France is a War Zone

As libs like Cindy Sheehan and other "anti-war" activists are fond of saying, "One death is too much!"

Reuters: First fatality as French rioting worsens---

GRIGNY, France (Reuters) - Rioters shot at police and torched more than 1,400 cars in the worst violence since unrest erupted in France's poor suburbs 11 days ago, and a man beaten by a youth became the first fatality on Monday.

The rioters threw firebombs at two churches and attacked three schools on Sunday night, police said, hours after President Jacques Chirac vowed to defeat the troublemakers.

The new violence prompted warnings that the unrest which began on October 27 could damage investment and tourism in France and fueled calls for the conservative government to take tougher action, including sending the army into riot-hit areas.

"This is real, serious violence. It's not like the previous nights. I am very concerned because this is mounting," said Bernard Franio, head of police for the Essonne area south of Paris, after about 200 youths attacked his colleagues in Grigny.
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In the most serious incident, youths at a housing estate in Grigny, south of Paris, ambushed police with rocks, petrol bombs and guns.

Thirty-six police were hurt in the latest clashes, including two who were seriously wounded after being hit by shotgun pellets fired at them in Grigny.

A policeman at the scene held up a shotgun cartridge for cameras. Rioters fired live rounds at police and fire crews on Wednesday night, but no injuries were reported.

"There were burned cars all over the place and helicopters circling overhead," said Yvonne Roland, who has lived in Grigny for 25 years. "Burning cars make a big impression, the flames were really high. It made you feel like you were in a war zone."
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The first fatality in the 11 days of violence was Jean-Jacques Le Chenadec, who died after being beaten on Friday in the northern Paris suburb of Stains, hospital officials and an Interior Ministry spokesman said.

The newspaper Le Parisien said the victim was 60 and had been in a coma since he was beaten outside his home on Friday.

Police said 1,408 vehicles were set ablaze and 395 people arrested overnight. The provincial cities of Marseille, Saint-Etienne, Toulouse, Metz and Lille were the worst affected.

No wonder the Germans were able to invade so easily, so many times. The French can't even handle "civil" (though there is nothing civil about it) unrest.

Perhaps it is better they were not with us in Iraq. Saddam might still be in power, after the French surrendered to him.

I think another twist on a favorite Lib chant will do:

France shied (from strength) Someone died!