[decimon]

Jean-Pierre Raymaud, the leader of another police union, told Le Figaro newspaper: "For 15 days we've been targeted constantly and under a lot of pressure. This isn't an excuse but it has to be taken into account. The police have done their work and I don't think finding one or two scapegoats just to demonstrate firmness is fair."

Have to agree with Jean-Pierre. The gendarmes can take just so much before they begin reacting.

[Bahbah]

I don't think finding one or two scapegoats just to demonstrate firmness is fair.

Is Chirac looking at the wrong bunch to demonstrate firmness perhaps?

[woofer]

The gendarmes can take just so much before they begin reacting.

My understanding is that the "youth" (age: 19) had been released from custody that day and had come back at nightfall to taunt the police.

That's kind of like shaking out a red picnic blanket in a pasture full of bulls.