World Socialist Web Site

5 February 2009

Obama set to launch military “surge” in Afghanistan

By Barry Grey, 5 February 2009

President Barack Obama is set to formally authorize the dispatch of 10,000 to 12,000 additional US combat troops to Afghanistan, the beginning stage of a military “surge” that will likely add 30,000 more soldiers and Marines over the next 12 to 18 months, doubling the US occupation force to 60,000.

“This is America—we don’t disparage wealth”
Obama announces token executive pay limits

By Tom Eley, 5 February 2009

At a White House press conference on Wednesday, President Obama announced new measures that purport to limit executive pay. The central aim, however, is to prepare public opinion for a new and larger Wall Street bailout.

Thousands protest in Paris and Berlin against war in Sri Lanka

By our correspondents, 5 February 2009

Tens of thousands demonstrated in Berlin and Paris Wednesday against the war in Sri Lanka and the murderous assault being carried out by the military against the Tamil population.

Britain: Tamils demonstrate outside parliament

By Paul Mitchell, 5 February 2009

Around 5,000 Tamils demonstrated outside the UK Parliament against the war being waged by the government in Sri Lanka, on the 61st anniversary of the independence of Ceylon.

India: Statewide protest in Tamil Nadu against the war in Sri Lanka

By Ganesh Dev and Ram Kumar, 5 February 2009

Protests, shop closures and strikes against the war in Sri Lanka took place across the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu yesterday despite the efforts of the state government to prevent the statewide bandh or general shutdown.

Sri Lankan government detains all Tamils fleeing war zone

By Sampath Perera, 5 February 2009

Detailed evidence has emerged that the Sri Lankan government is rounding up virtually all Tamil war refugees in what amount to concentration camps, and plans to expand them to house up to 200,000 people.

Following company announcement of 7,000 layoffs
New York City Macy’s workers speak out on economy

By C. W. Rogers, 5 February 2009

On Monday Macy’s, one of the largest department store chains in the US, announced plans to lay off 7,000 workers, some 4 percent of its total staff. A WSWS reporter spoke to workers at Macy’s flagship store in New York City.

Low turnout in Iraqi provincial elections

By James Cogan, 5 February 2009

The low turnout for the elections held in 14 of Iraq’s 18 provinces last Saturday underscored the enduring hostility of the Iraqi people toward the US occupation and their alienation from the political system imposed on the country.

Britain: Refinery dispute becomes focus of shift to protectionism within Labour

By Julie Hyland, 5 February 2009

The refinery strikes over jobs for “Britons first” have become the focus for a shift to protectionism by the trade union bureaucracy, which is also finding expression within the Labour government.

Retired GM worker speaks on freezing death of 93-year-old Michigan man
“They want profits or you die”

By Jerry White, 5 February 2009

Lyle Roussey, a retired General Motors worker from Michigan, spoke to the WSWS after attending last week’s funeral for Marvin Schur, who froze to death in his home after the city cut off his electricity for unpaid bills.

US: Power outages persist throughout Kentucky

By Naomi Spencer, 5 February 2009

A week after being hit by an ice storm and bitterly cold weather, hundreds of thousands of households in the south central US remain without power and heat. Damage is most widespread in Kentucky, which was declared a federal disaster area last week.

New in German

Unabhängigkeitsfeiern in Sri Lanka: Ein Polizeistaat im Entstehen

Von Peter Symonds, 5. Februar 2009

Offene Drohungen des srilankischen Verteidigungsministers Gotabaya Rajapakse gegen ausländische Journalisten und Diplomaten in Colombo zeigen, in welchem Ausmaß grundlegende demokratische Rechte auf der Insel bedroht sind. Unter dem Vorwand des „Kriegs gegen den Terror" schafft die Regierung zügig die Grundlage für einen Polizei- und Militärstaat, der sich vor allem gegen die Arbeiterklasse richtet.

8.000 Tamilen demonstrieren in Berlin für ein Ende des Kriegs

Von unseren Korrespondenten, 5. Februar 2009

Anlässlich des 61. Jahrestages der Unabhängigkeit Ceylons demonstrierten etwa 8.000 Tamilen in Berlin gegen die anhaltenden Angriffe der srilankischen Armee auf tamilische Zivilisten. Teilnehmer kamen aus dem gesamten Bundesgebiet – von Hamburg bis München – angereist, um an der Demonstration teilzunehmen. Der Marsch startete an der CDU Bundeszentrale und zog dann zur indischen Botschaft.

Papst nimmt Holocaust-Leugner wieder in die Kirche auf

Von Stefan Steinberg, 5. Februar 2009

Seit er 2005 das Amt des Papstes übernahm, gab Papst Benedikt immer wieder Stellungnahmen ab und verkündete Beschlüsse, die bei anderen Glaubensgemeinschaften Proteststürme auslösten.

New in French

France : quelle est la nature du Nouveau Parti anticapitaliste formé par la LCR ?

Par Alex Lanthier, 5 février 2009

La Ligue communiste révolutionnaire (LCR) tiendra un congrès extraordinaire pour se dissoudre et, à la place, fonder le Nouveau Parti anticapitaliste (NPA). Le NPA renoncera à une orientation socialiste pour s’orienter vers un milieu politique plus large comprenant des tendances qui s’opposent ouvertement à la révolution.