France braces itself for anniversary riots
posted at 1:53 pm on October 23, 2006 by Allahpundit
The numbers are bad — an average of 112 cars torched each day through the first six months of the year — but the anecdotal evidence is worse. Two different cops, two different news articles. Quote:
“The attacks of the last few weeks show (the gangs) are very well prepared and using military-like organization,” said Gaelle James with the Synergie-Officiers police union.
And:
“First, it was a rock here or there. Then it was rocks by the dozen. Now, they’re leading operations of an almost military sort to trap us,” said Loic Lecouplier, a police union official in the Seine-Saint-Denis region north of Paris. “These are acts of war.”
That last link describes an operation where 50 “youths” in masks rushed out from behind trees and stoned a police car, cracking one cop’s face open. Yesterday in Grigny, between 30 and 50 more masked “youths” commandeered a French bus, ordered everyone off, and set it on fire.
When the firefighters showed up to put it out, they stoned them. Among two people arrested: a 13-year-old.
Total number of attacks on police in 2004: 3,842. In 2005: 4,246. Through the first six months of 2006: 2,458. An official from one police union says the “youths” are known to yell “Allah Akbar” while attacking.
Note this, too:
Police unions suspect that the recent attacks may be an attempt to spark new riots.
“We are getting the impression these youths want a ‘remake’ of what happened last year,” said Fred Lagache, national secretary of the Alliance police union. “The youths are trying to cause a police error to justify chaos.”
When all’s said and done, Theodore Dalrymple will be regarded as a prophet. And not just because of what’s happening in France, either.
Update: Sanctuary says these prices couldn’t get much hotter:
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »
Something to do between tournantes, non?
Kid from Brooklyn on October 23, 2006 at 1:56 PM
France; You may not want the war, but the war wants you.
lorien1973 on October 23, 2006 at 1:59 PM
Just throw more money at them and hope that all of this goes away – if all else fails, just raise the white flag and be prepared to become Francestan.
Rick on October 23, 2006 at 2:02 PM
Les broken windows.
Kid from Brooklyn on October 23, 2006 at 2:05 PM
There’s something distinctly ironic in all of this, in a sort of blase’, continental, world-wear way. A nation which resisted, nay undermined, efforts by the “upstart” US — a nation of cowboys, after all — to fight communicants of the “religion of peace” on muslim turf being visited with a war on home turf. We now have “la intifada francais”.
So much for chablis-socialist multiculturalism.
When you allow a mangy old cur in to curl up by your fire and eat your leavings, don’t be surprised if you begin to find fleas in the furniture and puddles in the hallway. After a while, fat and sassy, Old Blue won’t be content with the occasional scritch behind the ear, and nobody’ll want any of the puppies.
Ah, France…land of pastries, bad wine and ugly ladies fashions. Your birthrate’s down, you can’t close the borders with *gasp* making themselves hypocrites, and you’ve been caught with their greedy hands in the “oil-for-food” and oil consession tills. You’ve lost any relevance internationally. You’re just another scruffy, superannuated cog in the European Union. The Sun King’s empire has gone the way of Mussolini’s ersatz Imperium.
…it’s not Christian to gloat…so I’ll just muse….
Puritan1648 on October 23, 2006 at 2:12 PM
“You wouldn’t have won if we’d beaten you.”
yogi bera
Seems like a appropriate epitaph for the west.
Limerick on October 23, 2006 at 2:12 PM
Man, if France wasn’t nuclear, I could sit and enjoy my schadenfreude in peaceful bliss.
Will France go fully Islamic? Or will Les Gaulois rise up at some point, get all fascist, and throw all the immigrants into death camps?
Did I say “death camps?” I meant “happy camps!”
Citizen Duck on October 23, 2006 at 2:20 PM
No….they will retreat via Dunkirk(but this time not to England)…seek America’s help….and then sue us for bombing the beaches of Normandy when we liberate them again.
