Bono, Guest Editor, Delivers 'The Independent'

By: Greg Mitchell The Tuesday edition of the special edition of the London daily The Independent -- with a guest editor named Bono -- has rolled off the presses, with some expected content (its mainly concerned with AIDS in Africa) and some surprises.

It even includes a a kind of "desert island disc" list provided by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in which she proclaims herself a longtime "acid rock" fan. She also likes Elton, Kool and the Gang and, uh, especially, U2.

The tabloid has a bright red front page with Bono's the only picture and the words No News Today. Images on the front page: a dove of peace, a syringe, hands in prayer, and a skull. Half of the revenue from the paper will go to AIDS relief in Africa.

Articles range from commmentary by Bono, Nelson Mandela, The Edge and Bob Geldof to Georgio Armani interviewed by Stella McCartney.

There is much talk of children suffering from AIDS, with one article titled, "AIDS and a lost generation: Children raising children." But then there's Bono ("the man the bookies fear") writing about horseracing.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair says he is "still optimistic about G8." Elvis Costello tackles America -- Bob Dylan, The Daily Show, Neil Young, New Orleans. There's even a jigsaw puzzle -- put it together and win an iPod.

In his central piece, a letter from the guest editor, Bono opens with:

"May I say without guile, I am as sick of messianic rock stars as the next man, woman and child. ... But before you are tempted to let fly with your understandable invective, allow me to contextualise. Not for the sake of my vanity, but for the sake of people who are depending on you -- the reader -- to respond to the precariousness of their lives.

"Picture this: a village where the disappearance of a whole generation has left children to bring up children (the Lord of the Flies syndrome).

"I'm a witness to this. What can I do? ...

"We need to meet you where you are as you shop, as you phone, as you lead your busy, businessy lives. Those of us who campaign on these issues feel we have made a dent on the pop consciousness with Live Aid and 8, Red Nose Day, Comic Relief and Make Poverty History. But we are still losing the battle: 9,000 new infections every day across the developing world. ..."