Elections and Conspiracy Theories

There it was.

Written on the walls of the Saint Michel metro stop in the heart of Paris:

Toulouse Complot

Toulouse Plot

In two words of graffiti scrawled across an ancient cement wall, the belief of many skeptics was succinctly summarized. Believers include a large number of immigrants, often of North African origin, but also some on the French left. They just can't believe that French security could have allowed last week's shootings in Montauban and Toulouse, that a Muslim born in France would do something so horrific.

Always fans of conspiracy theories, Arabs resent the portrayal of Al-qaeda in the Western media. They point out that radical Islamicists were once in the pay of the U.S. government. They served as a useful bulwark against the U.S.S.R. during the Cold War, and those ties didn't just die once the Berlin Wall fell. Thus when they hear that suspected killer Mohammed Merah was associated with al-Qaeda, they can't help but think of the possible (but unverifiable) connections he might have had with Western governments.

Mr. Sarkozy is struggling in his battle to be reelected. A law-and-order politician, he made his reputation during a school siege back when he was mayor of the rich Parisian suburb Neuilly-sur-Seine. He would look stronger in a national emergency and turn the campaign back to a subject he feels comfortable with.

It's impossible not to speculate. He had the power. It is easy to blame the Arab Muslim--Westerners believe they are behind all bombings and shootings. It would have benefited him...surely he did it.

Westerners, non-Muslims, in their ignorance and hate of Muslims, they just don't understand. Maybe a cry in the dark will shock them into seeing the truth.

Maybe a few words left in the center of tourist Paris will shock them into seeing the truth.