On 11 February, Electronic Iraq published an Action Item calling on readers to write letters to the French press and government to offer support to that country's anti-war position. The following article from Le Monde which quotes at least two Electronic Iraq readers as examples, demonstrates that the message was heard loud and clear. In addition to writing to Le Monde, Electronic Iraq called on people to send messages to two other leading dailies and France's UN Mission.
Transatlantic Links
By Robert Sole, Le Monde, 16 February 2003
The Gulf war of 1991 was a long time ago, in another century. At that time -- as old-timers will remember -- we didn't have mobile phones and, of course, the internet was unknown. To write to a letter to a newspaper, you had to get yourself a sheet of paper, an envelope and a stamp, before going to drop it in a letter box. The present Iraq debate benefits from the information revolution: anyone, anywhere can instantly make known his opinion.
And internet users across the Atlantic are taking advantage of this. For the past few days, letters have been pouring into "Old Europe." Written mostly in English, sometimes with a few words of French, they seek to express the "real voice" of America. Of course there are contradictions. Some defend the position of George Bush, but others -- far more numerous -- call for opposition to this improperly elected and misguided president who does not represent the majority of his fellow citizens.
Kathryn E. Nugent, of Yarmouthport (Massachusetts), takes issue with articles she read on the Le Monde website. Taking the trouble to write in French, with "apologies for my grammatical errors," she is stunned that anyone could waver when faced with someone as dangerous as Saddam Hussein: "If France were attacked by Saddam and Al-Qaida, what would the United States do?" she asks somewhat enigmatically.
By contrast, Claiborne M. Clark of Durham (North Carolina), thanks Le Monde for its editorial of 6 February. "The United States," he writes, "came to France's aid when your country needed military help. Many Americans want to thank France for coming to the aid of the United States at a time when our government needs moral help." He concludes: "Vive la France! Vive Le Monde!"
That said, many of those who wrote have never read an article in this newspaper. They wrote in order to address French public opinion, a sort of letter in a bottle. One of them, Adam Albrett of Sunnyvale (California), states that he also wrote to "various organizations in the United States" calling for Jacques Chirac to be awarded the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize.
Stuart Woods let us know that he asked all his "friends, neighbors and colleagues to boycott all French products," until the aforementioned Nobel candidate "comes to his senses." But from Norfolk (United Kingdom), Dr. Andrew Boswell reassures us that the retaliatory economic measures taken in the United States inspire him to systematically buy French goods. Will he succeed in convincing his friends, neighbors and patients?
We also got some emails from Canada. Claude Martin of Winlaw (British Columbia), is bitter: "Here we go again. Faithful to their tradition, the French are repeating Munich. It seems it's a tradition." Robert Poirier of Quebec, wryly suggests we take precautions. The other day in New York he saw a bumper sticker that read: "First Iraq, then France!"
The above is an EI translation of an excerpt from an article that appeared inLe Mondeon 16 February 2003 under the headline "Liaisons transatlantiques."
