking sense, believe it or not. Most, however, are trying to understaaand the "poor" rioters, and take into account their "feeeeeeeeeelings."

Here's a sample:

uppityperson (1000+ posts)

12. People have different reasons for rioting
Lack of jobs, lack of hope to get anywhere beyond the ghetto, simple desire to do mayham and get away with it, upset with global politics, all sorts of things. Humanity is not very humane many times, both on a large and a small scale.

---

...of J.Temperance (1000+ posts)

1. For all we know, these copycat attacks and the attacks that have
Spread to other regions of France, might very well have been co-ordinated by the Neo-Nazi and National Front movements.

I think the original rioting in Parisien suburbs was 100% legit, and for the reasons that were stated, the young men being electrocuted, the immigrants beef over not being given a fair deal etc.

However I must say that I think the subsequent attacks throughout France and now these outside incidents in Berlin and Brussels are incredibly suspicious.

The Extreme Far-Right has gotten involved in such things before, and for the same reason as they would now...to give ALL immigrants a bad name and to attempt to whip up anti-immigrant hysteria throughout the European continent.

I bet that bastard Jean-Marie Le Pen is loving this.

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wookie294 (1000+ posts)

17. The problem is people think radical Islam is going to "take over" the West
LOL. Gimme a break! The fear is paranoia. This paranoia was used to get America's support for the invasion of Iraq, an invasion that is fomenting radical Islam. I don't trust people who tremble in fear over radical Islamists. They are used by war profiteers and bigots to justify more death and killing.

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wookie294 (1000+ posts)

28. There isn't alot of Islamic terrorism in Europe
People are taking a few murders and one London terrorist attack and deciding it means we're at "war" with Muslims. I think the radical Islamic movement is sort of like the Weathermen in the USA. Did anybody think the radical Leftists in the Weathermen were on the verge of taking over the federal government? No.

19 hijackers does not a "war" make. Sure, radical Islam is a problem, but let's not exaggerate it. The exaggeraters (like Bush) are acually turning moderate Muslims into radicals.

I think 99 percent of Muslims do respect and abide by the traditions of their new country in the same way that America's Amish or orthodox Jews do.

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wookie294 (1000+ posts)

42. Stop discriminating against them
and watch the magic happen! Problem solved.

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wookie294 (1000+ posts)

66. Of course gangsters should be in prison
You are advocating a short-term solution to the problem by advocating a "give 'em hell" attitude. I'd like to see you advocate longer-term solutions for France, including affirmative action to combat racists, greater funds spent on education for poor French citizens, and greater respect by the police for the plight of the poor. The rioters won this "war" because these solutions **will** be put in place. France has no choice. Riots in America during the 1960s were successful in changing the system as well.

[OXENinFLA]

A policeman showed a shotgun cartridge which police claimed had been shot at them by rioting youths during a confrontation in Grigny, a southern suburb of Paris, Sunday night.

Firefighters extinguished a fire at a kindergarden Sunday night in Lille. Youths fired at police and hurled flaming Molotov cocktails at churches, schools, cars and a daycare center in an 11th night of mayhem in France.