The French have sneered at America when Los Angeles erupted in riots, when New Orleans flooded, and on many other occasions, such as walking past a McDonald's outlet. The New York Sun editorializes today:

As the Chicago Sun—Times reported in 1992: "the consensus of French pundits is that something on the scale of the Los Angeles riots could not happen here, mainly because France is a more humane, less racist place with a much stronger commitment to social welfare programs."

But Sun wisely counsels against indulging in too much schadenfreude in the wake of night 8 of the Paris intifada. If the French ever lose their country to the Islamofascists, as demographic trends indicate they might someday, we will face an adversary with hydrogen bombs.

The Sun could not resist suggesting that Prime Ministre Sharon of Israel might well have some words to President Chirac about ending the "cycle of violence" in suburban Paris. Touche! But humor aside, the Sun (and I) think that France needs to address the failure of its interventionist economy, which has made new jobs all but an extinct species. In my opinion, it also needs to insist that immigrants assimilate to at least the basic norms of democratic society, and put the burden of accommodation on those who have chosen to move to a new country.

I would also add that France, about the most aggresively secularist country on earth, has made itself vulnerable in the spiritual realm. The human need for higher meaning cannot be denied. No amount of social welfare and unemployment insurance can fill the vacuum.

If any good comes of this, let the failure of appeasement become once again clear to all, learning again the lesson of Neville Chamberlain's vain attempt to win "Peace in our time." Shameless bashing of Israel, and providing abundant housing, unemployment, medical, and other benefits toi Muslim immigrants have not won the French any goodwill from the Muslims rioting in its streets.

Hat tip: Ed Lasky

Thomas Lifson   11 04 05

UPDATES: Alex adds:

Excerpts from an absurd AP piece on the riots taking place in France.  By the way, the word "Muslim" is used only once in the article...with no context whatsoever.  This kind of reporting is now the norm and explains why the MSM is going the way of the slide rule.

Arson attacks plague France as unrest spreads...Youth rioting began in Paris suburbs, now poses a broad challenge to state

Many of the riotous youths are the French—born children of immigrant parents. The unrest has laid bare discontent simmering in suburbs and among immigrant families who feel trapped by poverty, unemployment, and poor education.

Those mean ol' first generation Frenchmen?

The peak is now behind us,' said Gerard Gaudron, mayor of Aulnay—sous—Bois, one of the worst—hit towns. He told France—Info radio that parents were determined to keep teenagers home to prevent unrest. 'People have had enough. People are afraid. It's time for this to stop.

Aha...it seems that this has been caused by an outbreak of teenagers  and that people have had enough.  Pretty insightful, journalism at its best.

France's Muslim population, estimated at 5 million, is Western Europe's largest.

Huh? And France has an extensive rail system...but so what...where's the context?  A comment out of nowhere...what a joke.

Immigrants and their children often complain of police harassment and job discrimination.

Well, there you have it, immigrants and their children often complain.

Bill Palmer adds:

As the freedom fighters of the Paris Intifada continue their struggle, France is having to come to terms with consequences of their neoimperialism. But we all have faith that when la merde frappe le ventilateur, the French will do as they have always done when faced with crisis. They will rally around their leaders and in the most courageous and forceful way possible blame America for their problems.

Dennis Sevakis sends a link to photos of the intifada insurgents and their handiwork.