Limerick on October 23, 2006 at 2:24 PM
What? Cars burning the streets?
Didn’t we hang the white flag out on the house this morning?
Pass the wine…
E L Frederick on October 23, 2006 at 2:30 PM
We should take a look back at the riots of last year, just to get a sense of where they started…
NTWR on October 23, 2006 at 2:31 PM
This is yet another attempt, by nature, to rid the world of the French. We are to blame for this as well because we have prevented French extinction time and time again. I say we let nature run its course and prepare the Eastern Europeans for the long fight ahead.
x95b10 on October 23, 2006 at 2:37 PM
Are we gonna have to rescue France like we did in WW1&2?
Or should be just let it go the way of the veil?
Kini on October 23, 2006 at 2:37 PM
That isn’t all we’ve rescued them from (or taken blame on their behalf for).
Rick on October 23, 2006 at 2:40 PM
Nah… after all we should cut and run in France… they were better off when Saddam was in power…
/snark
E L Frederick on October 23, 2006 at 2:42 PM
Riiiiight. Like they need anything to justify chaos.
Editor on October 23, 2006 at 2:43 PM
Freedom Fries anyone? Anyone?
Kini on October 23, 2006 at 2:48 PM
When it comes to forecasting the alarming demographic scenarios and resultant ugly choices facing the West in general, and Europe in particular, Mark Steyn and Theodore Dalrymple must be feeling like a couple of 21st-Century Cassandras.
And if one thinks France is bad, check out Sweden: if anything, they’re even further along on the march to dhimmitude.
Decisions, decisions. What’ll it be? Go on with the present state of ennui/enervation-inspired death-spiral birth rates, until the Muslim share of the population hits 51% and it’s Sharia for everyone?
Or heed the siren song of the far right political parties (which have been growing in strength in Europe), throw out the nanny-state, multi-culti, head-in-the-sand state of affairs that has led to this condition, and give variations of oppressive ultra-nationalism another whirl?
I’m with Citizen Duck on this one: if it weren’t for France’s nuclear arsenal (and Britain’s, they’re headed down the same road only a little further behind), I’d be laughing right now for all my Cowboy American simplisme is worth. As things stand, I’m not sure there’s anything we can do but watch in amazement as whole societies literally give up their will to survive.
Spurius Ligustinus on October 23, 2006 at 2:53 PM
You missed the most important quote in the article which pretty much sums up the entire story.:
BJ on October 23, 2006 at 2:53 PM
Isn’t this the same country that built a wall with guns that didn’t go all the way around?
So we bail em out, and they repay us with the Renualt LeCar and no flyover rules?
Who cares..just another socialist country with a revolution eminent, IMO.
CBarker on October 23, 2006 at 2:54 PM
Watching the muslim riots in France makes for some fine television entertainment.
JackM on October 23, 2006 at 2:57 PM
Call it a small preview of what America has to look foreward to if we let liberals
ruinrun America.The French would cut-and-run, but where would they go? Their liberal ideology has backed them into the perverbial corner, and until they admit that they will not be able to find the necessary solution to their Immigration problem. America seems to be getting ready to turn the same cornner, and if you don’t like the idea of that, then Get Out The Vote!
I would get kickbacks for making statements like that if I hadn’t volunteered to work for the GOP. :oP
DannoJyd on October 23, 2006 at 3:00 PM
France will be ok as long as the Terrorist don’t burn down the white flag factory.
RightWired on October 23, 2006 at 3:00 PM
[second attempt at post]
Call it a small preview of what America has to look forward to if we let liberals ruin run America.
The French would cut-and-run, but where would they go? Their liberal ideology has backed them into the proverbial corner, and until they admit that they will not be able to find the necessary solution to their Immigration problem. America seems to be getting ready to turn the same corner, and if you don’t like the idea of that, then Get Out The Vote!
