rioters don't consider themselves as french citizens.They would consider being insulted if being told so,most of them don''t like westerners,british for example, or french peoples as well.
They have been told during years they were victims of the police and that they were discriminate because of their origins.
sadly they still believe it,thanks to the medias.
They don"t respect anyone and the only language they really understand is violence.
some call them barbarians,and they are right,sadly.

fred, sydney, australia

As an American who Loves France, PLEASE do not let yourselves be lead down the road of "civil rights" activisim.There is no satisfying or assimilating those who wish not to be satisfied or assimilated. Billions of dollars, countless Federal "programs" over several decades has only exacerbated the problems we now have in America. You must demand personal responsibility and accountability from everyone, otherwise misguided liberals will pave the way for these angry and violent minorities to feel invincible and to continue creating havoc for many many years to come.

Emeric duQuesnay, New Orleans, USA/LA

There is only one answer to the use of "deadly force" by the rioters- use deadly force in return. Police snipers MUST be ordered to "shoot to kill" anyone pointing any type of firearm at the police. If the French police let it be know that there is a "zero tolerance" policy in effect, you would see a very sharp reduction in the use of firearms by the "youths" doing the rioting.

Ken Price, Greenville, SC, USA

Our very problem is that Sarkozy was elected to clean the suburbs, but he acts as if it's still time for prevention and education, rather than punishment.

In France, you can not "send them back". More than 90% of the rioters described here are French, because they are born on French soil. The problem here is not really multiculturalism (they don't have any "culture"), even if it's a problem for Europe, but the problem of suburb violence that NY faced decades ago.

And for the record, there have been HUGE amounts of money given to the suburbs for 30 years, and HUGE efforts to fight discriminations. Rioters are not poors, nor discriminated. They are just barbarians.

Nicolas, Paris, France

John Ngobu, in many small corners of the country shopkeeper will refuse to even serve black people??? Let me laugh... I don't know where you get this wrong information but it's fancyist!
And concerning the barbarian police... no comment! Maybe some cops are racists, but don't generalize to all the policemen!

In France, there is a lot of plan to help immigrants people and their children. Some people try to explain this annual riots by social problems... it certainly true for a part, but it doesn't explain everything.
The racism against the white population grew up.
Europeans countries pay for the colonisation period. Colonisation was a tragic politic, but now, we, Europeans, have to stop to flog ourselves.
I really trink that multiculuralism isn't viable.
Instead of have a immigration politic, let's have a natalist plan, and try to really help "south" countries to grew up by their own, without interferring as actually with our modern colonialism and the apatrid globalization

Philippe, Paris, France

This was an everyday accident. In a healthy society it would have been a one-paragraph report on the 5th page of local papers.
In a troubled society it is enough to incite the masses and to cause immessurable damage to people and property not at all involved in the accident.
What happened in Pairs is a danger signal that the city and France are in serious trouble. Those in position of responsibility better listen closely!

Reinhard Schumann, Bonn, Germany

César Gragera cannot certainly spell propperly in English because he´s not a native English speaker. Besides, he taught Spanish and French there ( BA and MA in French litterature, plus a PGCE). They offered me the possition as a teacher, so I moved there. It was also me who decided to return to Spain. My teaching was good, as it certainly was in the UK, where I didn´t have any kind of troubles. some of the parents told me and some of my French and Spanish colleages that they wanted Americans to occupy our jobs, which I fully understand. But the thing is that they have a serious shortage of teachers. I used my example in the USA only to show the lack of tolerance and hypocresy that sicken many societies in our world. I cannot spell propperly in English, but I make an effort to communicate in a language which is not my own, only to share my point of view.

CESAR GRAGERA, Cáceres, Spain

Dear Individuals:
The immigrants in france don't have opportunities nor chances
. They're either are placed on welfare or are working dirty, back
-breaking jobs that native french consider beneath their dignity
or are too lazy to work. Instead of going into xenophobic mono-
logues this country needs to look at how to effectively train the-
se people in needed skills. This is the only solution or this
country will go up in smoke the way the U.S. and England will
in due time because of thes views.
Thanks, Ghost driver from wheels of soul

Ghost Driver, madison, Usa

I find a lot of the comments from the Americans here to be hilarious. They keep talking about immigrants as if that's not what they are! Wake up morons, you are a nation of immigrants, every single white person in American is from Europe, America is not your country. I think all the Native Americans should ship you lot back to Europe after all the trouble you've caused in their country! All the French rioters did was shoot at a few police and beat a few of them up, you committed genocide against the Native Americans, if that doesn't deserve deportation I don't know what does!!!

J Roberts, Manchester, UK

Maybe the Americans didn't want Cesar Gragera teaching their kids because he clearly can't spell.

Nancy , London,

sergie - what on earth are you on about? a liberal democracy still has to be seen to reasonably fair. the point I was making was that many of our american friends seem to think that the riots are due to islam and the french way of governance. the truth is that you had similar riots in l.a. that were ostensibly about race and police brutality, with a resentment warmed by social injustice. there is no reason for americans to be smug and wave goodbye to europe when you have a disenfranchised underclass of your own that is permanently on the edge of bubbling over.

my argument has nothing to do with communism. if you allow a group to be segregated (or choose segregation) and if that group is disadvantaged socially and economically, you get trouble. islam is mainly such a problem because of the injustices that moslems perceive. and some of them are more real than naming a teddy bear after a prophet.

I suspect your odd take on my note below is due to your own prejudices.

jem, london, uk

Muslim Americans make up a majority of some communities, and they are hard working, loyal citizens. Despite the rantings of hot-heads, Americans are generally tolerant people these days, and get along with one another.

It certainly helps that Muslim Americans are as free to work hard and prosper, and to find decent housing, as other Americans. Opportunity and the 'melting pot' paradigm work. Multiculturalism, which really means separation of cultures, can only lead to fragmentation.

European nations need to peacefully but firmly assert their national and European identity. Any further travel down the road of multiculturalism will only end in disaster.

I wish you had the political leadership to work your way out of this, but that doesn't seem to be the case. YOU need to insist that your national identiy be respected and that immigrants assimilate. You also need to see that immigrants have reasonable opportunity to succeed.

Nick A., Medford, Oregon, USA

I believe in anytown in the USA ,if a person with a shotgun points a firearm,knife at a law enforcement office,the officer has a legal right to shoot them back to kill. Why are the French putting up with this violence.Have they no balls to defend themselves?Liberalism has gone around to bite them right in the ass ! If someone,be it male or female,adult or teenager,they are going down before me if I am a cop.What has this world become ? Stand up to these riotors!

Larry, Rochester, USA -NY

All moral equivalence aside, this ideology,which mandates dualistic codes of behavior,sanctions deception towards non-believers,and insists that the world of dar-al-islam must constantly struggle against,and eventually engulf, the world of dar-al-haab,differs from any other ideology,religion or belief system on the face of this planet. It has since the first Meccan caravan raids of 625AD. I find it more disturbing that many of our continental "cousins" choose to vilify the US(seen any PERFECT societies around lately?) whilst ignoring the encroaching elephant in the room.

Jean of Toulon-

Got our butts kicked by the Brits in 1812? Funny I don't recall ever reverting back to rule by the crown. Stephen Decatur's naval victories and the battle,opps I mean slaughter,of New Orleans saw to that.

Still, at least my granddad,buried in Normandy,can rest in peace knowing it was "Russia in II" and not Patton's 3rd army which ultimately did in the Reich. Last UNAIDED war France won?

clancy dubois, new orleans, la,usa

I think the article forgot to mention that it was the 'mainly' muslim rioters against the 'mainly' christian police. Surely, that would have got the message across - albeit less subtly than this article is trying to do.

