France: Fiery Dissent or Planned Violence?

The civil unrest allegedly sparked by the accidental electrocution of two Muslim youths fleeing the gendarmes, has spread across France, and is now showing up in Denmark, Spain, Sweden and Germany. Over 10,000 vehicles have been destroyed and some of the youthful participants are shooting at the police. Counterintelligence forces have spotted unmarked cars distributing bottles filled with petrol to the roving gangs of angry youths. This indicates that much of the dialogue concerning unemployment amongst France's youthful immigrant populace may only be a cover for something darker and much more frightening.

In my first two articles, the root causes for some of the urban gang activities were discussed: poverty, hopelessness and a feeling of disenfranchisement from the mainstream populace. France has done a very poor job of assimilating its large pool of immigrants into its culture. Though it has provided housing and other forms of aid, it has not allowed young immigrants, most particularly Muslims, to secure gainful employment. In short, the fertile ground was well sown with seeds of genuine discontent and anger.

However, it appears that other forces may have had much greater impact in exacerbating the highly volatile situation. As early as 2004, intelligence sources both here and abroad had become aware of a radical shift in Al Qaeda's tactics in recruitment. Something this writer has also spoken about in depth. Prior to this shift, new recruits were being culled from traditional Islamic sources- mosques, and other places that students of Islam gathered. But, this highly mobile and adaptable enemy changed its targets to mainstream "white" Europeans and in my view-Americans. With impeccable logic, they foresaw a much more mobile hidden force that would be extremely hard to track or even recognize.

France's counterintelligence estimates that there are between 35,000-50,000 highly trained paramilitary units extant in France alone. Slightly smaller numbers, between 25,000-35,000 are present in Germany. Other countries-Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the Balkan states have unknown numbers, as does the US. These units meet for specialized training in weaponry, explosives and the grooming of new recruits.

They maintain a high degree of mainstream normalcy, and keep anything to do with Islamic affiliations completely hidden. To train, small groups of 10-40 men may meet for summer "holidays" in remote locations, ostensibly for camping and fellowship. The estimated number of recruits in Europe is growing, as more of these highly trained units are put in place. Young people, unhappy with the socioeconomic conditions in their respective countries, have grown up with the idea of terror as a model for change. Not realizing that they are being used by people who could care less about whatever they are unhappy about. They are pawns in Al Qaeda's war of terror.

The question is now, what can be done about this before it spreads any further? First, particularly in Europe, youth must be reached with all of the tools available. Through the media, teachers, doctors and mainstream clergy of all faiths. Frank and open communication about the issues facing their societies must begin, and other means of addressing differences should be taught, beginning in primary school. Families must be encouraged to be observant of behavior changes, and to seek answers by any means necessary. This is a very difficult thing as it cuts straight into the heart of family loyalty and care. But, we are engaged in a war that is global in nature, and so very dangerous.

While here in America, we may have done a much better job of assimilating immigrants, we have our own set of very volatile issues, which again are proving fertile ground for recruitment. With homelessness, poverty, unaffordable health care, injustice and a highly unbalanced economic stratum, we are extremely vulnerable to the same mechanisms.

It is past time here for addressing these very fundamental concerns. If we don't begin soon to rectify the situation, we will be faced with what you see in France or worse. I've said this before and am saying it again. We must go back to our nations core values, and begin caring about the least of us. The highly affluent need to reach out, not to "hot" disasters, but to the everyday hopelessness, anger and frustration, so many Americans face daily. If we don't, we have only ourselves to blame.