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

1 August 2009

Factional struggles deepen within Iranian ruling elites

By Peter Symonds, 1 August 2009

Nearly two months after Iran’s presidential elections, the factional rivalry within the Islamic Republic’s ruling elites that erupted over the disputed results has become more bitter and entrenched.

Honduran coup regime launches brutal crackdown

By Bill Van Auken, 1 August 2009

The Honduran coup regime launched a brutal crackdown against demonstrations in Tegucigalpa Thursday, as deposed President Manuel Zelaya met with US officials in neighboring Nicaragua.

Obama’s diplomatic offensive in the Middle East

By Jean Shaoul, 1 August 2009

President Obama’s diplomatic offensive in the Middle East, portrayed as a peace mission, is aimed at restoring Washington’s position and influence in pursuit of its geo-strategic interests.

States cut social programs as deficits deepen

By Hiram Lee, 1 August 2009

US states are utilizing deep and continuing budget deficits to carry out savage cuts to social programs.

Michigan House Democratic leader proposes assault on public employee health care
Seeks to slash $900 million

By Shannon Jones, 1 August 2009

The Democratic leader of the Michigan House of Representatives is proposing a plan to reorganize public employee health care that would slash benefits and increase out of pocket costs.

Great power rivalries and the Nabucco pipeline project

By Niall Green, 1 August 2009

The Nabucco natural gas pipeline will traverse Turkey to supply Western Europe, bypassing Russia.

Who is Klaus Franz?
The evolution of the Opel union leader

By Marianne Arens, 1 August 2009

Leading German trade unionist Klaus Franz is a typical representative of a social layer that struck radical poses in the 1970s and subsequently moved sharply to the right.

Australia: Business lending dries up

By Alex Messenger, 1 August 2009

Despite media claims of imminent economic recovery, business lending plunged in Australia during the first half of 2009.

New in French

Canada : Une stratégie socialiste doit armer la résistance ouvrière

Déclaration du Parti de l’égalité socialiste (Canada), 1 août 2009

Les grèves de Toronto et Windsor font partie d’une résistance croissante de la classe ouvrière à la poussée de la grande entreprise qui vise à faire payer la classe ouvrière pour la crise du système de profit. Mais pour que cette résistance ne soit pas isolée et détournée par les syndicats et le NPD, les ouvriers doivent tirer d’importantes conclusions des revers amers qu’ils ont subits durant ces trois dernières décennies.

Une étude révèle une croissance sensible du secteur des bas salaires en Allemagne

Par Elisabeth Zimmermann, 1 août 2009

Une étude de l’Institut Travail et Qualification (IAQ) montre qu’il y a eu une expansion considérable du secteur des bas salaires en Allemagne qui totalise à présent 6,5 millions de travailleurs.

New in German

Weltgrößte Banken nutzen die Krise zur Steigerung ihrer Profite

Von Stefan Steinberg, 1. August 2009

Zu Beginn dieser Woche gab die Deutsche Bank eine enorme Profitsteigerung bekannt. Die Bank verzeichnete im zweiten Quartal einen Nettoprofit von 1,1 Milliarden Euro. Das ist fast das Doppelte des Gewinns vom gleichen Zeitraum des vergangenen Jahres (€645 Mio.).

Großbritanniens Elite und der Afghanistankrieg

Von Chris Marsden, 1. August 2009

Jüngste Umfragen zeigen, wie verhasst der Afghanistankrieg bei der britischen Bevölkerung ist. Aber diese Opposition findet in der Politik oder in den Medien fast keinen Ausdruck.

Perspective

Billions in bonuses for bailed-out bankers

1 August 2009

Nine Wall Street banks that were among the biggest recipients of the US government bailout paid nearly $33 billion in bonuses last year, including awards of $1 million or more to nearly 5,000 people.

Earlier Perspectives »

Socialist Equality Party

Vote for D’Artagnan Collier, SEP Candidate for Detroit Mayor

1 August 2009

SEP Detroit Mayoral Candidate Dartagnan Collier explains why he is asking city residents to vote for him, and workers around the world to support the Socialist Equality Party.

Interview with SEP Detroit mayoral candidate D’Artagnan Collier
How I became a socialist

By Nancy Hanover, 31 July 2009

D’Artagnan Collier, the Socialist Equality Party’s candidate for mayor of Detroit, has deep roots in the city’s working class population. In the following interview, he discusses the experiences that shaped his political views.

SEP public meeting in California
For a socialist solution to the economic crisis

29 July 2009

A public meeting on Saturday, August 1 in South Pasadena will feature SEP National Secretary Joe Kishore and John Burton, SEP candidate for California governor in 2003 and for US Congress in 2006.

Sri Lanka
ISSE-SEP meeting in Colombo on Karl Marx and Charles Darwin

1 August 2009

The ISSE and the SEP in Sri Lanka are holding a public meeting on the contributions of two great revolutionary thinkers of the 19th century—Karl Marx and Charles Darwin.

Arts Review

Is Chéri genuinely ‘subversive’?

By Joanne Laurier, 1 August 2009

In Stephen Frears’ new movie, Chéri, based on a novel by Colette, a voiceover asserts that in Paris, during the Belle Époque (the 1870s to World War I), successful courtesans were the most powerful women in society.

Polemics

Australian PM’s latest essay
“The pain of recovery”: Rudd’s declaration of war on the working class

Comment by Nick Beams, 31 July 2009

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s latest essay “Pain on the road to recovery”, published in the Sydney Morning Herald on July 25, could be more accurately titled “A declaration of war against the working class”.