Shazza, London, UK

As an American who has travelled extensively in the EU and further, I can say that my entire family respects and appreciates the culture and heritage of other countries. And we despise the ignorance exhibited on the boards by some of our fellow countrymen and women. That said, I can tell you that if you travel in any part of the southern US, you will find a defacto Mexican/Central American satellite state, full of people who do not wish to learn English. That makes my blood boil Then there's the issue of their employment here, often 'under the table', and shipping billions of dollars back to their home country. These issues hurt our country, and create the hostility which grows daily. Yes, my German ancestors came here almost 300 years ago, but they learned the language and assimilated admirably, and were proud to join this country. Those things should also be the goals of anyone immigrating here today. Most Americans have no problem with LEGAL immigration, including Muslims.

jean, cleveland, ohio/USA

RE "a worrying new level of barbarity in the mainly Muslim banlieues" from the above article.

Why? Who is pushing the "youths" to become more violent? Does anybody keep tabs on what the alleged "clergy" are preaching to their faithful?

Next question: What on earth is the French government doing? The purpose of govt is to provide social order and rule of law for its citizens. It is absolutely UNACCEPTABLE that the government is not reclaiming the "no-go" Muslim areas (as I understand it, there are 751 "sensitive urban zones" which I have heard called "Islamic micro-states"). It is totally UNACCEPTABLE to stand by while "angry youths" riot and destroy property and attack police officers night after night. Is the French government waiting for the rioters to grow too old and feeble to throw firebombs?

France - take back your country!

A_Nonny_Mouse, Colorado, USA

I am Spanish, and had the opportunity to live in Leeds, Uk. I lived there for more than three years, and despite the different colour of my skin, I had no problem whatsoever. I worked as a waiter and as a pat-time Spanish teacher. I could feel that I had nearly completely integrated into the society. But my attitude toward it was possitive, I really wanted to be part of England, of Britain, respecting their laws and their people, because I also wanted to feel respected. Then, I moved to the USA. to work as a teacher. My possitive attitude was the same, I wanted to give the best of me as a teacher, but I could feel the rejection from many americans from the begining. Why did a Spanish teacher have to teach their kids, and not an american? Mainly because there is a great necessity of teacher, and also because I tought at a bilingual school. They couldn´t see it. I left the USA. Discrimination for consecutive generations is a common issue. Respect and propper integration

CESAR GRAGERA, Cáceres, Spain

To Jem -

As somebody who lived through years of old Soviet propaganda, your words are -- not surprisingly any more, but no less hilariously -- repeat the mantra of the inhuman communists... No society can ever be built so that everybody is satisfied. That was an eschatological dream of Herr Marx & Co. that just exposed them as shallow thinkers. Of course, it;s been a useful tool for propagandists of all shades and tints.

Liberal democracy is a rotten arrangement. Alas, it's still the best available. This is an old dictum worth remembering...

And, alas, abiding by law is an indispensable prerequisite of this kind of society.

Maybe you prefer living under Putin or Chavez. But I bet you don't know anything about that kind of existence...

Sergei N, Reisterstown, MD, USA

This is the point in all countries where immigrants start committing violent crimes, to simply deport them back to their countries of origin and refuse further admission.
When it comes to this sort of violence then one strike and you are out.

Thalia, London,

AN ex-Mossad agent in charge and muslim rioters in the streets. Where are the French people in all of this?

Jan, London, UK

Wow. The Americans on this board seem to have no idea of the racial / religious makeup of Europe. To say that "whites" will be the minority by 2050 is so far off the mark it's hilarious.

The riots in France are not linked to religion. Its to do with the fact that France did not assimalate immigrates into their society. This is something that has happened in the UK, hence we do not have these issues. That is a testament to the British way of life. A tolerant society that is inclusive....

JJ, London, UK

I served with a Los Angeles area police department while in college 30 years ago. When visiting France, I have spoken at length with its police officers. I find them polite, diplomatic and courageous. All they need is political will and material support to do their jobs. Should President Sarkozy decide enough is enough with the "thugs" in his country, then it will be time to clean house and send many of the undesireables to the home countries of the thug's parents, by parachute, drogue pallet or whatever! We in the US should learn by the mistakes of our European friends. Mexico is not an ally of America as we experience a silent invasion by poor, ignorant and tribal people from a 3rd world country. As our economies sink into recession, we may very well have to fight ourselves to protect our homes and families. Deport all illegals and their children humanely. Secure the borders, fine employers and quit catering to those who do not belong and do not assimilate. Send them home.

Alex, Los Angeles, CA

The flipside of the coin, of course, is the unspeakable barbarity, racism and viciousness of the French police. France is a notably racist country. In many small corners of the country shopkeeper will refuse to even serve black people, and the police have inflicted untold horrors on black and arab men and women in cells across the country. France is not a liberal society under attack from the beast within, it is a truly savage and bigoted one reaping its own personal whirlwind.

John Ngobu, Paris,

Islam is nothing. It is a symptom of the problem, not the problem in itself. It is merely a facilitating vehicle for the barbarity of the people who claim it. A justification for intolerance, tyranny and violence. If all these rioters were immigrant athiests or Christians, instead of immigrant Muslims, the result would be exactly the same. If Islam had never been founded, the same problems would be happening - they would find some other justification. Until we understand that and address the people themselves as the problem we don't have much hope.

James, London,

I wonder how the French feel now about opening their doors to Muslim immigration? It's called reaping the whirlwind.

Mitch, Vancouver, Canada

What is wrong with you people on here? The blatant, unashamed racism is absolutely disgusting. Hanging on to the one, hardly necessary and inflamatory, phrase "mainly Muslim banlieues" and ignoring the social problems in French society due to the employment situation. Has anyone even read about how grim life is in the bad banlieues?

So to just hang on to the religion aspect of it and blame everything on them because they are Muslim is ignorant. It is also ignorant to assume they must be there because they are new immigrants, or much be French citizens because they naturalised. I know it must be terribly shocking but Muslims can actually be born in Western countries!! I know this will also come as a shock, but people who identify as other religions as well as those obviously intellectually superior secularists also committ horrible crimes and riot!! Mindblowing isn't it.

Lindsay, Lincoln, England

So now we in the UK are inviting all those Albanian Muslims into the UK - the same terrorists that NATO stopped the Serbs from controlling. When will the West wake up to the fact that these people do NOT want to come to the UK and integrate!!
They want to come to the UK and change our laws our customs and our way of life. Great Britain is a CHRISTIAN country whether you are Roman Catholic, Protestant or C of E and many thousands of our citizens have died to protect that heritage. So now our namby pamby wet politicians want to give that away to the PC brigade. Let's stop all this 'we want a muticultural society nonsense'! I have lived and worked in Islamic countries for more than 20 years and I can assure you that they do not want to integrate they want to take over. I wonder how many of the advocates of a mulicultural society have actually lived in an Islamic country. Go and live in Saudi Arabia for a year then tell us that they are the good guys.

George, Glasgow, Uk

Sounds like that good old "Religion of Peace" is at it again.
I actually believe it is too late for Europe. I am loathe to say that, but for problems like this to be occurring again like they did in 2005, where these 'youths' were completely out of control, and the police and authorities could not regain peace...spells TROUBLE, big, big trouble.

Everyone has been either asleep at the wheel, or pushing political correctness, which is now rearing its ugly head...in the form of over immigration that has not been monitored and regulated--all in the name of welcoming the illegal...because we couldn't possibly offend any one. In the meantime, our national sovereignty--And I Mean All Countries is being trampled by immigration-both legal and illegal. The laws for legal status have changed and are much more loose and allow for too many, and then the illegal numbers are staggering. Which of course leads to societal problems-unease, distrust, racial warring etc. ONE WORLD=BAD!!!!!!!!

Katalina, L.A., USA

France is done for – period. End of story. They are past the point of no return. Not being negative, just being a realist. Terminal cancer is terminal cancer.

The vast majority of Western Europe is in a similar mess. This is what the silly, naive and foolish policies of Leftist thinking and multiculturalism gets you.

The next big wave of immigration on this planet will be the last of the Caucasian Europeans trying to escape Europe.

