Syrian war continues after Munich deal

By Bill Van Auken, 13 February 2016

The agreement on a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian aid cannot paper over the diametrically opposed aims of Washington and Moscow.

Australian government refuses to help children trapped in Syria

By Mike Head, 13 February 2016

The US “Plan B” for Syria and the threat of world war

More on the war in Iraq and Syria »

In Democratic debate, Clinton presses Sanders on race, gender and support for Obama

By Patrick Martin, 13 February 2016

The increased appeal to identity issues reflects concerns in the ruling elite over signs that class questions are dominating the political thinking of broad layers of the population.

On-the-spot report from NH primary
New Hampshire students discuss Sanders and socialism

By Kate Randall, 13 February 2016

University of New Hampshire students expressed their opposition to income inequality and the disregard of the wealthy for the conditions facing the vast majority of the population.

The political role of the Bernie Sanders campaign

Sanders and the left feint in capitalist politics

More on the 2016 elections »

NATO sends a flotilla to repulse refugees in the Aegean Sea

By Martin Kreickenbaum, 13 February 2016

The purpose of the NATO flotilla is to ensure that the escape routes to Europe via Turkey are blocked, stranding refugees fleeing regions destroyed by US and European imperialism.

German Chancellor Merkel announces NATO intervention in Aegean Sea

More on the refugee crisis »

Parents express support for protesting Detroit teachers and students

By Lawrence Porter, 13 February 2016

During a meeting of the district-sponsored Detroit Parent Network, audience members denounced the appalling conditions in the schools.

Chicago teachers march to oppose budget and job cuts

Detroit and Chicago teachers fight to defend public education

More on the defense of public education »

Former Los Angeles County sheriff pleads guilty in jail scandal

By Tom Carter, 13 February 2016

The fall of Lee Baca, once labeled “Sheriff of the Year,” underscores the fact that American police departments function essentially as criminal enterprises.

Worker killed at Tonawanda Coke near Buffalo, NY

By Steve Filips, 13 February 2016

The employee died while working alone on or near a bucket elevator that was part of a coal conveyor at the Tonawanda Coke plant just north of Buffalo, New York.

New York police officer convicted of killing Akai Gurley

By Philip Guelpa, 13 February 2016

After two days of deliberations, New York police officer Peter Liang was convicted of manslaughter and official misconduct in the shooting death of Akai Gurley.

United Steelworkers offers ArcelorMittal millions in concessions

By Evan Winters, 13 February 2016

With these concessions, the USW hopes to keep ArcelorMittal competitive by passing the burden of the crisis in the global steel industry onto the backs of workers.

UK: Second undercover police officer exposed infiltrating Socialist Party

By Trevor Johnson and Chris Marsden, 13 February 2016

The Socialist Party’s response to further revelations of undercover police penetration of its organisation is characterised by light-minded indifference.

Shankill revelations expose British state informants’ role in mass killings in Ireland

By Steve James, 13 February 2016

Mass murders were carried out by British agents, or were allowed to happen to protect British agents.

New in Turkish

Merkel Ege Denizi’nde NATO müdahalesi olacağını ilan etti

Ulrich Rippert, 13 Şubat 2016

Merkel, Ahmet Davutoğlu ve Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ile bir araya geldi. Sığınmacı akışının durdurulması ve sınır güvenliği bir kez daha gündeme gelirken, Rusya’ya karşı siyasi ve askeri işbirliği görüşmelerin merkezindeydi.

New in French

Le « plan B » américain pour la Syrie et la menace d'une guerre mondiale

Par Bill Van Auken, 13 février 2016

La guerre de changement de régime en Syrie périclite et Washington et ses alliés discutent frénétiquement de la mise en œuvre d'un «plan B», d'intervention militaire directe.

La panique boursière risque d’entraîner une nouvelle crise financière

Par Andre Damon, 13 février 2016

La vague mondiale de ventes au rabais reflète la crainte de plus en plus forte que les billions injectés dans le système financier depuis 2008 n’ont rien fait pour améliorer sa solidité en profondeur et qu’ils peuvent bien avoir semé les graines d’un krach plus grand encore.

New in Italian

O chiusura o svendita per i lavoratori dell'acciaio

Di Marianne Arens, 12 febbraio 2016

Il 4 gennaio il Ministro dell'Industria Federica Guidi ha annunciato che il governo sta cercando un acquirente per la società siderurgica Ilva e la sua fabbrica di Taranto, che l'acciaieria ha bisogno di un nuovo propietario, entro la fine di giugno 2016, e che i potenziali acquirenti hanno fino al 10 febbraio per segnalare il loro interesse.

