A somewhat lighter take on things this week.

The editors highlight the important news of the past week

On Monday November 24th, one week before World AIDS day, an overwhelmingly black and brown throng of 800 people – representing those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS, and AIDS service and advocacy groups -- gathered in Washington DC to send a direct message to President Bush.

After the horrific 9/11 tragedy, the “Wire Pullers” began shredding the Bill of Rights. The U.S. Congress then quickly passed the “USA Patriot Act” in the middle of the night, without a public hearing. Later, the draconian “Homeland Security Law” was enacted. And, on March 20, 2003, the Bush-Cheney Gang started, without any just cause, the war with Iraq.

...a Gift to Pharmaceutical Companies and Moves System Toward Privatization.Interview with Gail Shearer, director of health policy analysis, Consumer's Union, conducted by Between the Lines' Melinda Tuhus

Bush goes to Baghdad. But does that matter if this administration continues to undermine the military in every other way?

BLAST FURNACE RADIO is playing all the audio it can glean from the net and putting it on a continues loop. tune in. having problems getting our web radio station just drop us a line.

audio streaming link: notowar.com/audio/bfr.m3u

cartoon copyright 2003 by charles amsellem. all rights reserved. activists may reproduce for non-profit use only

...Scale Back Scope of Free Trade Treaty. Interview with Karen Hansen-Kuhn, international coordinator with the Alliance for Responsible Trade, conducted by Between the Lines' Scott Harris

By constitutional law, Lebanon is still one of the very few democracies in the entire Middle East with a constitution agreed upon in 1926. Today, being occupied by the Syrian regime for the past 27 years, Lebanon lost its major features of democracy and human right. Amnesty International, the Red Cross and many other human rights organizations as well as the United States administration has well documented cases of shocking & severe human rights violation against the Lebanese people.