Some police officials in France are now claiming they are facing a permanent intifada. Meanwhile Instapundit links a CSM article suggesting the American experience may be different and much more positive.
So which country has done more to appease, if not support the intifada in Palestine and which has done more to denounce, combat or at least deflate it? Yet, many insist American policy is creating more problems for the US? Doesn't appear to be so. In one context, it looks like appeasement is seen as an open invitation to bring it right on home to the country engaged in it.
One small police union claims officers are facing a "permanent intifada." Police injuries have risen in the year since the wave of violence.
National police reported 2,458 cases of violence against officers in the first six months of the year, on pace to top the 4,246 cases recorded for all of 2005 and the 3,842 in 2004. Firefighters and rescue workers have also been targeted - and some now receive police escorts in such areas.
On Sunday, a band of about 30 youths, some wearing masks, forced passengers out of a bus in a southern Paris suburb in broad daylight Sunday, set it on fire, then stoned firefighters who came to the rescue, police said. No one was injured. Two people were arrested, one of them a 13-year-old, according to LCI television.
There might be another factor involved: almost every story you see about riots and violent demonstrations in the EU and Great Britain seem to close with comments indicating that no arrests have been made; clearly, no convictions will be forthcoming. If there are no consequences for bad behavior in your world, why not behave as badly as you can?
Posted by: Megaera3 | Monday, October 23, 2006 at 12:55 AM
They won't arrest them, they are too afraid of them. Not to mention they have a healthy case of Stockholm Syndrome going on over there. You see, what they have going on over there now is the equivalent of a hostage situation. Europe is the hostage and the Islamofascists are their captors.
Posted by: Nahanni | Monday, October 23, 2006 at 01:12 AM
From what I have read, the situation gripping most European countries, and the prime differentiator between them and the US of A, is that their Muslim populations are not nearly as integrated into their communities and societies as they are here. Sure, there are still some disagreements here in America, but it is not nearly the same. Muslims who have emigrated to the United States also came into a much larger population pool - their influence is less compared to the mass of people.
To suggest the US position on Palestine has somehow 'cowed' our domestic Muslim populations is, I think, false. It's a prosperity thing - in Europe Muslim populations are more isolated, may live in the infamous ethnic 'ghettoes' that were so violent in the recent French protests, etc. Here, Muslims participate in the economy, their kids attend schools and Universities, and they integrate. Studies show that the melting pot works. The Japanese have terms to describe the three basic generations - the Issei, or original foreign-born immigrants, the Nissei, their children, and the Yonsei, their grandchildren (second generation native born). Studies usually show that Yonsei of almost all ethnic groups are fully integrated into American society, and Muslims are no different. As Bill Clinton stated 'It's the economy, stupid'.
Posted by: Bill Brady | Monday, October 23, 2006 at 02:19 AM
Well, I have limited sympathy. Of course I don't want innocent people to get hurt, but sometimes doing nothing is what causes the real harm... The French have three default answers to any conflict:
1.) Appease
2.) Appease
3.) Appease
In that order! They wring their hands and try to make nice - but if all else fails they rely on the US and Britian to help them out.
Let Chirac eat cake!
Posted by: micah | Monday, October 23, 2006 at 06:56 PM
yeah just make fun that way you will be sure they never will help the USA
Posted by: mylena | Monday, October 23, 2006 at 09:51 PM
There are a couple of different concepts which make it easier for Muslim Immigrants in the US than in European countries.
1) We allow hyphens. You can be a Turkish-American, Iraqi-American, Irish-American, Italian-American, Pakistani-American. Europe (and the French especially) don't really allow that, you are either French/English/German or not.
2) Affrimative Action. It allows new immigrants a chance to move up the economic ladder quickly and become fully invested in US Society.
3) EEOC - protecting minorities from discrimination, the American Government is on their side.
4) Multi-Lingualism - This allows the new immigrants who aren't comfortable in english to participate in society.
5) Adaptation - everybody talks about immigrants needing to assimilate, but the society needs to adapt to them as well. And no country does this as well as the US. Every immigrant group modifies the US culture.
Posted by: Dervin | Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 01:01 AM
As Dervin points out, the US policies have made it much easier for immigrants than France has. I suppose I could be a jerk and say that means we are "appeasing" Muslims, but that's just too absurd.
When I think of appeasing Islamic fundamentalists, I think of Ronald Reagan providing arms to the Iranian govt WHILE they were holding Americans hostage. I can't think of a better example.
Providing arms, to the enemy, in secret negotiations. I believe those folks in Iran know what to expect from the GOP.
Posted by: tubino | Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 02:48 PM
"When I think of appeasing Islamic fundamentalists, I think of Ronald Reagan providing arms to the Iranian govt WHILE they were holding Americans hostage."
"I can't think of a better example."
How about selling nuclear technology to the N Koreans?
How about tanks, trucks, artillery, small arms and explosives to the Soviets?
Posted by: Rick | Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 07:38 PM