Other Languages

Perspective

The detection of gravitational waves: A scientific milestone

13 February 2016

The discovery of gravitational waves is a vindication of science and the ability of human reason to tackle and overcome the most complex problems.

Earlier Perspectives »

Commentary

Socialist Alternative defends Sanders’ support for imperialist war

By Eric London, 13 February 2016

Socialist Alternative declares that Sanders’ support for US-led wars in the Middle East does “not negate the enormously progressive aspects of his campaign.”

The International Socialist Organization, Bernie Sanders and the Democratic Party

More on the 2016 US elections »

International Viewpoint joins in racist anti-refugee agitation

By Johannes Stern, 12 February 2016

Stock market panic risks new financial crisis

By Andre Damon, 12 February 2016

Amid mounting signs of slump and financial crisis
Fed seeks to reassure markets on rate increases

A new stage in the global economic breakdown

US prepares harsh new sanctions on North Korea

By Peter Symonds, 12 February 2016

US think tank outlines master plan for war with China

Autoworkers Struggles

UAW President Dennis Williams denounces role of “outside groups” in 2015 auto contract negotiations

By Shannon Jones, 13 February 2016

The remarks expressed the concern of the UAW leadership over growing signs of militancy and social anger in the working class in Michigan and throughout the country.

As its hometown of Flint remains poisoned, GM makes record 2015 profit

By Jerry White, 4 February 2016

More on autoworkers struggles »

Arts Review

Jia Zhangke’s Mountains May Depart: Three periods in modern China, a good deal of confusion

By David Walsh, 13 February 2016

Veteran independent Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke’s Mountains May Depart is opening in theaters in the US this week.

Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace dramatized in a new television series

By Joanne Laurier, 11 February 2016

The Crisis in Detroit and Flint

GM and UAW donate $3 million to Flint: Criminals covering their tracks

By Jerry White, 12 February 2016

Flint inmates forced to use contaminated water

The World Socialist Web Site and the Flint water crisis

More on the water crisis in Flint, Michigan »

Workers Struggles

Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific

13 February 2016

The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

“If the company gets away with this, they will do it with other workers”
Locked out Allegheny Technologies workers to lose jobless benefits

By Evan Winters, 9 February 2016

Science

Astronomers detect gravitational waves predicted by Einstein

By Will Morrow, 12 February 2016

Featured video

Video: Retirees speak on Teamsters pension cuts in Detroit

11 February 2016

Who is Kenneth Feinberg?
Kenneth Feinberg and the victim compensation racket

The looting of US workers’ pensions

The 2016 US Elections

Torture, murder and Donald Trump

By Patrick Martin, 11 February 2016

Sanders wins New Hampshire Democratic primary

Wall Street donors account for 40 percent of super PAC funds in US election

More on the 2016 US elections »

NHS Fightback

Government to impose contract on junior doctors after second England-wide strike

By Robert Stevens, 12 February 2016

British junior doctors speak from the picket lines

By our reporters, 12 February 2016

This week in history: February 8-14

25 years ago: Australian journalists strike over Hawke’s pro-war witchhunt

Some 800 journalists at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation carried out a nationwide strike February 13, 1991 against a state witchhunt over the network’s coverage of the Gulf War.

More »

50 years ago: South Korean soldiers massacre Vietnamese

Beginning on February 12 and ending on March 17, 1966, South Korean soldiers supporting the US war against Vietnam carried out a series of brutal massacres of unarmed civilians.

More »

75 years ago: GPU murders defector Walter Krivitsky

On the February 10, 1941 Walter Krivitsky, the former Red Army chief of intelligence for Western Europe who defected in 1937, was murdered in a Washington, DC hotel by Stalinist GPU agents.

More »

 

100 years ago: Conflicts in Wilson administration over World War I

On February 10, 1916, Lindley Garrison, Secretary of War in the United States, resigned from office in protest over President Woodrow Wilson not moving more rapidly toward entry into World War I.

More »

Mehring Books

Twenty-five years since the first Gulf War
Desert Slaughter: The Imperialist War Against Iraq—an enduring contribution to waging war on war

By Eric London, 21 January 2016

In 1991, the Workers League, forerunner of the SEP, published this valuable compendium of articles and statements providing a Marxist analysis of the imperialist war in Iraq and the breakdown of the postwar international order.

75 Years Since the Assassination Of Leon Trotsky

Security and the Fourth International, the Gelfand Case and the deposition of Mark Zborowski
An open letter from David North to Susan Weissman

10 November 2015

Seventy-five years since the assassination of Leon Trotsky

Meetings in Germany mark the 75th anniversary of the death of Leon Trotsky