Posted on 11/07/2005 5:31:57 AM PST by FerdieMurphy
While American soldiers successfully combat terrorists and insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, a widespread insurgency continues in France's emanating from Islamic migrant areas.
The violence and destruction spread across the country yesterday with more than 900 cars torched in one night. Observers, experts in security and police operations, wonder if the French are capable of putting down this insurrection.
French police initiated a helicopter response and claim they arrested close to 200 Muslim rioters. Police commanders and their superiors say they intend to step up action against rioters responsible for 10 nights of violence.
The destruction has spread to the outskirts of other cities around the country – including Toulouse, Rennes, Nantes and Lille – were hit by a wave of arson attacks.
Cases of arson were also observed in parts of central Paris. For instance, a Molotov cocktail consumed four vehicles near a major square, Place de la Republique, while six vehicles went up in smoke in another district..
Despite calls for calm, 918 cars were torched yesterday and 897 the previous day. One American national security expert cynically told this writer that he wouldn't be surprised if the Chirac government surrendered to these homegrown insurgents.
"They [the French] just may hold to their reputation for appeasement and surrender," he said.
Seven police surveillance helicopters armed with high-tech cameras hovered above Paris and other locations in the hopes of pursuing and identifying the the mostly young North African and Arab arsonists, who have taken to setting fires then fleeing the scene, frequently on motor bikes.
Special squads of police trained in special operations smashed through doors in a public housing project in the Paris suburb of Les Mureaux where they arrested youths who had tossed heavy objects, such as supermarket trolleys, on police and on a heavily traveled road.
Over 2,200 more police officers in riot gear and weaponry were deployed to patrol the streets while over 100 additional firefighters were sent to the Paris region under attack.
Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, who's been the target of a great deal of criticism for calling the rioters "scum" and wishing to take a hardline on the rioters, visited a police command headquarters in southern Paris overnight. During an impromptu press conference he said that the gangs responsible for the violence have become increasingly organized. They have been seen using mobile telephones to relay police movements and internet blogs to urge unrest elsewhere.
Overall, over 550 insurgents have been arrested since the riots began, some of them minors found carrying gasoline bombs.
The violence erupted on October 27 when two teenagers, one an African immigrant and the other an Arab, were electrocuted while hiding in an electrical sub-station after fleeing a routine police identity check. The checks are part of France's homeland security strategy. Some left-wing politicians and groups have accused the French police of "Gestapo" tactics when dealing with Muslims, and they've leveled the old standby accusation so familiar to Americans -- racial profiling.
So far no one has been killed during the civil unrest, according to the French government, but at two civilians have been badly burned by Molotov cocktails. They were a firefighter and a handicapped woman who was deserted on board and unable to get off an ambushed bus. An elderly man is reported to be in a coma after being struck by an attacker in a housing project.
France to Allahville
How about Franistan? This morning, I heard someone say that they give France a few more days, then they will surrender, because the frogs have never held out longer than two weeks in any conflict. We'll see...........
I am actually rooting for the rioters.
I know, but the "capitulationists" are so deserving.
France pulled out of NATO in the 80's. Far too American dominated. They certainly have never needed any of our help in the past......
Um.... Massive and substained high power gunfire?
With you, Pard. A mus-slum yuth on a minibike with a coke bottle filled with Texaco verses my M1A with an ART scope.
You have a right to defend your property and your life in this country.
http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/Default.aspx#
While it appears on the surface that there's not much difference in definition, the caller went on, "rabble" is a term oft used in French history, mainly in regards to the Revolution masses who rose against the royalty.
The French word under debate may not be as perjorative as the "scum" translation which sounds very bad to American/English ears.
I'm not a speaker of French, so I'll leave it to the language experts to step in.
Plus, I don't rely on the MSM which will put the worst construction on ANYTHING, including translations.
Leni
You're absolutely right!
I just looked in my old McLaughlin's French dictionary, the translation for "racaille" is "rabble" or "trash".
Leave it to the media to fan the flames. All in the interest of a good story, of course.
The liberal media in the USA are real bunch of SOBs. I guess I am preaching to the choir and that is why I love it here.
Last night I was channel surfing on TV and heard a report that Republicans are not popular. It was reported that in this coming election the Democrat party was going to run away with most races.
What do most of you think ? After all that has happened in the past few weeks with Leakgate I am more solid on my decision to vote Right wing across the board.
I think they still believe **if they say something often enough it is true** tactic is still working.
It may work on some but I hope that America is thinking what I think they are thinking....LOL !!
CA....
Not surprising, they have noone to surrender to so they are out of options.
The point is, that in English language newspapers and media the word "scum" was reportedly used by Minister Nicolas Sarkozy (who's Sarko?) and not just one source - like AP.
An aside: not that it matters, but the word "scum" translates to écume and "rabble" is cohue (according to Google and Alta Vista). So mixing or confusing those two, I would think, would be pretty hard.
BTW if you want, you can get a Free Lexis Nexis Ala Carte account. I did over the weekend, that's where I found the news sources. It's a great reference tool.
Thanks for the photo but seriously, when we are home, my husband and I are always prepared to defend our family and property.
Not paranoid but ready to defend ourselves.
It is the beauty of being American.
At the same time we are always ready and able to help our fellow man too ! THAT is the beauty of being a compassionate American.
There are many out there like ourselves too, I know this.
Why NOT argue semantics when it comes to translations? It's the way separate the truth from the spin.
Vive le difference!
Leni
"Why don't these French people defend themselves against these sociopaths?"
that has been a recurring question for over a Century now...
Shoot to kill!
Actually, I like that idea a LOT!
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