World Socialist Web Site

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Published by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI)

28 July 2009

Britain’s propaganda offensive on behalf of Afghan war

By Chris Marsden, 28 July 2009

The speech by Foreign Secretary David Miliband at the NATO headquarters in Brussels makes clear that Britain intends to deepen its collaboration with the United States in Afghanistan.

The Gates arrest and the “national conversation on race”

By Tom Eley, 28 July 2009

The controversy stemming from the arrest of Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. has dominated the media for a week. It has afforded another opportunity to pose race as the decisive social division and to obscure basic class realities.

Protesting Chinese steel workers kill manager

By John Chan, 28 July 2009

In another sign of the explosive social tensions in China, thousands of workers at a state-owned steel plant beat the newly-appointed manager to death in an angry protest against a government-backed takeover.

What imperialist war produces
Iraq veterans charged with murder and other crimes

By David Walsh, 28 July 2009

The atrocities US troops are committing in Iraq and Afghanistan are transforming a section of returning veterans into a genuine menace to society. Ten members of one army unit alone have been charged with murder, attempted murder or manslaughter.

Clinton’s ASEAN appearance signals US “back in Asia”

By John Chan, 28 July 2009

In a bid to bolster US standing and counter growing Chinese influence, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attended the ASEAN summit in Thailand and signed ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

After delay, IMF approves loan for Sri Lanka

By Saman Gunadasa, 28 July 2009

Last Friday the IMF finally approved a $2.6 billon loan to Sri Lanka. Contrary to IMF and Colombo government claims, the funds will not bring economic recovery.

Britain: Labour’s electoral meltdown continues

By Julie Hyland, 28 July 2009

The Norwich North by-election July 24 continued the electoral collapse of the Labour Party.

Greece: “Leftist” SYRIZA alliance defends police months after suppression of mass demonstrations

By Markus Salzmann, 28 July 2009

A news agency in Athens recently reported that Alekos Alavanos, chairman of the parliamentary fraction of the SYRIZA alliance, has expressed his full support for the Greek police.

Solomon Islands parliament rams through renewal of Australian-dominated RAMSI occupation

By Patrick O’Connor, 28 July 2009

Australian officials in Honiara no doubt exerted behind the scenes pressure to ensure the Act was approved for another 12 months, thereby ensuring that RAMSI forces continue to enjoy carte blanche powers, including immunity from Solomon Islands law.

New in French

Les six premiers mois de l’administration Obama

Par Joe Kishore, 28 juillet 2009

Voilà maintenant six mois, Barack Obama était assermenté président des Etats-Unis. Le moment est opportun pour tracer un bilan de cette expérience.

Le bilan s’alourdit dans les camps d’internement au Sri Lanka

Par Sarath Kumara, 28 juillet 2009

La situation dans les centres de détention de masse se détériorent et des rapports font état d'environ 1400 personnes qui meurent chaque semaine de maladie.

New in German

6,5 Millionen arbeiten im Niedriglohnbereich

Von Elisabeth Zimmermann, 28. Juli 2009

Eine Studie des Instituts Arbeit und Qualifikation (IAQ) der Universität Duisburg-Essen belegt einen starken Anstieg des Niedriglohn-Bereichs in Deutschland. Die politischen Voraussetzungen dafür hat die rot-grüne Regierung von Gerhard Schröder und Joschka Fischer mit ihren Hartz IV-Gesetzen und der Agenda 2010 geschaffen.

"Schläge im Namen des Herrn"

Von Werner Albrecht, 28. Juli 2009

Das Buch Schläge im Namen des Herrn zeigt ein dunkles Kapitel der deutschen Nachkriegsgeschichte. Der Journalist Peter Wensierski beschäftigt sich darin mit der so lange verdrängten Geschichte der Heimkinder in der Bundesrepublik.

Die SEP Sri Lankas hält in Jaffna erfolgreich eine öffentliche Versammlung ab

Von unseren Korrespondenten, 28. Juli 2009

Am 18. Juli hat die SEP Sri Lankas in Jaffna erfolgreich eine öffentliche Versammlung abgehalten - zum ersten Mal seit über zwanzig Jahren.

Die Weltwirtschaftskrise, das Scheitern des Kapitalismus und das Eintreten für den Sozialismus

28. Juli 2009

Die folgende Resolution wurde von drei Konferenzen der World Socialist Web Site, der Socialist Equality Party und den International Students for Social Equality diskutiert und einstimmig verabschiedet.

Perspective

Obama’s health care counterrevolution

28 July 2009

In a full-page editorial published Sunday, entitled “Health Care Reform and You,” the New York Times seeks to present Obama’s proposals to slash costs and ration health care as a boon to the American people.

Earlier Perspectives »

Polemics

The significance of the British Socialist Workers Party’s call for a new “left alternative”
Part one

By Tony Robson and Chris Marsden, 28 July 2009

This is the first of a two-part series on an open letter issued by the Socialist Workers Party in Britain.

Detroit SEP campaign

SEP holds conference in Detroit

By Jack Cody, 28 July 2009

The Socialist Equality Party conference was called to review the first six months of the Obama administration and discuss a new political perspective for the working class.