[megatherium]

All evidence points to the conclusion that HIV is a benign passenger retrovirus, just like many other similar virii that have been hitchhiking in man since time immemorial.

I'm afraid this is not true. Please see http://www.niaid.nih.gov/Factsheets/evidhiv.htm for a detailed summary of the evidence that HIV is the cause of AIDS.

[John Valentine]

"...a detailed summary of the evidence that HIV is the cause of AIDS...."

And for you, compelling and exhaustively referenced and footnoted evidence that it it NOT:

http://www.duesberg.com/papers/chemical-bases.html

[John Valentine]

re. the "Factsheet":

I read it.

It is a mere apologia for all the mistaken assumptions and wrongheaded hypotheses that continue to plague this issue and cripple intelligent discussion, and are repeated unashamedly in the document as if they were true.

I am tempted to call it pitiful, but that is too benign a term. It is actually shameful that such a misleading and deceitful document could be produced with funding that ultimately comes from taxpayers.

For shame.