France will participate in the reconstruction of NOLA

just heard on the radio

after the $20 millions in emergency help, the visiting French minister pledged expert and material help to New Orleans so the tourism can start again, thus creating wealth. Among others restauration of the French Quarter, the Jazz districts and a museum in the harbour (which constructed the barges sent to Normandy).

the minister is the grandson of one the French judges at the Nuremberg trial

Just kidding ... sort of.

Viva Le France!

a lovely gesture.

OK tocqueville, could you give us the scoop on what you think about what we are seening on the news about France......thanks

by criminal elements that don't wont to be disturbed in their traffic

Even if these poors live mainly in conditions of social security which is far above the equivalent in the US, there is a big justified resentment.

But the rioting is mainly organized by mobile gangs creating havoc. It's not a mass uprisal and the VAST majority of the residents in those quarters are the first victims. The result be further loss of employment and material losses difficult to replace for poor people.

The blame is to be put on a 30 years mismanagement from politicians both to the right and the left. When you let cities degrade to the point of "no law areas" you get into trouble sooner or later.

This reminds of episodes in the later story of black neighbourhoods in the US with the difference the the rioting is not organized by suffering masses but by a few rogue elements which don't want to have their "little" drug dealing and diverse thefts disturbed. A certain presence of islamists is possible too, but probably marginal.

The Al Quaeda "franchised" groups are very small in numbers but they are financed by the gangs traffic and sometimes even part of it.

so the explosion is partly fueled by the resentment but wouldn't have rised to that level if very organized criminal groups weren't behind it.

the direct "motivation" created by the death of the two teens is a pure pretext. But it created the perfect occasion.

This is a show of force : "the police isn't welcome here". But the majority of the inhabitants of these quarters are DEMANDING an increased police presence due to the total lack of security.

yes indeed; I learned long ago to never say THOSE PEOPLE...

Thanks, t