http://www.france24.com/en/20101020-france-violent-protests-unions-retirement-sarkozy-pension-hortefeux-petrol
This my friends would be the reason for the rule change regarding the military being able to respond in the United States.
The National Guard is who responds in an emergency, not the military.
It never actually made sense why they where chosen instead of regular military soldiers to go to war in Iraq.
On Tuesday, Sarkozy sent in paramilitary police to clear blockades at France's fuel depots that this week caused a wave of panic-buying and shut down one in three petrol stations across the country.
"If this disorder is not ended quickly, the attempt to paralyse the country could have consequences for jobs by disrupting the normal functioning of the economy," Sarkozy told a cabinet meeting in remarks released by his office, adding his determination to push the pension reform through.
