Trying to Understand the Riots in France

Two articles from BusinessWeek on the trouble in France:
- "Sarkozy Googles as Paris Riots" and
- "The Economics Fueling the French Riots"

The articles are written from a "US viewpoint." A comment left behind the second article is worth noting:

I did not expect BusinessWeek to come out with such a biased article, very pro-American. Very hypocritical as well. France's social politics is set up to not "leave people behind" and give them an opportunity instead of straight poverty. The only thing that America does offer unemployed youngsters a job in the Army to support their own politics/shake-up/disrespect of Muslim countries; that attitude fuels Muslims worldwide with anger towards all Western societies, including France. The problem isn't just unemployment but it's more about France's ancient "social class differences" and the non-white immigrant population doesn't like to be called "scum" (a French minister's outraged response to the first riots). This was written by a white guy from the Netherlands.

Another view from Parapundit: French Muslim Rioting Hits Yet Another High

I'm not sure what to think about all this craziness. The "white guy" in the Netherlands pretends he lives in a color-blind society. The BusinessWeek folk think it's about unemployment rates. And the french politician is just covering his behind. I should ask Doug Smith.

UPDATE: Economist article