Vive La.... Molotov Cocktail?

France seems to be reaching their threshold.

The police have had enough. They're being attacked in the suburbs by gangs of North African Muslims - for police actions large and small. Police are requesting armored vehicles and "water cannons" to disperse crowds. Crowds meaning people (unemployed, btw) who all come running out of their housing units to the rescue when the Police arrest or otherwise ticket a fellow Muslim.

Attacks on police officers have increased by 1/3 in the past two years (2,500 officers injured). That's a lot of attacks. The police aren't safe even when patroling in small groups because even in groups, they're targets.

This is a big deal. These are the rioters protesting the government's changes in employment laws, these are the car burners. For the record I was in Paris during the anti-police riots. What shocked me was not only the amount of destruction for the fun of it, for the entertainment of rage et al, but the widespread cornering of the country. You couldn't travel on the trains into other cities without the fear that one might be derailed. And I really wanted to go to Normandy last time, but even there, they rioted.

During my visit in 1997 nearly every street corner had armed guards in uniform. They were very visibly armed too, with machine guns. There was a terrorist threat at the time, which they took seriously and without apology. This was the military of course and many pick on the French for their military but what I've seen is different. I know, I know...

But their police are castrated in comparison to their military. What you see is four officers crammed into a two door Renault. No lie. Now does that sound like a police force that's properly equipped? I wouldn't take the job. Even if the Euro is higher than the dollar. Oh, their police aren't fat, by the way. Even with all the croissants and cafe that your little law enforcement heart desires.