State of Emergency Begins in France

Fox News ^

[HHKrepublican_2]

PARIS — Rioters defied a state of emergency that took effect Wednesday, as they looted and burned two superstores, set fire to a newspaper office and paralyzed France's second-largest city's subway system with a firebomb.

However, the number of car burnings — a barometer for the unrest — dropped sharply, suggesting the movement lost steam. Overnight Tuesday to Wednesday, youths torched 617 vehicles, down from 1,173 the previous night, national police spokesman Patrick Hamon said. Incidents were reported in 116 towns, down from 226 the night before.

President Jacques Chirac announced extraordinary security measures, which began Wednesday and are valid for a 12-day state of emergency, clearing the way for curfews after nearly two weeks of rioting that began in neglected and impoverished suburban neighborhoods with large Muslim communities.

The French capital and its suburbs, as well as more than 30 other cities, were covered by the state-of-emergency decree, according to a government bulletin published Wednesday. It empowers officials to put troublemakers under house arrest, ban or limit the movement of people and vehicles, confiscate weapons and close public spaces where gangs gather.

Towns included on the list stretched from Nice on the Mediterranean to Strasbourg on the German border and Le Havre on the English Channel, giving an indication of how widespread the unrest has become.

[jb6]

However, the number of car burnings — a barometer for the unrest — dropped sharply, suggesting the movement lost steam. Overnight Tuesday to Wednesday, youths torched 617 vehicles, down from 1,173 the previous night, national police spokesman Patrick Hamon said. Incidents were reported in 116 towns, down from 226 the night before

Maybe people are just hiding their cars? Seems the businesses and other buildings are still igniting....spontenously of course.

[America's Resolve]

Greetings Ivan :)

Wanna know what the difference between the Islamists and the French is?

"We play video games and go see our girls during the day. Then we go and fight the police at night."

To the Islamists, this is more fun than video games and they have no downside. They might accidentally get hurt, but nothing serious probably at this stage.

On the other hand, the French are just plain scared to death, tired and demoralized.

If the islamists take off the gloves, woe to france! These are the kind of people who have doused a 50 year old invalid with gas and set her alight. There will be NO mercy to the french from these monsters.

[jb6]

You'd think if this goes on any longer the blokes at the Ministry of Defense would start thinking coup to save the Republic.

[meanie monster]

lol at post 111

[MadIvan]

It could not be any worse than what they have now. They've tried virtually every other form of government, a military junta would be another experiment.

Regards, Ivan

[headstamp]

Man, you read my mind.

They've simply moved on to higher value targets. They will get more organized as time goes on. The French are deluding themselves if they think this thing is "burning" itself out. It's just the beginning of a move for power on the part of the rioters/islamists. It's no longer necessary to burn everything, the rioters have established themselves as players now. They have nothing to lose trying to push this insurrection as far as possible. Soon they will have a spokesman for the "movement" to deal with the government and France will have a wholesale separatist entity in their midst. They have let this go on far too long.

[kalee]

I think the French need a new barometer, the old one's calibration is way off. How many cars does it take to equal a newspaper or a subway? The significance of the targets has increased even if the frequency of the targets overall has decreased.

[THEBEAK]

More's the pity on the French Government for NOT controlling this internal(?) chaos from the getgo! They are in denial, and blaming poor ignorant teenagers for this blighting, destructive rampage - so little curfew control - so late. Is it spreading?

BTW - Saw recent signs posted on billboards in New York City that some other lefty protest is planned for weekend around November 26th in Union Square 14th Street.

There should be laws that state that a shutdown and no issuance of permits for political demonstrations will be given out during a heightened level of security.

Why can't these protestors be relocated away from businesses, or any other congested public place which may potentially turn ugly and hurt people. This only causes additional traffic disruption and delays in NYC - not to mention, the Thanksgiving Day Parade is that weekend.

With the additional cost of overtime to the police department and other security at a time of heightened levels of terrorism, giving out demonstration permits during this time, is overburdening our system. Again, protest or demonstration permits should NOT be given out during high alert levels to protect the public.

So, for this reason alone - their protests sites should be directed elsewhere and not jeopardize the city any further -(which is their object of disruption and hindrance in trying to hurt our Country!)

Take control of this situation! Or, like France, these cryptic organizers will take control of YOU! Now, is the time to stand up and do something while we are under seige from the inside, as well as outside. Be Dilligent America!

[Paved Paradise]

I was thinking maybe they're just tired.... or bored... after awhile one burned car is the same as another.

[AmericanDave]

Take Heed, if you love your country (wherever you live in the world) you have to stop this muslim takeover in the bud! They don't want to become Americans, or Britains, or French; they want to bring the lousy country the left to a neighborhood near you! What idiocy.....

[LikeLight]

Arras, France...

[Earthdweller]

"Allah drives us wild, we'll drive you crazy"... LOL....you are very baaad.

[wildbill]

They simply ran out of cars to burn.

How many car owners are going to leave their cars in areas where they are at risk after 10 days? Even the French aren't that careless.

[AmericanDave]

OR send a Texas Ranger, "One riot, one Ranger", LOL

[brownsfan]

You are a very bad person!

[Chanticleer]

Cuban immigration is an interesting case. The "first wave" Cubans who came here in the '50s were professionals and business people. I knew several when I lived in Miami. They are well-educated, intelligent, hard-working individuals who have done very well in America. They are doctors, lawyers, judges, politicians... they have contributed in every area of society.

I've known Vietnamese immigrants who were well-educated, intelligent, talented people -- kids who spoke three or four languages, played piano like virtuosos, were tops in their classes in school. They came here with the shirts on their backs and have worked hard to succeed.

These types of people add tremendously to the strength of our nation. They come here with all of their talents and an amazing work ethic. They are very patriotic and thankful for the opportunities they have found here.

Not all immigrants are equal. The difficult part is having both the formula and the stomach to decide who will and who will not be welcomed to our country.

[Beth528]

We all should find out of the way articles about these monsters and put them up..I mean foreign ones that has not been told by our the MSM..People had better wake up before it is to late...

[Calpernia]

:-)

[Earthdweller]

"I'm not looking for excuses for them, just trying to be honest."

If and when we discontinue the French bashing that simply means Americans are no longer concerned about France's ability to survive and/or have written them off as a lost cause.

If you care anything about France ...you had better hope the bashing continues. (no I'm not kidding)

[kenavi]

Glorifying immigrant hard word and contributions is just swell....but they are part of why we worship at the altar of racial/ethnic/religious "diversity" -- we have decided that our own roots, our own American-both aren't worth it anymore.

I've done quite well economically working with immigrants both affluent or not, so it's experience not anecdotes that clinch the argument for me. Those people also seem to think more highly of our country than you do. And no, not one of them is or has been on welfare.

May I ask you: up to what year were the "American roots" you venerate planted? Are the Irish potato-famine migrants, the Sicilians, the Jews fleeing from pograms, the Chinese railroad laborers, or the Hungarians after the 1956 Soviet invasion part of your American roots, or did they come too late?