Too bad that isn't the truth. Somewhere journalists think that torching 425 cars on New Years Eve isn't considered widespread arson. Those cars just blew up on their own. And Dateline NBC wasn't even around to provide the pyrotechnics.
Fearing a new outbreak of full-scale rioting on New Year's Eve, 25,000 police were mobilised to keep the peace, with a state of emergency imposed in November in response to the urban violence still legally in force.The French have a very high tolerance for violence if they permit more than 300 cars torched on a normal New Year's Eve. This year was 30% higher, despite the fact that they called out more police and security forces than usual.
Car-burnings -- a grim New Year's ritual in many run-down French suburbs -- were reported in more than 250 towns, with 425 vehicles set alight, the national police department said Sunday.
The figure was around a third higher than last year, but there were no large-scale arson attacks or other serious violence.
Breathing a sigh of relief, many French people will gladly turn the page on 2005, a year marred by difficulties on both the domestic and international fronts.
That should be the telling story, not that they've gotten the situation under control, because it is clear that they haven't. Oh, and the French economy isn't going to improve anytime soon and the government plans for lessening the tensions relies on improving economic opportunities. Perhaps the French should learn a thing or two about market economies and consider eliminating the 30 hour work week and the onerous hiring and firing policies that make businesses extremely stingy in hiring workers in the first place.
LGF was quick to note the torchings and Gateway Pundit, Betsy's Page, Sister Toldjah, and Gina Cobb have all been following the story. Of course, this is all happening in No Pasaran's backyard.
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