World Socialist Web Site

29 May 2009

US Army chief sees Iraq, Afghanistan occupations continuing for a decade

By Bill Van Auken, 29 May 2009

Amid mounting violence in Iraq and preparations for a major escalation of the US war in Afghanistan, the chief of staff of the US Army said that the military is preparing to continue its interventions in the two countries for at least another decade.

UN body covers up Sri Lankan government’s war crimes

By Wije Dias, 29 May 2009

The UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution that blocks any independent inquiry into the Sri Lankan military’s war crimes and hails the government for its victory in the communal war against the LTTE.

European election campaign
French Socialist Party considers alliances to the left and to the right

By Kumaran Ira and Alex Lantier, 29 May 2009

The poor performance of the Socialist Party (PS), France's main bourgeois left party, in the European election campaign is provoking widespread concern in the French political and media establishment and calls for new political alliances.

Poland: Last shipyards in Gdansk threatened with closure

By Marius Heuser, 29 May 2009

Ceremonies currently taking place marking the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the Stalinist regime in Poland have been overshadowed by shipyard workers protests in Gdansk.

Torture photos: US soldiers raped, sodomized Iraqi prisoners

By Tom Eley, 29 May 2009

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph published Wednesday, former US General Antonio Taguba said that photographs the Obama administration is seeking to suppress show images of US soldiers raping and sodomizing Iraqi prisoners.

US: Army base ordered on stand-down after multiple suicides

By Naomi Spencer, 29 May 2009

Members of the 101st Airborne Division were ordered to suspend regular operations at the Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Army base Wednesday after the suicide toll rose to 11 for the year.

Canada: Furor over soaring federal budget deficit

By Keith Jones, 29 May 2009

Canada’s Finance Minister has attributed the sharp rise in the projected federal budget deficit to plummeting tax revenues, increased Employment Insurance (EI) claims, and the cost of the auto industry bailout.

Thai economy contracts, exacerbating political tensions

By John Roberts, 29 May 2009

Efforts by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to stabilise his shaky coalition government are being undermined by the country’s deteriorating economy.

New in German

Klasse, nicht Rasse oder Geschlecht spaltet die Gesellschaft wirklich

Von Patrick Martin, 29. Mai 2009

Die Nominierung Sonia Sotomayors als Präsident Obamas erste Kandidatin für den Obersten Gerichtshof der Vereinigten Staaten wurde vom Weißen Haus zu einem völlig durchgestylten und stereotypen Medienevent gestaltet. Solche Zeremonien sind zu einem unverzichtbaren Bestandteil der Art und Weise geworden, wie Amerika heute regiert wird.

Opel-Rettung: Was wird gerettet?

Von Ulrich Rippert, 29. Mai 2009

Gegenwärtig wird viel über die "Rettung von Opel" gesprochen und geschrieben. Doch die wichtigste Frage wird dabei ausgeblendet: Um wessen Rettung geht es? Um die der Arbeiter, Arbeitsplätze und Löhne, oder um die der Kapitaleigner und Profite.

New in Portuguese

Economia mundial em queda livre

Por Andre Damon, 29 de maio de 2009

Enormes contrações no primeiro trimestre das principais economias mundias foram anunciados há poucos dias, indicando o aprofundamento da crise econômica.

Detroit: além de fábricas, escolas serão fechadas. Estudantes protestam

Por Joe Kishore, 29 de maio de 2009

Milhares de estudantes protestaram contra a demissão de diretores de duas importantes escolas na cidade de Detroit, EUA. Tais demissões seriam o primeiro passo para o fechamento de ao menos 50 escolas, com demissões em massa entre os professores.

New in French

La lutte contre le centrisme et la fondation de la Quatrième Internationale
Première partie

Par Bill Van Auken, 29 mai 2009

Les questions essentielles que la fondation de la Quatrième Internationale devait affronter et qui furent posées de façon si intransigeante par Léon Trotsky dans les années et les mois précédant son assassinat, n’ont rien perdu de leur acuité.