Caricatures and hysteria that disguise the truth

By Voltaire Network | Paris (France) | 2 March 2006 | Voltaire, édition internationale | Had we wanted to be exhaustive, we could have published hundreds of articles, interviews and editorials about the caricatures of Mohammed and the reactions in the Muslim world. This story has reached incredible proportions in the international media. Most editorialists have commented the incident; the mainstream media have published long articles and even special dossiers. In most of the cases, the conflict presented by the western media is the same: they portray a conflict between a West that embodies freedom and a Muslim world, frequently identified with the Persian-Arab world, that embodies obscurantism. It is an approach that disguises the true questions of the issue.

Afghanistan: Media Unanimity

By Voltaire Network | Paris (France) | 15 February 2006 | Voltaire, édition internationale | The London Conference on Afghanistan was held amidst the relative indifference of the press, since dailies devoted little space to the event. However, we witnessed a media campaign by atlantist circles on «opinion» pages both before and during the conference. The objective of these forums, particularly of a single colour, was to mobilize public opinion in favour of support of the Hamid Karzai government as well as to recall the atlantist version on Afghanistan.

Deterrence: What did Jacques Chirac really mean?

By Voltaire Network | Paris (France) | 9 February 2006 | Voltaire, édition internationale | Last January 19, French President Jacques Chirac gave an eagerly awaited speech in Landivisiau before France’s strategic air and naval forces. Chirac’s speech, which dealt with the French nuclear doctrine, has been largely discussed and commented by international media outlets which allowed readers to find what they wanted to read about. In the speech, mainly the western media saw the announcement of a French strategic orientation, which from that moment on, would make «terrorism-supporting countries» a potential target for nuclear attacks. That is to say, another step by France towards the Bush doctrine. But, is it really so?

Hamas: media experts’ predictions frustrated

By Voltaire Network | Paris (France) | 7 February 2006 | Voltaire, édition internationale | «Political earthquake», «electoral bomb», «peace process compromised», «victory of the terrorists», the mainstream media has reacted with virulence and apparent panic after the electoral victory of Hamas in the Palestinian legislative elections. Anger is directly proportional to the huge mistake of media experts who predicted a good result for Hamas, but not enough to have access to power.