I would get kickbacks for making statements like that if I hadn’t volunteered to work for the GOP. :oP
DannoJyd on October 23, 2006 at 3:02 PM
We couldn’t rescue them even if we were so inclined. Storming the beaches at Normandy would be pretty ineffective in this case. The smartest thing France could do at this point is to arm its citizens, or at least its damn police. The smartest thing we could do at this point is to figure out what to do about French nukes when the government falls.
RedWinged Blackbird on October 23, 2006 at 3:06 PM
My cousin just returned from France as her S-I-L is in a Convent right outside of Paris and she said the country has changed since their last visit about two years ago. I’ve been to France but not for a number of years and while I didn’t enjoy Paris, the people who were in the “country” were nice and tried to help me through my bumbling French. I am not a big fan of France but I would hate to see it lost. Perhaps it’s already too late. I think RedWinged Blackbird is correct, when their government falls there won’t be any Charles De Gaulle there this time and they have nukes.
Catie96706 on October 23, 2006 at 3:20 PM
Just for the sake of accuracy: WWI 117,000 US dead; 1.4 million French dead. So it’s a question of who really saved whom. WWII, read your history: Germany was defeated the day Hitler decided to invade Russia. True, the US made an enormous contribution, the high water mark of which in the ETO was D-Day, but that “we saved France bit” is pretty much hyperbole IMO. You never hear the Brits talk like that, they have too much real national pride.
honora on October 23, 2006 at 3:24 PM
I disagree!! Yippie! The universe has returned to normal.
E L Frederick on October 23, 2006 at 3:28 PM
Honora, you are so full of merde.
No matter how many French dead they had in WWI (and the “proud” Brits had just as many if not more), the war was at a complete stalemate until the U.S. entered the war and fought it to an armistice (and not a victory, because that DemocRAT Wilson was President!).
As for WWII, France was completely occupied by the Nazis and sending trainloads of Jews to the camps when we landed in 1944.
Irregardless of the “Eastern Front,” Hitler threw 500,000 men into the Battle of the Bulge and yet we won on the western front, thus bringing about the end of the war in Europe.
The proud Brits would never have won that war alone–they were almost finished at Dunkirk–and though we didn’t officially enter the war for another year, Roosevelt saved the day with Lend-Lease and making the U.S. the “arsenal of democracy” for the beleaguered Brits.
But both Britain and France needed our strength and might to win and couldn’t have done it alone.
Like a true Lib Leftie, you stick up for the Frogs but they are in a world of hurt of their own making (just like Vichy) and it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
Get ready to live with Eurabia, probably starting with France or Britain turning into the first Islamic state of (Old) Europe.
Jen the Neocon on October 23, 2006 at 3:40 PM
CBarker on October 23, 2006 at 3:40 PM
Actually Dear, they have NONE. They arent even allowed to fly their NATIONAL FLAG for fear of “intimidating” someone! Did you know that? It happened just last year during the World Cup soccer games. There is no such THING as nationalism or pride in country in the UK. The Scots and Welsh resent being thought of as “Englishmen” and refuse to recognize the St George’s cross flag. National pride? Nonexistent.
labwrs on October 23, 2006 at 3:41 PM
…is that all! Take a retroactive memo…
To: Kaiser Bill
Get a move on. There’re a lot more Frogs to go. Will come in handy 20 years on.
Oh…and find a better solution to neutralizing the Russians than that whole “Lenin gambit”. Bad idea.
(signed)
Puritan1648 on October 23, 2006 at 3:44 PM
honora,
So if I’m understanding what you are saying, whether or not the US got involved in the European theater had nothing (or very little) to do with the outcome there. Germany only lost because they decided to pick a fight with Russia. And what about France?
I’ve read some of the French news articles in which they blame the US for not entering the war earlier – which is it?
Rick on October 23, 2006 at 3:45 PM
I believe that the Germans made a huge strategic error by taking on Russia and a 2 front war. IMO they would have eventually been defeated regardless; our entry sped up the inevitable and surely saved many hundreds of thousands of lives.
