I fot this from Ziad in Paris:
"1) I thought I'd send you this link
It's typical of failed arab "intellectuals" who desperately want recognition from Western powers. An idiot wrote some poems in arabic. He sent his book to Chirac. Some third rate
functionary sends the usual thank you note (the same thank you note is sent to hundreds of idiots each year ).
And then it appears on Al Jazeera under the headline : "Chirac says X's book is a namouzaj of the dialogue between cultures" ! (the note reproduced said nothing of the sort of course)"