The AIDS "myth"

from The Nation

The latest issue of Harper's Magazine contains a stunning 15-page article by well-known AIDS' denialist Celia Farber (formerly of Spin magazine) that extensively repeats UC Berkeley virologist Peter Duesberg's discredited theory that HIV does not cause AIDS. Among the claims that Duesberg makes (and Farber recounts approvingly) are:

AIDS is actually a "chemical syndrome, caused by accumulated toxins from heavy drug use." "Many cases of AIDS are the consequence of heavy drug use, both recreational (poppers, cocaine, methamphetamines, etc.) and medical (AZT, etc.)"

"HIV is a harmless passenger virus that infects a small percentage of the population and is spread primarily from mother to child, though at a relatively low rate."

More later, but right now all I can muster is: "WHAT?" Shame on you Harper's for giving a nut a serious platform to spew nuttery. And maybe endanger some lives in the process.