France absolutely WILL NOT regain any balls – ever. Once a nation becomes as feminized as France – it is absolutely impossible to ever regain the kind of fighting spirit back that it will take to resist Islamofacism. Just no way that’s gonna happen, sorry to burst your bubble.

Really such a shame to see Europe become such a mess. There is a better chance of freedom and democracy being established in Iraq than any hope for Europe finding the balls, the smarts and the will to fight Islamofacism.

Damn Yankee, LA, USA

With regard Rita & Koreans in LA - from what I heard, the reason they readily took up arms was that they had taken the constitution to heart. They knew it was their right as American citizens to defend their homes, businesses and neighbourhoods - something that perhaps not every US citizen in a metropolis remembers & understands.

It is a good example of why immigration is in itself not a problem, these people were a credit to their nation (based on the viewpoint I was given; that their actions were positive). In France, the problem has been that there has not been this integration so much with some communities - why can be debated I guess. The moral is, its cool to have different races but not different nations in one country.

I always thought it a crime that many Hong Kong peeps were stopped from entering the UK as British subjects when we gave the island back to China, a lot of well educated pro-Britain people that would have benefited the UK were lost due to politics imho.

Bradley, Blackpool,

TG,

Many Americans lack passports because Americans did not need them to visit most nearby countries, from Canada, to Mexico, to almost every Caribbean nation (and others farther flung); moreover, the US offers a vast array of flora, fauna, landscape, and climes, and all without a need to spend the extra costs (time, money, language, etc.) involved in traveling somewhere else--not bragging but fact. But don't let ignorance stop your hate: it's entertaining. Reminds me, however, of the last two Oxbridge laddies I've had the displeasure to encounter.

Islam's rentboys have, however, changed the situation. Visas and passports are increasingly required; accordingly, they are increasingly being obtained by Americans.

American TV sucks, indeed. But plenty of US-haters, like you, keep buying it, which only encourages more production. So it's partially your fault (snicker). I suspect sometimes it's a masochistic thing: Flay mine eyes again with Baywatch, mine palate with hamburgers--now!

Roger Gobdy, Tokyo, Japan

Time to close borders i say and send home those who cannot live by the rules of the land that gave them asylum in the first place

the problem we are far too tolirant for our own good, maybe if we treated people like they would treat us in their own homeland they woulndt be so keen to settle

where i live in luton the place has been overran with immigrants the last 20 years and none of them are making any attempt to intergrate they are just turning the town into small colonies of where they came from ~ dont get me wrong i would never expect somone to forget their roots but a little effort surley

you only have to look at the mentality in sudan over a teddy bear where the mob was calling for the death sentence to see the sort of people we are dealing with

better off without them i think and come election time the question im asking is what are you doing about immigration because its the number 1 issue

mick palmer, luton, uk

Well stated, Michael.

Spencer, Benton City, WA, USA

So many commentators with the same disingenuous, diversionary tactics. "It's the fault of America!". No, it is NOT our fault. This is mere Taqiyya, the usual lies of Islam. The basis of these French riots, as well as the riots in Sudan, the riots about the Danish cartoons, the riots about the Pope, the riots in Pakistan, the riots in Holland, the riots in Norway is - the subjugation of infidels, and the forced conversion of Christians to Islam. It's time to wake up, Europe - your freedom is at stake.

bill, San Francisco, Ca

By my reading I find that most of the Euro comments are about the "poor" down-trodden masses. Our Socialist Democratic Party plays the same game here. We seem to be fighting the same battle over immigration. We both have immigrants arriving to our countries who have NO intention of becoming French, German, Italian, British, American, ETC..
They arrive with the "full" intention of making us conform to them. Yea, They arrive with the "full" intention to "demand" we conform to them. And still we all have the same passifists and appologists telling us that we are the Nazis and Cowboys who should be rounded up and put away for objecting to this "invasion".

EDWARD, ATLANTA, USA

Looks like Drudge's readers have arrived.

France is home to the most secular Muslims in the West. It's safe to say that French Muslims are more secular than most White Christian Americans. This is according to mosque attendance, social views, and other factors gathered by polling data.

To some people, religion will always define everything Muslims do, from rioting to potato-peeling. Their's always that underlying "Muslim element."

Nevermind that among the rioters in France were Caribbean Christian and other non-Muslim immigrants and poor people.

Hisham, Seattle, WA, USA

The lawless yet organized uprising is typical of a 'what is government going to do for me' mentality, though NARO makes a valid point as well in his comment.

If one wants to find work in the modern world, they can. This has been demonstrated repeatedly in the 'west' were world populations tend to migrate.

People who want to make their lives better don't have time for this kind of crap. They are keeping themselves busy with family and work matters. Tend your own garden, darn your own socks, be on time everywhere you go... don't steal and don't lie... life is pretty %^& simple this way.

Peace.

Fran K, LA, CA, USA

It is already to late for Eurabia. Europeans think this is somehow George Bush's fault and global warming is playing a hand in this.
They do not realize they have overloaded the life boat and now they will all die. As the gays die, and the women either slaughtered or wearing burqhas and a new European genocide against Jews and left leaning Europeans commences, they will wish for the guns they long ago outlawed. It's over for Europe, they are dead and Islamofascisism has won.
A police officer leaving his gun home? A regional police chief?
I'm an American citizen and I never leave home without my gun, I don't rely on government bureaucracy to protect me, I rely on Smith & Wesson.

Carl Johnson, Reno, NV, U.S.A

Rioting youths? Mainly muslim enclaves? How many Christians do they think were mixed in the mob clubbing policeman to death! Theres mobs of thousands of muslims screaming dor the murder of a teacher over a teddy bear and French authorities are shocked at the savagery of the muslim mobs! Maybe the police named a teddy bear! If the press and politicians don't call the enemy by its name they're doomed. what happens in 2040 when along wit current birth trends France wil be 40% muslim. Do they think the muslims ill be so politically correct when president elect Mohamhead hoists an Islamic flag over France and institutes Sharia law? The majority of muslims in France through their own admission don't even consider themselves French! What happens when they become the majority? The irony of it all is that the French people are paying for the destuction of their culture with their own tax euros. Sarkozy is the first to offer any hope to solve the real problems of France and the socialist idiots are more concerned about having to work a few more hours a week! Morons!

mike obrien, seattle, USA, wa

How many people have to die and how much property must be destroyed before the liberal do-gooders realize that in order to live in a safe environment you must weed out the evil? All of these holligans have one thing in common, they are terrorists. Some will site religon but it still is just terrorism.

Bill, Fresno, California

I don't believe this trouble is caused solely by muslims.
If it is then they have certainly adopted the french culture well as this sort of behaviour is what they are infamous for.

Ro, Cheltenham,

Peter from Tyler in the USA - I'd rather you didn't get involved since 1. your sense of justice is so out of this world that the scales of justice don't exist. 2. kidnapping is a legal way of getting someone into a courtroom - get a life and 3. we're sick of your idiot troops killing British warriors in "friendly fire" when we are there to help!

NIck, London,

indeed, islam is a faith based on peace; just ask the school teacher whose class of 7 year olds innocently named a teddy bear after the profit Mohammad (praise be unto him). europe and its culture are doomed to a religion and belief that never made it out of the 14th century and has no desire to. i can't wait until iran joins the crazies in pakistan with nukes. that will be the final blow for europe. the same liberal thinking that all cultures can assimilate no matter how diverse will ultimately be eradicated by the cultures it once embraced.

geo, annapolis, md

You want to solve this problem? End immigration from Muslim countries. Deport all illegal immigrants. Stop the riots by using deadly force. All who participate in them are stripped of citizenship and deported immediately with no chance of return. Any Muslim who advocates terrorism or sharia is deported. And then start having babies again.

Jim, Washington, USA

Napoleon knew what to do and it worked in 1794.

