France Is Burning
… and the leaders are fiddling around
France was struggling to overcome one of its gravest post-war crises last night as every major city faced the threat of fierce rioting that began 12 nights ago and now seems to have spun out of control.
Despite an assurance from Philippe Douste Blazy, the foreign minister, that France was “not a dangerous country”, the spread of violence prompted the Foreign Office in London to warn travellers that trouble could break out “almost anywhere”.
Dominique de Villepin, the beleaguered prime minister, announced that officials in riot-hit areas would be authorised to impose late-night curfews “wherever it is necessary” in a bid to halt the disturbances.
He rejected calls by a police union for troops to be sent in but said that 1,500 reservists were being called up and repeated an appeal to parents to keep adolescent rioters off the streets.
Leave it to France to not want to call up their troops in the midst of a national crisis. Especially now that the rioting has murdered its first victim, a 61 year old man.
Chirac keeps promising to restore order – - yet he has done nothing in order to achieve that – - go figure.
November 8, 2005 - 08:44 AM on November 8th, 2005
the only order Chirac wishes to restore is Saddam’s orders for French Weapons and WMD making materiel.
Anyone know if Chirac has enquired if the Muslims eat cake?
November 8, 2005 - 09:14 AM on November 8th, 2005
France has troops?
November 8, 2005 - 10:00 AM on November 8th, 2005
2, Mais non, Le Foreign Legion!!!
November 8, 2005 - 10:51 AM on November 8th, 2005
Unemployed teenagers vs. France? My money is on the teenagers getting some concessions.
November 8, 2005 - 11:05 AM on November 8th, 2005
4, They are not all teenagers, Z.