bbloke,
There is never a too long reply to such a tragic situation. Your sources are very interesting. I've passed them around to those who are "wondering"what is going on.
I have a few too but here is one for the moment that may interest you or anybody else on this thread............
http://www.truthdig.com/
For the moment, only J. Chirac seems to have given a "good" response to this crisis from the G8 meetings. GWB is his usual self. Deaf, bumb and blind. In fact they are all divided and wringing their hands on what to do.