Thomas Davis, Apple Valley, Minnesota, USA

Multiculturalism is a wonderful idea. However, chaos and lawlessness is the antithesis of society. Europe and the USA seem to have a great deal of trouble keeping out illegal immigrants. Although my heart goes out to them something must be done to stem the flow of immigrants, so that the carrying capacity of society is not overburdened.

Salvatore, Baton Rouge, USA

I wonder how long it will be until the first white Christian is dragged out of their home and crucified?

benjamin9, cincinnati / ohio, usa /ohio

U can say whatever u like, blame islam, blame muslims etc I am sure you have met muslims which are not what you call the regular stereotypes, so why is this happening? its because whenever you keep on suppressing a nation, keep on targeting it, that group of people will rise against you because being a human sooner or later u cant take it anymore. Every action has an opposite and equal reaction!

Tony Foster, leeds,

A violent mob is using shotguns and beating the heck out of police and the response hasn't been swift and harsh?!?? The French police should get some guts and hit them back HARD. None of the rioters are innocent here. When you go to a riot and your fellow rioters start beating cops and carrying firearms, you better run for it because the cops have every right to start spraying lead.

Jeff, Raleigh, NC, USA

Charles De Gaulle said 'France is Algiers-Algiers is France'.Governments do stupid things Socialist government are worse .USA might elect a socialist president..I expect them to let in millions of aliens-which some one called the 'worlds fast breeders'. Our government has allowed in six million Muslims.
Don' you French wish Charlie had kept his mouth shut.

Jack Kinch (1uncle), Midwest City, Oklahoma

The French got what they deserve.

Their constant support for Muslim terrorists that they describe as freedom fighters has the expected result: they legitimated terror and jihad among a portion of their Muslims immigrants.

Frank, Montreal, Canada

Islam will not take over. The Germans are the most intelligent ,
fiercest warriors on the face of the earth. When they pitch their treasonous government..The muslims will see firsthand how the germans almost took over the world.

John , Denver, USA

Hillary Clinton lead colapsed when she supported drivers licenses for illegal aliens. Iraq has fallen in priority to American anger over illegal aliens. Only the politicans of both parties are ignoring the overwhelming hostility of more than 80% of Americans. After the Nov. 2008 elections, Bush globalism and open borders will be completely shut down. America will return to its historical isolationism and fortress America traditions. The two oceans will be our 3,000 mile moats. Americans have learned from European appeasement over the past century and Euro-hatred of Americans. The Caliphate is being re-established in Europe, after five centuries, and the EU has no Charlemagne to save it. Many Europeans are already emigrating to the New World or to Australia and New Zealand. Europe is dying and the EU is clueless to do anything to stop it. America is building a wall on our Southern border. America will not save Europe for a fourth time. Europeans will adapt to Sharia law!

newenglander, Greater Boston, USA

All over a teddy bear?

Fred, San Diego, USA

Announce that the next time there are riots, anyone arrested will be deported back to their country of origin, along with the rest of his family. If they are Native French, promise long jail time.

Greg, Marietta, Georgia USA

"France is notoriously bad at multicultural policy"? What?? Multiculturalism is precisely the problem.

jb, Lima, PERU

yup...

...Typical of what Americans refer to as the "old" press, the word MUSLIM was not mentioned until the FIFTH paragraph of the story !?!?!?!?!

WWIII has begun, and the old press has obviously picked their favorite to win.

tired, Whiteville, Tennessee

When was the last time France won a war or battle?

Robert, Seattle, USA/Seattle

Wakeup France this is a war against Western Civilization. Deport them all --what is left for you to do. Send them where their behavior will be rewarded---the Middle East. We in the U.S. have our own Muslim population--I hope we can get the reality of what is going on in France -,unfortunately our media shields our people from the truth because of their leftist political beliefs. The leftist are the reason France has arrived at this crossroad.

Dave, Jupiter ,

Why is it so hard for people to call things as they are? These rioters are scum and punks. They don't deserve sympathy. If these punks want to change their lives and their surroundings, get an education, get a job, and don't commit crimes.

Yes, the majority of these rioters are immigrant youths who are muslim. I truly believe that Islam is incompatible with Western culture and viewpoints. Islam wants the west to bend to it and follow its tenets. I would rather die fighting than bow to Islam.

christian, ORLANDO,

Americans are and should be champions of freedom and liberty for all everywhere. Especially in France! We owe a debt to them, in memory of Lafayette. Sarkozy needs all those who love liberty to join with him to lead France (and therfore much of Europe) away from the dark tyranny and empty promises of radical islam. This will benefit all, regardless of religion or ethnicity.

We heard Sarkozy address our Congress last week, and I for one, was deeply moved. The French are our brothers and sisters in freedom. Our prayers are with them.

4cats, Olympia , WA / USA

France,you are in a Civil War. Send in your tanks and troops.Round up the enemy and their family members,revoke their passports,and send them back to their Homeland where they can beg for forgiveness to try and come back.Then say no!and hang up the phone. The family must be held accontable for the actions of their kids,so as to prevent this from happening again. Best of luck to you in the Old Country!

Richard, Vancouver, Canada

I remind the readership that both the labour and Conservative parties are very enthusiastic about Turkey joining EU. They are being strongly backed by the US and Israel. please be aware of the policies of Brown and Cameron. We must stop this NOW

P.Taylor, London, UK

This is what you can expect, Europe, when you allow tolerance to trump logic, and watch immigrants you have so graciously allowed to come to your country to reward your hospitality by refusing to assimilate and (for many) call for the outright overthrow of YOUR way of life.

Remember the poll after the July 7 bombings in London? 60 percent of the Muslim population polled said the murderous acts were justified? Ask Theo Van Gogh if Europe should stand strong against this BLATANT HIJACKING of your world.

This is a time for soul-searching, my European friends. Do you stand up and fight? Or do you roll over and die?

Kyle Coppola, New York, NY, USA, NY

God Bless Charles Martel.

Gabriel Jackson, Annapolis, MD

They made their bed, now they have to lie in it.

Any liberal who thinks that letting in a person from a third world country will change that person to adopt the ways of the new country, has a fundamentally flawed perspective of people in general. They should learn the hard way. Let France and America be examples of how not to run a country.

C, Calif,

I think this is indicative of what happens with authoritarian governments who do little for the people in such situations.

Its a warning also for Brown and Bush respectively, that harshness, police brutality, elitism and massive corruption will lead to the same happening in Britain and America, trust me on this, the people in the UK are mightily peeved at whats going on, from the man stopped for no reason getting DNA'd to the 28'dayer locked up by an accusation yet see people like Blair, Brown, Prescott, Straw, Harman, Jowell, Hodge and others waltz away from prosecution and people are beginning to decide that it stinks.

The reasons that Britain and America will follow suit is clear, to pay for their illegal wars, Bush and Blair have stripped the cupboards bare to bring about the wars on the promise that the oil would flow unabated, this has gone disastrously wrong and that is why our country has no money for law or schools or hospitals, only money for new draconian laws mind...

Ian Watson, Gillingham, Dorset

Once again, France is invaded and does nothing about it.

Laurent, Angers, France

French economics. You have two cows, you go on strike, organise a riot, set fire to buildings and bring the whole country to a halt because you want three.

John Small, Faversham, Kent, UK

As an American Anglophile and frequent visitor to Britain, I have seen the English, for too long, remain silent while aggressive and radical Muslims have verbally threatened to take over their country. The verbal has now escalated to the violent.
I believe that the U. S. would be wise NOW to place a moratorium on the immigration of Muslims into the United States ( with very few exceptions). It is unfortunate, but true, that too much of Muslim religious teaching is adversarial toward all people of other faiths. Given this inherent problem, and the vicious worldwide crusade being conducted by radical Muslims, a moratorium would be reasonable and prudent. This would allow the Muslims who are new to America to
become better U. S. citizens without their feeling pressured or bullied by radicals in their community. Numbers matter.
A Patriot from Maryland

F. Robinson, Frederick County, Maryland

One thing I am puzzled about is why don't the French Government allow these poor rioters to escape to their North African homeland, where a better life surely awaits them.

