Credit where credit is due -- II . . . and appeal to the outcast.

This from an 11/25/05 Le Monde interview with Pascal Mailhos, Director of France's Renseignements Generaux, the special branch of the French police dealing with domestic terrorism, Radical Islam, etc.:

. . . Out of 1,700 places of worship listed one year ago, 75 had been the target of a destabilization attempt. Half resisted, the other half was taken over by radicals. Since October 2003, 31 radical activists or preachers were expelled. Today we still have in our sights about ten imams. The foreign influence is still strong. . . .

* * * *

It is generally admitted that there are 5 million Muslims in France. Approximately 200,000 are practicing Muslims. The salafists represent about 5,000 people. The converts are approximately 1,600, according to our census. Approximately 1 out of 4 is engaged in radical Islam.

In the past five years, Salafism converted as many people as the Tabligh movement did in twenty-five years. This process is often very fast and offers to outcast people a new way of life, with spiritual and social perspectives.

* * * *

The radical Islamists were in no way implicated in the rioting.

* * * *

. . . [Minorities recruited by the Renseignements Generaux] come from target areas, show a great motivation and want to defend the Republic.

"One of France's main Counter Terrorism experts tells it all." The Counterterrorism Blog, 12/15/05.