NEW RALL AFGHANISTAN ESSAY TO APPEAR AT COMIC BOOK GALAXY

Writer and cartoonist Ted Rall is bringing an important new essay on war and politics to Comic Book Galaxy (www.comicbookgalaxy.com).

Rall's recent hardcover graphic novel TO AFGHANISTAN AND BACK won acclaim for its first-person coverage of the U.S. military action in Afghanistan following the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. In his new essay titled "MY GOVERNMENT WENT TO AFGHANISTAN AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS STUPID PIPELINE: The Complete Truth About the U.S. Attack on Afghanistan," Rall continues his analysis and explanation for current policies of the George W. Bush White House, with information that will surprise U.S. readers. Rall explores the facts about the current "War on Terrorism" that citizens in other countries have heard from their media, but as the writer says, "Since 9-11 print and broadcast media in the United States have disseminated the Bush Administration line without question. On no subject has that been truer than on...Afghanistan."

The essay covers such subjects as "Bush's Fake War on Terror," "The Most Underreported Story--Only in America," and how "Bush Planned to Attack Afghanistan Before September 11." There's little doubt that this essay will generate discussion and raise awareness of current and coming events in a manner that few other writers could accomplish.

Comic Book Galaxy editor Alan David Doane says "Ted's willingness to literally put his life at risk in the name of the truth is awe-inspiring. He has a passion for the politics of the region that makes him a true expert on what the U.S. government is doing in Afghanistan and other countries, and I'm honored that Ted's allowing us to show this essay to The Galaxy's readers. Everybody might not be interested in this subject, but they should be -- the "War on Terror" has the potential to change the lives of every citizen of the United States of America, and threatens innocents abroad as well."

As for the 14,000 word length of Rall's "PIPELINE" essay, Doane says "It's long, but it's lean and mean in the information it presents, and it's damned entertaining, in Rall's uniquely sardonic style. I hope everyone who comes to The Galaxy to read our little funnybook reviews will care enough about their world to read what this important voice has to say about the tragic schemes being carried out pretty much right before their very eyes. It's the very fact that a 14,000 word essay may be too long for some to commit to reading that makes it possible for corrupt governments to carry out their labyrinthine machinations. It's long past time Americans started paying attention to the details, in hopes of understanding what happened on September 11th, 2001, and in hopes of making sure that that never happens again. The learning starts with Ted Rall's new essay."

Ted Rall is a Pulitzer-nominated writer/artist/cartoonist whose work has appeared in TIME MAGAZINE, and whose commentary has been carried by National Public Radio and the BBC. His essay "MY GOVERNMENT WENT TO AFGHANISTAN AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS STUPID PIPELINE: The Complete Truth About the U.S. Attack on Afghanistan," will appear on Comic Book Galaxy beginning Wednesday, September 18th, 2002.

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Wow, the desperation is coming off that hilarious press release in great big waves. Hey, maybe when they're done reading that historic essay, they'll read your review of the latest issue of Daredevil or whatever!

Gee whiz, I sure hope so. Golly, if only the new Youngblood mini-series were out at the same time so we could cross-promote. Jinkies!

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Or maybe Ted is just a nut.

Well, that assumption would certainly save you the trouble of actually reading about current events, now, wouldn't it?

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I just like the fact that someone with ADD can stick with a 14,000 word essay to the end.

There are those who would say Bill forgot a letter and spelled it wrong but I don't think they post here anymore.

Current events? Sure, I read about current events. What's that got to do with a Ted Rall essay?

Oh, that's right, he generally covers muffin recipes and stereo equipment.

That's what pissed me off the most about TO AFGHANISTAN AND BACK -- I went in expecting a discussion of current events and all I got was a comparitive analysis of Koss vs. Sennheiser headphones. What a rip-off.

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I have to agree. The kind of courage it takes to attend comic conventions while knowing full well the clear and present danger posed by vomit brings a tear of admiration to this reader's eye.

I would also like to take a moment to thank the gutsy Mr. David Allan Coe and the stalwart folks at CBGBs for providing a link to the courageous Rall column mentioned in the plucky press release above. It is this useful link, as well as the ease with which I found Rall's heroic column on the beautifully-designed CBGB's home page that makes CBGB's the one source I turn to again and again for columns and columnists who dare to tell truth to power. VIVA FIDEL!

At least you got something out of it.