Akbar, Cambridge , UK

If the French nation (and others) are to survive, then ultimately the state will have to declare war on these aliens. Compassion and every effort to find peaceful and humane solutions have to be tried, but ultimately the state will have to find the courage to remove these dangerous and destructive people. Deportation, indefinite Internment in some remote location and or capital punishment will be the only options.
It has been an act of utter folly for the western democracies to assume that anyone being gifted the right to become a citizen will integrate and adopt the values of the host community. Now the time of reckoning has come.

bob, auckland, NZ

heard of Karma? what goes around, comes around.
The so called white civilised europeans spent millenia murdering and expelling Jews simply for their theological differences. They then "discovered" America and committed genocide on both N and S continents, with the Spanish conquistadors using bio-terror such as smallpox to wipe out the native s. american indians. After the Holocaust, the soviet purges, europe is now opening its doors to Islam, which is fought during the crusades.
I htink the only sane people in the world are the Jews and Buddhists :)

edd, London, UK

This is GENOCIDE against Whites. All the non-Whites in the world will be happy to see us go, and half the Whites are stupid enough to take their side. That's why 'mohammed' is now the #1 name of newborns in London; a concerted effort by non-Whites to invade traditionally White territory, while conceding no territory of their own to anybody else.

David Lanham, Ocean Springs, USA Mississippi

France allowed hostile foreign invaders to move in, humans are the only species in the animal kingdom to allow other competing foreign animals to move in & take their territory without a fight and with subsidies.

Riots are just the beginning, outright civil war is coming, it's too late to change course, France is 10 years ago past the immigration point of no return , 2008 is America's point of no return.

Sarcozy, too little too late

Steve , West Hills, USA CA

The French are sunk without drastic measures, which include rounding up and banishing or giving lengthy ( 20 +) sentences to these criminals . They seem to lack the will to stand united against the invaders, and instead make excuses for the " downtrodden ", who have it far better than they ever had in their own oppressive, cesspool countries.These savages, who hold themselves to no code of conduct when it comes to dealing with non-Islamics, are counting on the guilt of the West to make permanent inroads, and get the "special" status they feel that they so much deserve- Sadly, many Euros , and evenAmericans are willing to concede it, in their misguided, suicidal attempts at appeasement .
Read " Londonistan."
The French bent over for the Germans at the beginning of both WWI and WWII. WWlll has already begun, although most of Europe, and a substantial part of America don't want to face it.
The time for appeasement is over.

Richard, Cambridge, MA

It could, of course, all have something to do with Sarkozy's threat to bomb Iran, a Muslim country.

H. Grattan, Johannesburg, South Africa

Here in the States we have a particular problem. It was used by the liberals when they took over our culture back in the Sixties. They used Christian beliefs against us. They asked if we followed Jesus and Jesus loved everyone, don't we? If we had thought we would have told the liberals, " No, Jesus did not love everyone." "Jesus hated the evil people had allowed to control their decision making." "Jesus knew good from bad, and he knew right from wrong" Allowing Muslims to take over a Christian nation is wrong because it threatens Christianity being the sole guide of peoples judgement. This is what the liberals were allowed to do to America. Christians were made to be embarrassed by what they believed and felt ashamed of how we discreminated against people. But the Bible teaches this discremination by telling us to "not be unequally yoked". And to hate evil and wickedness. People are not victims, they decide. Muslims are people who are anti-Christian. They reject Jesus.

William, Shreveport, La.

Isn't it social injustice to displace your own citizenry by the importation of cheaper labor, and to allow such things to continue even after it's known that there aren't enough jobs for those either. Is it that hard to figure out that these foreign nationals are going to procreate and create an even larger unemployed population?

It's about time people start tackling the corrupt notiion that globalization is, and remembering that it is a European construct.. it needs to be tackled there.

The third world has to start realizing that it can not resolve it's problems by dumping it's poor on the rest of the world, while demanding huge donations of money, that are only used to line the pockets of those in leadership positions.

The EU's policies, demanding that farm subsidies be ended was corporate inspired. To increase starvation and to profit from the fear of it. The rest of the world should avoid global consolidation of power, the EU and the UN are in the hands of thugs.

Jenny, Grand Rapids, MI, US

When are the liberals going to look at an issue logically instead of through the eyes of a 5 year old child?
The root causes ARE religion AND immigration. Islam IS a religion and Islam IS a culture and It DOES NOT mix well with other cultures demanding that it's culture is the only culture and it's religion is the ONLY true religion.

Just because they immigrate to another's culture (French) that doesn't mean that they have to integrate with it, as their religion deals with BELIEVERS and NON-BELIEVERS and stresses their disdain for NON- believers in their midst. Outsiders are infidels.
France USED TO have their own culture and it was one that was based on secular rights, but as soon as they allowed the muslims into their culture they should have expected that religious extremism would turn their culture to garbage wherever it was juxtaposed to the new muslim culture. Anything, not in keeping, with the muslim faith is subject to death no matter what country they happen to reside.

MidWestAmerican, Chicago, IUSA / IL

"Reap what you shall sow."

Pedro Tam, london, UK

Immigrants. If your home country is going through a hard time would you leave? Run away? No,you'd stay,ride it through. Not immigrants,this talk about how well they do to get to other countries on very little..so what,big deal. Stay in YOUR own country which has the same beliefs as you and try and rebuild it. That would be impresive. Immigrants,their just weak. They give up. Look for the easy option.

john , Birkenhead, UK

This article, and the variety of comments from both extremes, are just an example of how HUMANS behave. Not Muslims, immigrants, hooligans, Americans or whatever. HUMANS. We're all humans and we're pathetic. Aliens in outer space are probably watching us saying there's no way they're going to reveal themselves to us, lest we try to kill them too. Jesus tried to tell us love is the answer - look what happened to him. We're an evolutionary joke. It's time we collectively start trying to evolve to something higher. Kudos to the cop who said he's just as glad he forgot his gun.

scotrik, Chicago, Illinois, USA

I guess for all of you who say that Islam is a "peaceful" religion and you have no fear of the Muslims..........I would be careful of what you let your kid name his teddy bear!!

Sueann, Phoenix, USA/Arizona

"The root causes are NOT religion or immigration"

Well, in this case I'd half agree.
Mostly, in this case, the root cause is socialism creating dependent instead of productive members of society.
But still. The religion of submission fuels the victimhood mentality. Modern day "liberals" (i.e., socialists) + religion of submission = ultimate victimhood.

MattM, Hampshire, UK

As a Jewess in the US, I say this is WHY we have our 2nd Amendment, protecting our RIGHT to keep and bear Arms. We would make short work of these rioters here, if they tried to spread terror outside of their OWN neighborhoods.

Wendy Weinbaum, Dallas, Texas, USA

The only hope we Europeans have is to unite and declare total civil war against this within 2 yrs.

Adrian Peirson, Luton, Britain

Where is Charles Martel?

asdf, cleveland, usa

The riots in France are just at their juvenile stage. In around 2020 or even earlier, the cities of Europe will be war zones. We will have white europeans fighting darker skined muslims and others of different etnicity. I know this sounds a little rash or even greatly extreme, but look at France, its happening and it will get worse, take my word. We have been trojan horsed by the enemy and there is no solution. Its simple we dont like them and they dont like us. Being extreme again, its like cancer you need to cut it out before it spreads. The solution is mass expulsion of anything foreign. Here in Croatia we are lucky, we dont have gettos of foreigners in our cities and we would like to keep it that way.

Dantisimus, Split , Croatia

Saud, from Riyadh asks us (quite properly) to stop calling everything bad "Islamic" then assures us that crime and drugs are Western. Looks like there is plenty of prejudice to go around.

