France on the Verge of Chaos?
The riots grew bigger. Schools and theaters were destroyed.... churches were burned to the ground; graffiti in red paint on a church in Marseilles declared: "Mohammed was the last prophet". Bank branches were ransacked and ATMs opened with chainsaws. Slogans were shouted: "death to the police", "death to France", "death to the Jews!"
In 2021, twenty retired French army generals published an open letter addressed to the French government and Macron: "The situation is critical. France is in danger. Several mortal dangers threaten it". The letter spoke of "suburban hordes" and of the "detachment of multiple parcels of the nation to transform them into territories subject to dogmas contrary to the French constitution... The violence is increasing day by day... those who run our country must imperatively find the courage necessary to eradicate the dangers". At the time, the letter was treated with contempt. Today, it looks as if its signatories got it absolutely right.