Back in Sept, 2006, we were force fed, by the LA Times a disgusting revision of history, in the guise of creating a legacy for Kofi Annan and maintaining one for Bill Clinton (and they are worthy of some, to be sure) and for the purpose of casting blame for all that is bad on one George Bush. The full front page column was a Sunday graphically enhanced presentation of spin. Introduce James Traub of the NY Times:

“From 1997 through 2000, the world was largely at peace, none of the horrific civil wars in the Third World rose to genocidal proportions, and the White House was occupied by an internationalist Democrat. Then, in rapid succession, a unilaterally-minded Republican took office..one of Sudan’s interminable ethnic conflicts erupted into a scorched-earth war. The man who had won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 suddenly looked hapless, even pitiful…”

You see, there was no DR Congo civil war, no Sierra Leone, no Ivory Coast, etc.

On a regular basis, either thru e-mail or social events, Save Darfur comes up (big and popular here in the US as it serves as yet another anti-Bush vehicle. The large angry left in the US would not be involved in caring about Darfur, if not for Bush being in the WH. Heck, even renouned journalists like James Traub has the blessing on our major media to tell us that Africa was just fine in the late 90’s - and it was because of Clinton and Annan. I have yet to find a single civilian activist (including journalists busy writing about Darfur, etc.) that are aware of much else; to wit; the BBC has often reported about the civil war in the DR Congo - says that over 4 1/2 million have died, millions more displaced (and the war on women, of which you are so involved with)- it began in 1998, just after Pres, Clinton said, “Never Again.”

And hardly a soul here in the US knows aobut it.

Hardly a soul knows about the UN sex/rape scandal which came to official light a couple of years back, either.

My effort here is certainly not a critque of your work or column. It’s a plea to use your very powerful voice to encourage journalists, and others to report the news - no matter what.

I was looking for more information in your column about the entire DR conflict - and will look further. I wish you all the heartfelt blessings I can muster in your quest. Indeed it is honorable and just.

Thank you.