I don’t understand this–but as a guess, the French saw the US entry into the war as the single best way to hasten the end of the war. Perhaps I am missing your point?
honora on October 23, 2006 at 3:50 PM
It’s that darn liberal history book…
You know the one that had Kerry in Cambodia for Christmas…
and Lincoln was a democrat who issued the Emancipation proclimation.
and the war of northern aggression was all about slavery and had nothing to do with “States rights”.
E L Frederick on October 23, 2006 at 3:50 PM
Is it time to question WW1&2?
Did it really happen?
Is Islam all the rage in Europe?
Is it all just a fad? Or just
hateRAGEKini on October 23, 2006 at 3:52 PM
Well there you go. I would have thought that the gratitude direction would be from us to the Brits as much as the other way around: they single handedly keep Hitler at bay until he decided to turn his sights on Russia. They sacrificed their cities and most of the RAF. And let’s be perfectly clear–it’s not like we magnanimously decided to sacrifice all for Europe: Japan attacked us, we declared war on Japan, Germany declared war on us.
We have so much to be proud of in our history, we don’t need to inflate it.
honora on October 23, 2006 at 3:54 PM
WTF are you talking about? Did you and Ahmadinejad take the same history courses at the University of Moron? France was totally occupied by the Germans and the US and Brits forcefully dislodged Hitler. Thousands of US servicemen and Limeys were killed freeing France from occupation. Are you suggesting that the French would have saved themselves or the problem would have worked itself out somehow? Are you suggesting that they should have waited for the Russian to come and free them? You’re going to have to explain this to me, Sir. *wait* Now I’m on the edge of my seat…
The US has saved them time and time again. In fact the French wine industry was saved by a Texan. (That’s in America, BTW)
x95b10 on October 23, 2006 at 3:58 PM
Ahhh… because the French had more dead, they…
Okay, I admit it. I have no clue what in the heck that’s supposed to mean.
As to “who really saves whom,” I feel a raging clue coming on:
http://www.archives.gov/research/ww2/photos/images/ww2-105.jpg
Citizen Duck on October 23, 2006 at 3:59 PM
So as a liberal, what part of that history would you be proud of?
E L Frederick on October 23, 2006 at 3:59 PM
Honora ( you resident Leftist site pest!) back to my point on Lend-Lease:
The Russkis wouldn’t have had any materiel to fight Hitler, either, if we hadn’t made generous arrangements with them for guns, ammo, planes, etc. also because they were an “ally.”
That, and Stalin’s order to shoot all deserters from the front, really put the steel in the Russian boot.
I have no idea what you’re arguing with your “If Hitler hadn’t attacked Russia…”
As SecDef Rumsfeld so sagely said, “You fight the war you have.”
As we did and are doing in every conflict.
But trust me, if we hadn’t entered WWI, the Brits, French and Germans might still be in those trenches.
And if we hadn’t gone to war against Hitler in WWII, they’d be speaking German, goosestepping and wearing the swaztika all over the Juden Frei European land mass.
Mark Steyn has just written a brilliant book called “America Alone” about this war, which I suggest you read….but you won’t.
Jen the Neocon on October 23, 2006 at 3:59 PM
Of the 13 million military casualties the Germans experienced between 1939 and 1945, 80% fell or were captured on the eastern front. But we are the ones who defeated Hitler?
honora on October 23, 2006 at 4:06 PM
Well, somebody saved someone sugarbear.
Coffee, Croissants, and Cigarettes couldn’t have done it.
While we’re at it, lets rewrite some history shall we!
Kini on October 23, 2006 at 4:06 PM
Where are you getting your stats from?
E L Frederick on October 23, 2006 at 4:09 PM
Building a free society from diverse elements; building an enviable standard of living for the majority of people; leading the world in technology and philantrophy; and less tangible things, like innovation and initiative and community.
honora on October 23, 2006 at 4:09 PM
Quebec wants to be a country by 2015. Shall we suggest the French model?
