ACHERES, France — Riots that started in Paris' lower-class suburbs last week and resulted in 250 arrests of predominantly Muslim youths Saturday moved into the capital of France early Sunday morning.

By 1 a.m., a spokesman for the national police reported 13 vehicles torched in the capital - and 607 vehicles burnt overall - during the 10th straight night of rioting. Totals are expected to rise by morning.

The violence — originally concentrated in neighborhoods northeast of Paris with large immigrant populations — has spread across France, extending west to the fields of Normandy and south to resort cities on the Mediterranean. Attacks were reported in Cannes and Nice.

In the Normandy town of Evreux, arsonists burned at least 50 vehicles, part of a shopping center, a post office and two schools, the police spokesman, Patrick Hamon, said.

Five police officers and three firefighters were injured battling the blazes, he said.

The unrest is forcing France to confront long-simmering anger in its suburbs, where many Africans and their French-born children live on society's margins, struggling with unemployment, poor housing, racial discrimination, crime and a lack of opportunity.

Mayor Alain Outreman tried to cool tempers.

"We are not going to start militias," he said. "You would have to be everywhere."

The African immigrant attackers doused the woman, in her 50s and on crutches, with an inflammable liquid and set her afire as she tried to get off a bus in the suburb of Sevran Wednesday, judicial officials said. The bus had been forced to stop because of burning objects in its path. She was rescued by the driver and hospitalized with severe burns.

…

Police said troublemakers fired bullets into a vandalized bus and burned 85 more cars in Paris and Suresnes, just to the west. In Meaux, east of Paris, officials said youths stoned rescuers aiding someone who had fallen ill.

• It's time to impose a nationwide dusk to dawn curfew and to declare martial law. Put away the rubber bullets and reload with live ammo. Announce that rioters, arsonists and curfew-breakers will be shot. The prospect of getting arrested isn't much of a disincentive to riot if you're an angry young ne'er-do-well, but the possibility of dying has a way of concentrating the mind, especially if the TV news broadcasts stories of similar youths meeting their end at the wrong end of a 9 mm hollow point round fired by police. Trust me, you'll have less blood on your hands by stopping this quickly by shooting half-a-dozen ruffians than by letting your country burn down.


• A review of your immigration policy may be salutary at this time.


• In a nation in which private ownership of handguns is illegal, the thrown rock and the Molotov cocktail are king. And some of the rioters seem to have guns anyway. Consider with great humility whether armed law-abiding citizens would make this situation better or worse.


• Native born French seem to be having very few babies. America is one of the few developed nations with a native fertility rate that is (albeit slightly) higher than replacement. I think this is because our women are better looking, but it also appears that socialism is a very effective form of birth control. Consider tax cuts and paring back on social welfare spending. Sweden has been doing that for about ten years (remember when they were the socialist paradise?) and I haven't heard any Swedes complaining. Who knows, you may even get some economic growth out of it. Also if you would stop gallivanting with your mistresses and start spending more time with your wives you may rediscover the joys of marriage, among which are raising children with someone you love.


• Would you like to help us fight radical Islam in the Middle East now?


• If you're a Jew in France, pack your bags. Sell everything that can't be moved. Get on a plane to Israel. Now.

- served up by Doctor Bean @ 8:55 PM