10 February 2012

Pentagon plans US-backed war against Syria

By Chris Marsden, 10 February 2012

The Pentagon has drawn up plans for military intervention in Syria.

Obama administration brokers pro-bank mortgage fraud settlement

By Joseph Kishore, 10 February 2012

The agreement announced Thursday is entirely favorable to the banks, while doing little to help millions of people devastated by the collapse of the US housing market.

Young adults hardest hit by recession, US study shows

By Kate Randall, 10 February 2012

A Pew study finds that young adults in the US are less likely to be employed than at any time since World War II.

Global layoffs hit workers at GM, Nokia and Pepsico

By Jerry White, 10 February 2012

A week after American Airlines announced 13,000 job cuts in the US, a new round of mass layoffs is hitting workers in the auto, food and mobile phone industries around the world.

UK-Argentine tensions rise over Malvinas Islands

By Bill Van Auken, 10 February 2012

On the eve of the 30th anniversary of the war between Britain and Argentina, tensions over the Malvinas Islands are rising once again.

Maldives president ousted in US-backed coup

By W. A. Sunil and Deepal Jayasekera, 10 February 2012

Right-wing forces in the Maldives, aided by the military and police, have ousted President Mohamed Nasheed in a US-backed coup.

France’s New Anti-capitalist Party echoes NATO propaganda against Syria

By Anthony Torres, 10 February 2012

The NPA published in January a series of articles on Syria, lining up directly with the imperialist propaganda campaign against that country.

Australian government instability points to worsening political crisis

By Mike Head, 10 February 2012

The volatile political situation has deep roots, inseparably bound up with the US-backed removal of Rudd as prime minister in 2010.

IMF warning: European “storm” would halve Chinese growth

By John Chan, 10 February 2012

The International Monetary Fund this week predicted that a European recession would trigger a sharp Chinese slowdown.

Appointment of new US ambassador heightens tensions with Russia

By Clara Weiss, 10 February 2012

The appointment of Michael McFaul as new US ambassador to Moscow has fueled fresh tensions between Washington and Moscow.

Toronto municipal union accepts Mayor Ford’s layoff and privatization-promoting contract

By Carl Bronski, 10 February 2012

The Canadian Union of Public Employees has accepted a “framework” contract for outside municipal workers that includes virtually every item on the Toronto mayor’s concessionary agenda—beginning with the gutting of job security.

New in German

Die Plünderung der griechischen Arbeiterklasse

Von Peter Schwarz, 10. Februar 2012

Die Angriffe auf die griechische Bevölkerung haben empörende Ausmaße angenommen. Dennoch werden sie von den sozialdemokratischen Parteien und den Gewerkschaften in Europa uneingeschränkt unterstützt.

Griechische Parteien verhandeln, Banken verlangen starke Lohn- und Sozialkürzungen

Von Alex Lantier, 10. Februar 2012

Gestern trafen sich die Chefs der drei Parteien der griechischen Koalitionsregierung, um die neuen Forderungen der europäischen Finanzinstitute nach starken Lohn- und Sozialkürzungen zu verhandeln .

Keine Fabrikschließung bei Caterpillar! Arbeiter müssen sich gegen Lohnkürzungen zusammenschließen!

Von Keith Jones, 10. Februar 2012

Der weltgrößte Baumaschinenhersteller Caterpillar wird seine Triebwagenfabrik im kanadischen London (Provinz Ontario) schließen. Die Entscheidung ist ein weiteres Beispiel für die Härte, mit der Großkonzerne gegen die arbeitende Bevölkerung vorgehen.

Bankboni im Vereinigten Königreich und die Lüge von „gerecht verteilten Opfern“

Von Julie Hyland, 10. Februar 2012

Hin und wieder geschieht ein Ereignis, welches das sorgsam geknüpfte Netz aus Heuchelei und Scheinheiligkeit in der offiziellen Politik zerreißt und den wahren Zustand der sozialen Verhältnisse freilegt.

Das Debakel der Komen Foundation und das amerikanische Establishment

Von Randall Kate, 10. Februar 2012

Die Susan G. Komen-Foundation kündigte diese Woche an, die Finanzierung von Planned Parenthood einzustellen und löste damit heftige negative Reaktionen aus.

WikiLeaks-Gründer Julian Assange erwartet Gerichtsentscheidung über seine Auslieferung

Von Robert Stevens, 10. Februar 2012

Am Donnerstag beendete der britische Supreme Court eine zweitägige Anhörung in dem Berufungsverfahren von WikiLeaks-Gründer Julian Assange gegen seine Auslieferung nach Schweden.