Canadian Infidel on October 23, 2006 at 4:11 PM
Somebody here loves their Uncle Joe…I wonder who?
Yes, to hear the old-line Soviets tell it, they did single-handedly win the war for us all, only to turn around and re-enslave it, or at least the eastern part.
You see, National Socialism was a kissing cousin to Communism which is why Adolph and Stalin got along so well, until they didn’t.
The war in Europe was a 2-front war and we all won it together, that’s why we were called….ALLIES.
Hitler almost took Moscow and Stalin spent ONE MILLION MEN
Jen the Neocon on October 23, 2006 at 4:11 PM
There’s an old martial arts maxim something along the lines of “If I draw a corner and the student does not intuit the other three, I do not repeat.
This has been addressed above repeatedly, but honora, just for you, may I present the other three corners.
Citizen Duck on October 23, 2006 at 4:12 PM
I have recently become friends with a French immigrant. His wife is American and since he speaks better English than she French–they moved here. He is a very smart man–a former police officer from Marseilles, with a master’s degree. He has been relating stories of France to me and he is not happy with the state of his country. On the flip side–this man could be a very productive part of this country–he is very pro-American and is assimilating well. But he can’t get his green card to find a proper job (he has one lined up with a large insurance company, I believe)–meanwhile, the Mexicans are here illegally and it is infuriating him. I think the illegals will send the poor guy BACK to France!
Either way–remember, not all Frenchmen are anti-American. I visited France a decade ago and had a great time. I wouldn’t go there now though, to be honest. It’s a shame that we have people lined up waiting to get into this country that deserve to come (even the French) but never get the chance while our borders are being permeated by our lovely neighbors to the South. And I don’t mean Alabama.
robblefarian on October 23, 2006 at 4:13 PM
John Erickson’s “The Road to Stalingrad” and “The Road to Berlin”, from hard copies I have in my home library. I will find online references (if it’s not too hard!!)
honora on October 23, 2006 at 4:15 PM
Germany:
Military Deaths – 3.25 million
Civilians Deaths – 2.44 million
Total Deaths – 5.69 million
I say again, WTF are you talking about?
x95b10 on October 23, 2006 at 4:17 PM
Somebody here loves their Uncle Joe…I wonder who?
Yes, to hear the old-line Soviets tell it, they did single-handedly win the war for us all, only to turn around and re-enslave Europe or at least the eastern part.
You see, National Socialism was a kissing cousin to Communism which is why Adolph and Stalin got along so well, until they didn’t.
The war in Europe was a 2-front war and we all won it together, that’s why we were called….ALLIES.
Visit Lithuania, Latvia or Poland to find people who are truly grateful that America entered WWII.
The French love statism, which is why they bow down to entities like Hitler and the E.U. and why they’ll submit ( “Islam” in Arabic) to shari’ia some day very soon and become the Islamic Republic of France, republic #6, I think.
Jen the Neocon on October 23, 2006 at 4:17 PM
I have a hard time believing your figures. I can’t believe that only 20% of the fallen or captured were on the Eastern side. That front wasn’t opened until later in the war.
I don’t have figures to prove it, but I question the percentage.
E L Frederick on October 23, 2006 at 4:18 PM
20% of the fallen or captured were on the
Easternwestern side… sorry…E L Frederick on October 23, 2006 at 4:20 PM
Oooh! I know! I know!!!
Citizen Duck on October 23, 2006 at 4:20 PM
I thought you said that couldn’t be done (as in Iraq)? Oh yeah, didn’t we do that in Japan also? Nah, that couldn’t have been us – the Soviets single-handedly won WWII (the US played a small part).
Rick on October 23, 2006 at 4:21 PM
Casualties include both the dead and the wounded as well as MIA.
honora on October 23, 2006 at 4:23 PM
1) There is a difference between diverse elements and historic enemies.
2) Diversity in Japan? Are you serious????