Inna, Sacramento, CA/USA

Immigrants, or children of immigrants, who do not like the communities in which they live should be encouraged to emigrate somewhere else - Saudi Arabia for example. There will not be many takers for this option, so perhaps a carrot and stick approach is required? The West continues to self destruct by failing to deal with the many threats that it now faces.

TG, Newark,

I am appalled at many of the posts here. Many posters have just picked up the term "mainly Muslim" to go off into a rant against Muslims in general.

Val and Lucie are perfectly correct : what happened has got nothing to do with religion, but everything to do with criminal elements who don't want the police on "their territory", disturbing their illegal activities. This minority aso ruins the lives of the thousands of decent, hard-working inhabitants of these estates, who also happen, in many cases, to be Muslim.

This minority is not made up of illegal immigrants, but of second or third generation French citizens. Turning these estates around (housing employment and insufficient public transport problems) will take a long time.

The French police are armed. Neither in 2005 or last week-end did the police wound or kill any rioter.

Finally, let's just remember what preceded the riots : two youths lost their lives in a tragic accident.

Eileen Murphy, Rennes, France

This is desperately sad. Some fifty years ago, there was a French exodus from North Africa that marked the end of Algerie Francaise. Now, the picture has been reversed. Those of Agerian descent are French born and something is going wrong again.

Margot, London,

What extraordinary ignorance and complete incomprehension from the majority of commentators here. Keep reading Mark Steyn and stocking up on guns, guys. The boogyman's comin' to getcha !

I guess all the riots in America and elsewhere were "evil Muslims that hate your freedom" too ? No ?

The root causes are NOT religion or immigration, but because they don't sell headlines as well as the "fearrorism" that so many of the more right-wing leaning "Law und Order" papers rush to sell to a fearrorised public, they get ignored. Shame, really.

Pierre, Nimes, France

if anyone had had a fleeting glance at french history, they would know that the people living in these suburbs are mainly descendents of algerians and other french colonies brought over by the french to rebuild the country. Algeria was considered to be a french 'departement', just like normandy or britany, and its citizens french. I think i would be pretty annoyed if i was sidelined to some run-down banlieue, and it's very easy for the relatively well-off who have no idea what it is to live in these conditions, myself included, to class these rioters as 'savages'. Violence should never be condoned, but how are these people, neglected by the french education and social system, meant to have the capability for an alternative method of showing their contempt?

natasha, brighton,

the times should stop calling every thing bad as isalmic-this is inciting voilance -what is happening in paris has nothing to do with islam you it has to do with drugs and crime which is mostly westren thing

saud, riyadh,

Look at what you are writing. You don't only adress issues like this buy get rid of the people, but must look into the root cause of it. Imagine yourself in such a very poor situation......there is one of two things that will be done some day:; get rid poverty or or extinct the poor slowly.

Thomas, London, England

Thugs!.......The French are known passifists, especially against criminals. Build big prisons, fill them with these Islamic thugs and then put a hault to immigration. Wake up America, we a next.

Kevin, Richmond, VA

Europe is lost. The next will be Britain and Germany. The Germáns are totally without balls and governmental media bodies putting the 'nazi'-stamp on anyone who complains about immigration. But the real big problem is the EUssr, the up and coming new socialist block after the USSR, they are the ones that have designed 'Eurabia' and signed the procedures of reverse-assimilation in secret meetings with arab block countries: oil for immigrants. The single member states of the EUssr have almost no more say in their national affairs. Everything is dictated from Brussels. It won't take long before a new iron curtain is erected and european citizens are not able to leave anymore..we seen it all before: nazis, communists, socialists, and now muslims...(by the millions)

walter, lowersaxony, Germany

Matthew cox, Tucson Arizona, USA. I think the English are capable of saving themselves, they just need to be pushed far enough before action is taken. But thanks for the sentiment. If we need your help, we'll let you know.

Bill Hickers, London, UK

I remember only a couple decades ago when the French culture police were trying to keep words like "hamburger" and "hot dog" out of the French language. The culture police were outraged every time another McDonalds opened up. Now look where they are. Decades of liberal policies have doomed the country. France's only salvation is a big turn to the right and open war on their internal "subculture". But I think it is too late. France is kaput.

Steve Kovarik, Venice, Italy

good god... what is it about the week-end and smug americans?

there's such a lack of circumspection from all but a couple of contributors. sure, blame socialism. blame islam.

how quickly we forget rodney king and the l.a. riots.

the problem - and it's a problem wherever you are (including the good old u, s and a) - is that social injustice.breeds resentment. and poor policing very quickly lets neighbourhoods get out of hand.

jem, london, uk

Sarkozy is the last throw of the dice for liberal democracy in France and he will fail. The Generals should seize power and deport all non Gauls. who saves a Nation violates no law.

Keith, Liverpool, Merseyside

Commissaire Illy said on TV that he was very glad he had left his pistol behind - in retrospect.

Pierre B, Paris, France

Give me a muslim family as neighbours any day rather than the obese, gun toting American creationist rednecks that seem to feel they can swamp a British newspaper with their ignorant and ill informed "views".

terryprattle, nottingham,

Thousands are currently chanting and screaming for the murder of a woman over a teddy bear and the French are stunned by the savagery of the muslim mobs? LOL

mike obrien, seattle, was

What is shocking is the horribly racist comments by Americans. Swap Islam for Black American and we're back to the Ku Klux Klan ear - 'and they should be shipped back to Africa'. Of course, Americans are the first to forget their own very recent history.

And the horrible violence that surfaces with tragic regularity in their schools and universities today; or the cults that periodically blow themselves up; or how some states will start teaching creationism at school...

Query, London, UK

Only four of the correspondents to this article are French, and there appears to be little common sense and plenty of bigotry(as usual) coming from the American writers - or British for that matter.

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

40 years ago we had a politician here in the UK called Enoch Powell. His career was ended by a speech where he warned of 'rivers of blood' that would come from mass immigration. Even today you can hardly mention his name for fear of being called racist.
Slowly, but surely, what he warned us of is coming to pass. 40 years ago we didn't listen and we still aren't. It's all still 'our' fault somehow that these thugs are running rampage. There is still no bar on mass immigration. It's almost too late to save a unique European culture - in another ten or twenty years at current rates it will be gone.

Charles, Bath, UK

What in the heck prevented the French police from defending themselves? It seems to me that if rioters armed with shotguns are firing on you you have every right and obligation to fire back. Only in France I guess...

RW, Sacramento, CA, USA

Maybe Islam isn't peaceful, but neither is Christianity, capitalism, or democracy.

William, New York City, NY

Islam The Religion of Peace

Tom, Atlanta, USA GA

France will need to set a precedent for all of Europe in getting tough on muslim extremism. Should deport law breakers. England, as well, for that matter.

Greg, Ventura,

The "liberals" just don't get it, do they?
When will they?
When half the country is burned down?
When 300 policeman are killed?
When a different flag flies over Paris?
When?
Wake up.....or die.

Robert Sims, Miami , USA

Well, well well, look who fell in the well. Overbearing political correctness has brought this upon you just lke it has Britain. If you continue to sit back idly, you are doomed as a nation.

Redrowan, New York, USA/ny

Similar to how all prime numbers are odd, but not all odd numbers are prime; All crazies are Muslim, but not all Muslims are crazy."

--It IS the religion, at least its most prevalent Wahhabi form. The document that they follow explicitly says it is their duty to subjugate and kill me.

Am I living in bizzarro world? Poverty? Racism? no and no. radical ISLAM.....duh.

Marc, gainesville, fl

Immigrant youths? I think you'll find they are mainly French youths.

Alf Parelli, London, UK

The term "diverse nation" is an oxymoron, France is an excellent example of what happens when countries attempt it in "liberal doses" .

