Quotes of the Day

We've seen these images before: peaceful protests hijacked by black-hooded youths who hurl rocks at riot police, smash shop windows and turn normally placid Western cities into war zones. Lit by different sparks, the violent outbreaks in Seattle (1999), Genoa (2001) and the banlieues of Paris (2005) were all fueled by a potent mix of political frustration and pure nihilism.

This week it was Athens' turn. On Dec. 6 a policeman fatally shot a 15-year-old boy in a confrontation with a hostile crowd of youths. Within hours, rioters were tearing up the Greek capital, setting fire to buildings and taking on police. After four straight days of unrest, which spread to several smaller Greek cities, more than 80 people had been injured, 157 had been arrested, and 565 stores had been damaged or destroyed.

Rumbling with the authorities is something of a rite of passage for Greeks. Anarchists and radical leftists have clashed with security forces for years. With the time of military rule never far from their minds, ordinary Greeks are more than ready to mount peaceful protests as well.

But this time something is different. Not only for the Greek police, who appear to have no strategy to contain the violence, or for Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, whose grip on power seems to slip as each day passes. The latest showdown with anticapitalist radicals comes as capitalism is on the run. For Europe, financially crippled and nervous about the descending gloom, the images from Athens seem scarier and closer this time around. As in the past, banks were a favorite target, with some 38 damaged or destroyed in Athens alone. The reconstruction bill will be nothing beside the billions we're paying to keep our banks afloat, of course. But when the fires are extinguished and the youths pull back their hoods, the fear that the coming months will see more violence will linger. The protesters were angry because their friend was dead, and frustrated by the economic crisis and government corruption. What will people do when things get really bad?

• JEFF ISRAELY
• Violent street riots in Greece portend a season of discontent