3) The Pacific theatre–whole other story; absolutely an American driven effort and victory.
honora on October 23, 2006 at 4:26 PM
Honora, I think you’ve drifted a bit here from the original point.
To put it a bit more succinctly, we’re talking about who liberated France here not “who defeated Hitler.”
To my knowledge, Russian troops got as far as East Germany (which they subsequently held on to ’til the late 90′s, but I digress) and no farther, at least not as a cohesive military force.
There are American, British, Canadian (and yes, French) soldiers buried in French soil to this day as a result of giving their lives to free France, but to my knowledge, not many Russians.
Citizen Duck on October 23, 2006 at 4:26 PM
Historic enemies, like Scots, Irish and English? Protestants and Catholics? Germans and the French?
E L Frederick on October 23, 2006 at 4:28 PM
As for these “exuberant youths”: these are exactly the kind of circumstances that call for martial law. Call out the Army (even the French army should be able to handle street trash), load up on live ammo and CS gas, and give them a few reasons to rethink their course of action. Enough dead “youths” laying in the gutter and maybe they’ll decide to channel all that energy into something more productive. If they don’t, well, bullets are cheap. And to those of you who think that my solution is harsh, and that this rioting can all be solved with group hugs, well, I’m afraid in the real world it isn’t that easy. The alternative is that peaceful law-abiding citizens get victimized by these vermin–maybe you can live with that, but I can’t.
ReubenJCogburn on October 23, 2006 at 4:30 PM
Well at least there we agree. The Russians were at peace with Japan for most of World War 2, and only turned their attentions to them after they’d done their part to help defeat the Germans.
They didn’t allow US flights to cross Russian airspace to attack Japan, and in fact US airmen who bailed out in Russian airspace after doing so were taken into custody by Russian authorities.
We beat Japan in WW2 despite the Russians.
Citizen Duck on October 23, 2006 at 4:31 PM
WTF are you on about now?
I hope you like to talk to yourself alot…because HotAir doesn’t have a Barbara Billingsley person to step up and say, “Excuse me, stewardess, but I speak Honora jive.”
Jen the Neocon on October 23, 2006 at 4:32 PM
To these youths I say- Avez-vous un porq-epique sur le feces?
What’s there to bitch about? You’ve got everything to survive for free, and still have money for hash! Sure the bourgoisie French still have nicer Peugots than you, but, is stoning the firefighters really going to help matters? If you don’t like France go back to the dirt lot you came from and chill.
Just wanted to refocus the thread.
NTWR on October 23, 2006 at 4:42 PM
EL:
http://experts.about.com/e/e/ea/Eastern_Front_(World_War_II).htm
The following is a quote from the rather dense article above. It talks only about land troops dead but you get the jist.
honora on October 23, 2006 at 4:42 PM
Very nice honora. Now, since the original post you replied to before embarking on your tangent (as quoted in your own post) was:
…perhaps you’d be so kind as to produce some citations documenting the Russian contribution to the liberation of France.
Citizen Duck on October 23, 2006 at 4:46 PM
Oh come on, you know the answer to that. Gotta run, nice fencing with ya!!!
honora on October 23, 2006 at 4:48 PM
:beats his head against the wall
“I will not feed the trolls….”
E L Frederick on October 23, 2006 at 4:50 PM
honora will be back – she doesn’t let up.
Rick on October 23, 2006 at 4:56 PM
Helloooo?!??!!! There’s an intifadah going on in France. That’s a bit more important than butting head over who lost how many 60 years ago…
Wired German on October 23, 2006 at 4:57 PM
Oh for the love of God–the point is obvious. The Germans gutted themselves in their failed effort to take Russia. They were staggered, making our job (US/UK/Canada) of invading the Continent and marching to Berlin significantly easier than would otherwise have been the case.