Dave, Ft. Lauderdale, us

I'm sorry, but I think few outsiders have sympathy for what the French are facing in all this. For year after year, they condescendingly looked down their noses at anyone who criticized their liberal and senseless immigration policies. Now that they, as well as the Dutch and the Scandinavians, see only too well the error of their ways, they've gone on to another thing the French do so well: sit back so as not to be disturbed in each of their personal little worlds, as their country begins to collapse around them. That leads on to the third step in the future: they will beg some outside force to come in and rescue them while they swill their wine in comfort as their rescuers are expected to do the dirty work for them. Too late, folks, you made this bed, you lie in it now! Don't be so quick to criticize every other country on Earth for their now-proven-sensible policies! And punish criminals for a change!

David B., Dublin, Ireland

I was just thinking, Hindus in malaysia are also protesting against "economical injustice".. and are demanding equal "economic rights"... but why the picture is totally opposite ?

where in France, the law and order agencies were attacked with all possible weaponries Muslims had.... in Malaysia, around 1000 hindus managed to come on street in a Peaceful protest, which was ruthlessly crushed using batons and chemicals in the water cannons by Muslim government...

the question comes... why is it, that Religion of peace is seen in both side as most violent and intolerant ?

Puneet Madaan, Eurabia,

I hope the French people understand that the rule of law must prevail at all times. There is no excuse for such violence; reforms are only possible through civil discussions. And if Islam is truly a religion of peace, I will be holding my breath for a long, long time.

Nelia , Mission Viejo, CA, US

John in Fort Worth talks of Socialism....lol. Fat lot he knows about French politics. TYhe Socialists are not in power and the President is anything but a Socialist. Please if you know nothing....keep your mouth shut!

Charlotte Barra, Nice, France

Wow the UK Times has the guts to mention the word Muslim in
this article. It must be a first because the U.S. AP, BBC and others keep referring to these gangs as immigrants. Open-borders will end badly for Western Civilization if it even survives. This is a wake up call for Western Europe, Canada, Australia, NZ, USA et al. I think it is too late for the UK and Belgium. The French may have the guts to start deporting these people en masse before it is too late. The West is ignoring 1,000 year of history of it does not act.

Freddy , West Palm Beach, FL USA

Interesting enough, hasn't it been the mantra of European liberals that the muslims in the middle east only hurt others because they are desperate? Yes, even Cherie Blair felt sorry for the Palestinians who blew people up. Now that the violence has spread to Europe, all is a different cup of tea. The only real difference is that in this instance it is France and not Israel being mobbed. Atheists and not Jews. It will only get worse. How long before they are blowing themselves up in France's ice cream shops out of their "desperation"?

kathleen, Connecticut, USA

"...like parts of New York in the bad old days, policemen do not like to set foot there."

There has never been an instant in the history of New York where one of our Finest in blue has ever feared to tred in any part of the city. That includes rushing into the Twin Towers to assist those in need as they were collapsing around them on September 11, 2001.

Justin, New York City, USA

"Beat them, beat them and then beat them again!" Wise words of Jo Stalin

julia, london,

Europe is doomed: no spine, no pride, no future.

Karam, Los Angeles, CA USA

A few years ago, a French general said, "In ten years we will be fighting in the streets of France." The Europeans are now laying down in the bed they made for themselves. They won't change; they will perish instead.

Lastango, Chicago, USA

Why do we see the Muslim terror in Iraq on a daily basis in our media, but this Muslim terror in France is almost ignored?

Make no mistake about it; what is happening in France is the result of uncontrolled immigration by people who can contribute nothing to their host nations. Unless we develop effective immigration reform, the U.S. is next!!!!

Vive Sarkozy!

Rick, Chicago, USA

Damn, I guess this means Johnny Depp will be coming back home.

Rick, Fort Bragg, USA

Goodness, there are some ignorant comments here. Here's your reason for the rioting - "rioting two years ago was widely regarded as a protest against poor housing, racial discrimination and unemployment of up to 40% in the grim housing estates surrounding most big French cities". Problems like those don't get solved overnight. Though I don't condone violence like this, I'm not surprised they're rioting.

Naomi, London,

Sounds like what is going to happen in large immigrant population centers of the U.S. soon if we do not wake up and secure our borders.

Corey M., Georgetown, Colorado, USA

Once a person becomes a threat to others in the act of a riot and uses firearms, bats and iron pipes they should be shot. But no, we allow these thugs to beat unarmed police, destroy property and terrorize law abiding citizens. Shame on any society that allows this insanity.

barry, macon, usa, Georgia

Peter,Tyler,USA, could have added another detail.Sooner or later, all of the great Cathedrals, in one European country after another, will have thier crosses removed and replaced by................... Too bad the liberal University professores in Europe, didn't bother to alert their pupils to this scenario. But then again, it is the people in the universities who are the front line troops in the New World Order, and globalization. And, lets be honest, most of these learned "professors" have communist tendencies anyway.

Bobby, Long Beach, , Alta California,

Islam is a cult that, unlike Christianity and Judaism, has never had a reformation. It's hailed as the "religion of peace," yet, if one reads the Koran and knows the history of Islam it is, underneath all the politically correct propaganda, a very violent, spiteful and intolerant movement. Personally, I believe it is totally incompatible with Western Civilization and should be looked upon with great suspicion. White Christian guilt will destroy the civilized world unless people stand up to the barbarians at their gates. The writing is on the wall in France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Australia, etc, etc. It takes courage to face the truth, but cowards rule the day.

Sean Scott, New York,

Too bad so many of the American posters on this forum are exclusively worried about Europe. Have you never heard of MECHA, LULAC, LA RAZA, MALDEF, and AZTLAN. Besides with the wide open borders, who knows how many terrorists cells we now have.

Bobby, Long Beach, , Alta California,

French people cannot figure out how to have children they are dieing out. The muslims for all their faults atleast are man and women enough to have families they will win its a numbers reality. Realy though I do not feal to sorry for them. In biology a heathy animal reproduces. It is the same for a society. French culture is inferior from a biological point of view to Muslim culture. (indivduals within the culture may be heathy, but overall RIP France). One reason and possible solution is lack of religious faith. Nonreligious societies tend to die out

Daniel Thomas, Maumee, U.S.A. Ohio

See what liberalism has brought you. Good by France.

Voltaire, Mission Viejo, USA/California

Europe R.I.P.

Islam will destroy you.

david anderson, la, california

I live in Paris and two things about this article struck me as inaccurate and dangerously misleading.

'Immigrant youths' presumably is a euphemism for non-white youths, most of the young men involved were born here and are French citizens.

Describing the banlieus as 'Mainly Muslim' is just not relevant., the mob violence is related to drug culture and alienated youth, it has nothing to do with Jihad but with the breakdown of traditional family structures.

I agree with Naro from New York, the violence is organised by the gang bosses to keep control of 'their' territory and keep the police out.

val, paris,

Europe has lost its collective mind. First, it lets in these savages, then it tells its white citizens that they must "celebrate" the new diversity of their cultures, then they watch helplessly as savages from Africa and the Middle East bleed their countries dry through welfare and then through violence. Ciao, Europe, you were once a great culture. Multiculturalism and liberal "tolerance" have done you in.

craig gotham, kapaa, hawaii, USA

There's a general outbreak of mental illness going around the world. Look at what's happening in Venezuela; they're actually voting in a dictatorship. It's a real shame that Europe is so weak at this time, but at least they're starting to elect center-right politicians.

Rob, ny, usa

Take the politican's familes in France and have them move into the wonderful, vibrant, diverse community they promised for France.

Jeff, Southern California, USA

The rioters are just trying to nudge forward the inevitable. They are part of the vangard. Who doubts that in 3 generations non-Gauls will be a majority in France? Even now the percentage Arab/
North African children in elementary school is alarmingly high. These youths know that they will inherit France someday. They just can't wait.

Zach, Washington, DC

In Norway - NORWAY - yesterday a politician argued that Norway's muslims should NOT be held to the same standards as Norway's native population when it comes to "honor" killings. The average murder sentence of 17 years was deemed to severe for honor murders, which, he argued, should be limited to 10 years. Now that's multiculturalism.

Reis Kash, Springfield, Oregon, USA

No this is Socialism at it's best, nothing new same old methods.