New in French

La Syrie et les germes d’une guerre mondiale

Par Bill Van Auken, 10 février 2012

Le veto sino-russe à la résolution de l’ONU ouvrant la voie à une intervention en Syrie a provoqué une réaction furieuse des États-Unis et de leurs alliés impérialistes.

Other Languages

Perspective

The looting of the Greek working class

10 February 2012

The “troika” of the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank is demanding no less than the complete ruination of the Greek working class.

Earlier Perspectives »

Socialist Equality Party

Sri Lanka: Military continues intimidation of SEP in Jaffna

By our correspondent, 10 February 2012

After banning an SEP public meeting in Jaffna, the military has intensified its threats against party members.

Sri Lanka: Colombo meeting to defend SEP’s democratic rights

Hands off the SEP! Defend SEP members in Jaffna!

By the Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka), 31 January 2012

The background to the euro crisis—Part 2

By Peter Schwarz, 2 February 2012

SEP (UK) public meetings: For a general strike to bring down the Cameron government!

Twenty years since the dissolution of the USSR
The capitalist crisis and the radicalization of the working class in 2012

By David North, 30 January 2012

Arts Review

Polanski’s Carnage: Not a dispute about fundamentals

By Joanne Laurier, 10 February 2012

In New York City, cordiality turns to anger and chaos when two sets of parents meet to discuss an altercation between their 11-year-old sons.

movieA Dangerous Method: The Freud-Jung controversy, among other matters

By David Walsh, 8 February 2012

Workers Struggles

ISO covers for New York nurses union

By Peter Daniels, 10 February 2012

The “pseudo-left” finds a silver lining in concessions for New York nurses.

Fight Ontario Caterpillar plant closure! Unite North American workers against wage-cutting!

By Keith Jones, 9 February 2012

CAW begins talks on closing Ontario Caterpillar plant

By Keith Jones, 9 February 2012

More on the Caterpillar lockout »

Australian coal loader workers continue industrial action

By Richard Phillips, 9 February 2012

Kucinich pushes anti-Chinese chauvinism in visit to Cooper Tire lockout

By Jerry White, 7 February 2012

More on the lockout of Cooper Tire workers »

Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa

10 February 2012

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

Crisis in Detroit

Detroit schools manager names schools to close this fall

By James Brewer, 10 February 2012

Sixteen Detroit school buildings were listed for closure this fall by the Detroit Public Schools emergency manager.

New boss of Highland Park, Michigan schools
Who is Jack Martin?

By Nancy Hanover, 3 February 2012

Detroit city unions agree to massive concessions

By Patrick Martin, 2 February 2012

Visit the CAUS web site »

Science

Bird flu scientists respond to media hysteria, suspend critical research

By Nicholas Russo, 10 February 2012

The investigators discovered how a mutation of the deadly virus could lead to its airborne transmission between human beings.

Obituary

American actor Ben Gazzara (1930-2012)

By David Walsh, 9 February 2012

History

New evidence points to German police involvement in 1967 murder of student protester

By Franci Vier, 9 February 2012

Robert Service wins support from the extreme right in Germany

By Wolfgang Weber, 7 February 2012

The extreme right-wing weekly newspaper Junge Freiheit has weighed in on the debate over a German edition of Robert Service's biography of Leon Trotsky, defending Service against the criticisms of fourteen historians and political scientists

David North speaks in Berlin: “In Defence of Leon Trotsky and Historical Truth”

By our reporter, 3 February 2012

David North placed his exposure of Robert Service’s slanderous biography of Trotsky in a broader historical and political context.

More on the Post-Soviet School of Historical Falsification »

Commentary

Obama cowers before religious right on contraceptives

By Tom Carter, 9 February 2012

German chancellor Angela Merkel visits China

By Johannes Stern, 9 February 2012

Syria and the seeds of world war

By Bill Van Auken, 8 February 2012

CIA drones target rescue workers, mourners

By Patrick Martin, 7 February 2012

The American “left” and Obama’s State of the Union address

By Janel Flechsig, 7 February 2012

25 years ago: Anti-KKK protests bring thousands to all-white Georgia county

Georgia Democratic Governor Joe Frank Harris met with civil rights leaders in Atlanta on February 11, 1987 seeking to end further protests in all-white Forsyth County.


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50 years ago: Explosion kills 299 German coal miners

On February 7, 1962, an explosion at the Luisenthal coal mine in West Germany killed 299 miners.

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75 years ago: Flint sit-down strikers win 44-day strike

The Flint sit-down strike ended on February 11, 1937 after 44 days, with a victory for the striking workers.

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100 years ago: End of the Manchu dynasty

On February 12, 1912, the Empress Dowager signed an agreement on behalf of the six-year-old emperor, formalizing the end of the Manchu dynasty that had ruled China for 288 years.

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