This was brought up because I am sick to death of hearing my countrymen pompously intone how “we” won the war singlehandedly. (And nine times out of ten, the “we” speaking couldn’t win a game of checkers with a four year old. Have you ever known a real combat vet who brags about their service?) It’s that kind of aggressive ignorance that’s gotten us into this Iraq mess in the first place.
honora on October 23, 2006 at 4:59 PM
Absolutely. I am so hoping to learn more about the diversity experience in Japan. Do tell.
honora on October 23, 2006 at 5:00 PM
lol, ELF!
Reuben, I totally agree but the time for the French to have kicked some butt was a year ago and now the ” Muslim youts” know they won’t do jack squat.
As for the Russians and the Japs in WWII, the Russians weren’t gonna go there, because the Japanese beat them good with a sneak attack on Port Arthur in 1905.
Of course, their success emboldened them to try this again with us at Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Jen the Neocon on October 23, 2006 at 5:00 PM
Think of it as a Ramadan present.
Merry Ramadan everybody.
Weird how newsarticles always refer to the Holy Month of Ramadan. But when it comes to Christmas season in the West, it’s always Winter Festivals, and Holiday Cheer and all that jazz. Nary a mention of Christmas.. during Christmas. But we get non-stop reminders that Ramadan is holy and occuring in our midsts.
Bah humbug.
James on October 23, 2006 at 5:03 PM
Obvious to you perhaps, but there are some obvious problems with that line of reasoning, the first of which is that Russia was fighting a defensive war against a former, well, ally is too strong a word, so let’s just say, country with which it had signed a non-aggression treaty, all the while hampering our effort against Japan. So if they helped us with Germany, were completely uninvolved with Italy, and hindered us with Japan, where does that leave us?
Erm. Not to (re-)point out the obvious, but the post you responded to was:
Citizen Duck on October 23, 2006 at 5:08 PM
What are we supposed to do about it? The French can’t stand us, and they probably blame us for all of it. I’m sure that when the sh!t really hits the fan (which it probably already has) over there, they will call us and ask us for our help – and once we’ve pulled them out of this mess, they will continue to blame us some more.
Rick on October 23, 2006 at 5:09 PM
honora,
You said diverse elements – Japan was not a very friendly environment at the end of WWII. In fact, there was a large number of Koreans, Chinese (and other Asians) stuck there as part of the slave trade. The Japanese government collapsed and many officials were tried – leaving a vacuum that the US had to fill (and did). Not to mention, the US had been the enemy, and was now in charge of the government. In any event, I don’t think this is the issue – if you really want to get into this argument, we can.
Rick on October 23, 2006 at 5:30 PM
They should call these the “nobody riots” since they refuse to identify the rioters as anybody other that “immigrants” or “youths”(youts).
“Those whacky youths are burning cars again”
lol
quax1 on October 23, 2006 at 5:33 PM
Then it’s settled…
Let it go the way of the Veil
BTW, the French hate themselves also.
A never ending cycle of Communistic Liberalism.
Let us learn from their mistakes and pray for them.
For that’s all they have left, nothing but a prayer.
Kini on October 23, 2006 at 5:33 PM
The actual French should start buying firearms. Oh my, it’s going to be ugly.
PRCalDude on October 23, 2006 at 6:03 PM
I agree, but http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/1596:
Quotation: Sarkozy. Emphasis: mine.
Citizen Duck on October 23, 2006 at 6:17 PM
Feh. Botched the link:
http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/1596
Citizen Duck on October 23, 2006 at 6:17 PM
That’s why I hope responsible conservatives will stock up on firearms and ammo in the US. If the dems take control we might have even more hoops to jump through to protect ourselves from the repercussions of their short-sighted, PC, open-borders irresponsibility. Then there’d be a chance we could end up like the French.
NTWR on October 23, 2006 at 6:38 PM
Citizen Duck,
So the French aren’t going to get any law and order, but they’re also not allowed to defend themselves. Let them eat cake.
PRCalDude on October 23, 2006 at 6:40 PM
We should organize a “Send Arms to France” campaign like the one for Britain during WWII.