John W, Fort Worth,

If anyone didn't notice, there's a war against the West, and it's over two thousand years old. That's what they believe anyway. They being Muslims. While 'the West' has tried to do the right thing and help people live a better life by leaving their Third World countries, it's only become apparent that this act of kindness is being repaid through violence. Immigration must come to a complete stop. Violators must be repatriated to their country of origin and even their offspring who do not even try to assimulate into the cultures that had welcomed them. Anything less will bring about a war that will cost civilization in the West it's very own existance. Maybe in another hundred years, if mankind survives, a true World of multiculturalism will exist.

Brian, Gulf Coast, USA/Florida

In the U.S. Sudanese Muslims students show total disrespect and hate of the U.S. nation, culture and laws. In Europe, especially France, Muslims show total hate and a desire to destroy European culture and laws. In the Sudan, Muslims want to hack an English Teacher for basically being too kind and not understanding Muslim laws.

The leaders who have allowed Muslims to flood into Judo/Christian nations are guilty of "Treason" and have betrayed their nation and the citizens who trusted them. Theirs is the ultimate betrayal. These political whores have allowed in an enemy whose sole intent is the destruction of all that is not Muslim.

Arnold Roquerre, Belmont, United States

Find the country of origen for these people and send them back. End of problem.

Teresa, Albany , NY, USA

The events in France are a foretaste of what is in store for the UK and the rest of Europe as the current social engineering project underway to erode our national identities and turn us into a uniform PC liberal multi-cultural living hell fails to take account of the Robinson Crusoe parradox:

Put two people from different races/ethnic groups together on a desert island and they will co-operate for the common good. However make it 100 people and the opposite occurs-they will kill each other as tribalism takes hold!

Enoch Powell foretold of this 40 years ago and was ridiculed for expressing what is now increasingly obvious to one and all.

Ian Mack, Edinburgh, UK

What the elites in the West are not able or willing to acknowledge is that (in the case of Mexicans in the USA and muslims in Europe) predatory immigration is the 21st Century form of irregular warfare. Because of the West's horror over the Nazi's brutal treatment of civilians during WWII, we established moral human rights standards which should have served the entire world well but are instead being used by our enemies to infiltrate our societies and slowly gut them from within. It is truly idiotic to claim that the problem that Europe is having with its Muslim immigrants is due to racial discrimination. The European people are the most egalitarian and progressive people on the face of the earth. Was it not American Black jazz musicians who loved living in France because they were treated like human beings (unlike their experience in America)? Are the Europeans having the same assimulation problems with East Asians or Hindus or Sikhs? The primary problem is Islam.

Michael, Seattle, USA

Just wondering what would happen if the Christian minority rioted in syria? How about women in Saudi Arabia? Or maybe gays in Iran?

The problem is Islam. It is not compatible with a liberal secular democracy. I have long thought that the war is coming, a real war on Islam. A few more riots, a few more Van Gogh's, another 911 or train bombing, a few more incidents like Bali, etc....

At some point the world will wake up and let the moderates in the Islamic world know that this is there fight too and if they can't control their own neighbors, they will pay the price.

The West can peacefully win this . Let's make oil worthless. If we put our collective efforts into efficiency, alternative energy then we can let this part of the world sink back to the 1st millenium where it belongs.

dabouv, portland, or

Ironically, Sarkozy may be the last chance for France. Unfortunately, the innumerable wards of the French state will likely be much happier selling their nation and freedom for a few years of job security and a shorter working week. A once great nation at the mercy of thugs--sad, sad, sad. If they don't start paying close attention, the United Kingdom and United States will follow suit.

Eric, Sacramento,

I was in Paris a few years back, and I don't care to go to that hell hole again. I think it must have been a great city once, and parts are still beautiful. Dodging Arab street thugs selling drugs and threatening me wasn't something I was used to. The French did try to educate them, and they still do. The fact is, that French culture and North African Muslim culture are oil and water that should never have been mixed. The second and third generation Arab youths are still tied to their original roots via their families and they hate the French more than their parents do. No deportation is possible for them. The numbers of the disaffected are growing for a variety of reasons, and France is circling the drain. I like Sarkozy a lot, but he's too late, I'm afraid. I hope I'm wrong.

Adam Smith, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

I wonder if the French are re-fighting the Battle of Algiers on French soil ...

Fred S., Seattle, USA

The UK is next, just watch.

Bob, Bicester, UK

Why is this country so stunned? For years they have pacified , appeased and pampered their people with their socialist nanny-state. The people react like spoiled little brats now.

Paul, Anytown, Italy

Korean store owners saved L.A . during our riots. What France needs to do is encourage immigration of Koreans. They know how to deal with matter. Surrender is not their first thought.
PS . I am NOT Korean but I am grateful for their standing up to the rioters in LA.

rita, San Diego , USA CA

The French should have elected Jean-Marie Le Pen. These Moslems have gone far enough.

To some Francophobes, France has one of the best military histories in history (beaten Italy, Spain, Germany, Russia, the UK, Austria, conquered many parts of Asia, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa, and North America; she led the Crusades too and drove Moslems back into Spain after Tours and Toulouse). That's more than I can for the US, where America only beat the UK because of France, won a bunch of squabbles with Indians, got their behinds beat by Britain in 1812 (read books; the British POV is valid), stayed out of wars, had a non-interventionist population, got in both world wars very late (France carrying the first, with UK in a close second; Russia carrying II), and has been chased out of Korea and Vietnam. Free France fought in WWII. I like Americans; just don't talk trash. I like Americans, but you're a power by staying out of war.

Support Pat Buchanan and Ron Paul, Americans.

Jean, Toulon,

The Qur'an commands all Muslims to move to a Muslim country and stay there. They are to have nothing whatsoever to do with infidels.

It is not a suggestion or an interpretation.

It is an order.

Any real practicing Muslim would leave France and move to a country like Saudi Arabia.

Go look it up.

Ugly American, Las Vegas, USA

Multiculturalism leads to these problems. A nation needs to be of one culture - not one race, religion, etc. - but of one culture.

That culture may take on parts of many different sub-cultures, but no one should dominate. That is the dream of America, but it is a dream that is being threatened by interlopers who do not want to enculturate. They want to stand out and keep the culture on their origin. This destroys the culture of America and should not be allowed.

The same can be said for France or any country dealing with radical islamic immigrants. These savages, for the simple reason that they are muslim, think they are superior to all cultures and should dominate the world. For any country that chooses not subscribe to this radical point of view, allowing these people into your midst is suicide. Figuratively and literally.

p-diddle, Missouri, USA

Simple demography dictates that France, as we know it, will be dead by mid century. I do hope to visit the nation while it still exists sans Sharia law. The real problem is that France is largely impotent to respond to the thugs living in the suburbs because they lack the will to respond to the threat. The closest thing I can think of in French history is the end of the Third Republic in 1940. The nation was hopelessly divided and could not respond to the threat. The only good news now is that it will take 6 decades to conquer France instead of 6 weeks, as it did for the Wehrmacht in 1940. The bad news, however, is that the occupation that will occur a few decades from now will be forever--the German occupation was at least limited to 5 years. It is all very sad but very predictable. The immigrants have not assimilated to a free culture. We can blame the nation for lack of effort to be sure. However, mob rule cannot be tolerated under any circumstances or excused for any reason.

Allen, Denver,

The French need to stand up to these people and take control of their country. Theirs nothing wrong with going in guns blazing to clean out that crap!
Wake up America the same thing can happen here!!!

JLYNN, Dallas, TX

Seems to me that the only way to deal with thugs is to lock them up. I doubt that people willng to kill police officers are goiing to be reasonable to deal with.

New York and LA had much bigger gang problems in the past. They got tough and locked the criminals up--they did not try to make them happy and hope they would just stop burning down buildings.

Might makes right. It seems that France is willing to cede the might to people with lead pipes and iron bars. The gov