Thoughtful post.
What do you think of the suggetion made by a poster on another thread that someofthe reluctance to crack down is based on business associations by wealthy French with Arabs/Muslims?
I agree that letting is burn itself out is a fairly viable option. No reported looting and very low level of reported violence against persons.
Good point and a valid one - the French government has never been easy for the west to understand - they are afterall - foreigners.
I beleive the French have calculated that this population must be allowed to vent it's steam - this is not to say that damage is not awful - simply that they are choosing the less of two awful options.
They cannot win here - they will lose regardless.
Do not be surprised if Phase 2 will begin in the next three months: Terrorists attacks in France and all over Europe. Al Qaeda and Al Jammaa AL Islamiya (Islmaic Armed Group) will find a lot of willing terrorist recruits in the muslim communities of France..