PRCalDude on October 23, 2006 at 6:43 PM
As long as it’s halal.
Citizen Duck on October 23, 2006 at 6:46 PM
What’s French for “You’re screwed!”?
Of course, it goes without saying that Sarkozy would be perfectly at home in the Democratic party.
ReubenJCogburn on October 23, 2006 at 6:47 PM
The fun part is, he’s the tough law-and-order opposition to the likes of de Villepin.
France reminds me of Bizarro-Earth.
Citizen Duck on October 23, 2006 at 6:50 PM
The right to bear arms is much more than an individual freedom. It is the National Defense of last resort. There are approximately 80 million gun owners in the United States. That would make for a pretty unstable caliphate.
RedWinged Blackbird on October 23, 2006 at 8:11 PM
What’s with the scare quotes around “youths” ? Do you have reason to believe that the majority weren’t young?
Mark Jaquith on October 24, 2006 at 12:32 AM
No, that’s just what the press calls them to avoid calling them Muslims. “Youths” of unknown affiliation.
Allahpundit on October 24, 2006 at 12:39 AM
…the answer is in the efficiency of the police and the efficiency of the judiciary process, the answer is not in having guns at home.
===============================
I’ll keep my gun anyway, but thanks for the load of nonsense.
JackM on October 24, 2006 at 8:09 AM
CBarker on October 24, 2006 at 9:05 AM
Tu es complètement encoulé(e), je pense.
Jen the Neocon on October 24, 2006 at 9:18 AM
What I said in answer to a question was that one of the things I most admire about the US is how it has built a free nation with diverse elements. Yopur reply:
No we didn’t. Japan is arguably the least diverse developed country in the world. Less than 5% of the population is not ethnically Japanese. Your comment re POWs is silly. Oh yeah? Yeah.
I was wrong on one thing though. Eli wasn’t the quarterback you had to watch out for. Hell, he wasn’t even the second quarterback you had to watch out for. I do envy you Dallas fans though, when my team stinks up the place, like the Cowboys did last night, I really have little reason to keep watching the game. You folks on the other hand always have that sub-plot of “is today the day Parcells decides to slap the living shit out of Jones?”
honora on October 24, 2006 at 9:50 AM
Years ago–maybe 10 years?–there was a really interesting article in the New Yorker about France and the meaning of being French. The article was specifically about the blood supply crisis that some of you may remember back in the 80s; the French blood supply had become contaminated with HIV. The jist of the article was that the French have a very odd sort of nationalism–they feel being French is simply a blessing and the best thing you can be, yet they have a real contempt for government, and are determinedly fatalistic. They also have a hierarchial mindset–the higher up guy always knows best. All contributed to this crisis not only happening, but dragging on well beyond the point it needed to.
The point being, these French qualities are a formula for inaction in the face of a significant threat.
honora on October 24, 2006 at 9:58 AM
honora, dear, you’re practicing sophistry with your Japan arguments;
the key thing we did by dropping the a-bombs and occupying the country was to get them off the cult of Shintoism, WWII’s equivalent to IslamoFascism now.
As for the Cowboys, the last thing Parcells would do is slap the sh*t out of Jones.
The last time a coach tried to tell Jones off, he was so fired it was unbelievable.
Noone criticizes Jerry Jones, because he is the real coach of the Cowboys and not just its owner.
Who knows what happened to Bledsoe, but if you’re a Giants fan, enjoy.
Jen the Neocon on October 24, 2006 at 9:58 AM
I really think you kids need to learn a new logic term. Here’s one based on the above: non sequitor.
Ah yes, but wouldn’t it be worth it???
I’m not a Giants or a Cowboys fan, I’m a Steelers fan(though we catch some Jets game when we’re in New York) So I have my own QB worries, though Batch is more than capable. Now if we could only stop the outbreak of butterfingers……
honora on October 24, 2006 at 10:27 AM
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »