7 January 2012

Obama unveils war strategy focused on China

By Bill Van Auken, 7 January 2012

The Pentagon strategic guidance document unveiled by Obama Thursday keeps spending on the US war machine largely intact, while shifting its focus decisively toward China.

Obama hails tepid job growth in December

By Barry Grey, 7 January 2012

The Obama administration on Friday hailed the Labor Department’s employment report for December as proof that the US economy is “healing.”

Bombings in Iraq intensify sectarian tensions

By Peter Symonds, 7 January 2012

At least 72 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in sectarian bombings in Iraq on Thursday.

Unelected prime minister demands more sacrifices from Greek workers

By Stefan Steinberg, 7 January 2012

Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos met with trade union leaders on Wednesday to win their support for a new round of austerity.

Stephen Lawrence murder convictions used to exonerate UK police

By Julie Hyland, 7 January 2012

Gary Dobson and David Norris were sentenced this week for the 1993 racist killing of 18-year-old Stephen Lawrence.

Protests against new Hungarian constitution

By Markus Salzmann, 7 January 2012

The new constitution undermines basic democratic rights, curtailing the rights of opposition parties and the judiciary, and lays the seeds of armed conflict with neighbouring countries.

Bitter dispute among Indian elites ignores vital dam safety issues

By Arun Kumar and Kranti Kumara, 7 January 2012

A long-running dispute over a century-old dam has led to increased national-ethnic frictions in southern India.

Several thousand layoffs imminent at German press manufacturer Manroland

By Ulrich Rippert, 7 January 2012

Representatives of Germany’s largest trade union, IG Metall, are offering their services to the liquidator intent on breaking up bankrupt printing press manufacturer Manroland.

Australian government under mounting pressure to deliver workplace “reform”

By Terry Cook and Mike Head, 7 January 2012

Prime Minister Julia Gillard faces intensifying corporate demands for significant changes to industrial relations.

New in Romanian

Iniţierea unui stat poliţienesc american

De Bill Van Auken, 7 ianuarie 2012

Prin semnarea la 31 decembrie a Legii pentru Autorizarea Apărării Naţionale (NDAA), care permite reținerea persoanelor de către armată pe perioadă nedeterminată şi fără acuzare sau proces, Barack Obama şi-a adus o contribuţie infamă la avansarea Statele Unite spre o dictatură de stat poliţienească.

New in Chinese

新年伊始

作者: 大卫 • 诺斯和约瑟夫 • 基肖尔,2012年1月7日

新年伊始,人们的普遍感觉是2012年将会标志着动荡的政治和社会斗争。

New in French

France: Le Nouveau Parti anticapitaliste soutient une intervention impérialiste en Syrie

Par Kumaran Ira, 7 janvier 2012

Le NPA reprend le rôle criminel qu'il avait joué l'an dernier en promouvant la guerre de l'OTAN en Libye, en cherchant aujourd'hui à légitimer une intervention militaire en Syrie.

New in German

Die Unterzeichnung des National Defense Authorization Act:
Der Ausbau des Polizeistaats in den USA

Von Bill Van Auken, 7. Januar 2012

Der Demokrat Barack Obama hat ein Gesetz unterzeichnet, mit dem weltweit Menschen in Militärgewahrsam genommen werden dürfen - ohne Prozess und auf unbegrenzte Zeit.

Iran-Konflikt:
EU-Ölembargo erhöht Spannungen im Persischen Golf

Von Peter Symonds, 7. Januar 2012

Durch ihre Nadelstichtaktik erhöhen die Westmächte das Risiko eines weiteren Krieges im Nahen Osten – mit unabsehbaren Folgen.

Frankreichs Neue Antikapitalistische Partei begrüßt imperialistisches Eingreifen in Syrien

Von Kumaran Ira, 7. Januar 2012

Wie im Libyenkrieg zeigt die NPA auch im Syrienkonflikt ihr wahres Gesicht - als treuer und zuverlässiger Bündnispartner des Weltimperialismus.

Proteste gegen neue ungarische Verfassung

Von Markus Salzmann, 7. Januar 2012

Die neue ungarische Verfassung höhlt demokratische Grundrechte aus, beschneidet die Rechte von Opposition und Justiz und legt den Keim für kriegerische Konflikte mit den Nachbarländern.

Nigeria:
Proteste gegen Benzinpreiserhöhung führen zum Generalstreik

Von Niles Williamson, 7. Januar 2012

Um ihren Schuldenhaushalt zu sanieren, hat die Regierung Jonathan die Subventionen für Kraftstoffe gestrichen – in trauter Einigkeit mit dem IWF und der Weltbank.

New in Arabic

علامات تجدد الحراك الشعبي و نقطة التحول في الثورة المصرية

بقلم بيل فان أوكن 22 نوفمبر/تشرين الثاني

تدفق مئات الآلاف من العمال والشباب على ميدان التحرير بالقاهرة وعلى شوارع المدن والبلدات من الإسكندرية إلى السويس،ومن صعيد مصر إلى محافظات الدلتا،كي يحتجوا على القمع الوحشي الذي مارسه الجيش و قوات الأمن ضد المتظاهرين في الأيام الثلاثة الماضية ولكي يطالبوا بإنهاء حكم المجلس العسكري المدعوم من الولايات المتحدة.

Other Languages

Perspective

US, Canadian workers locked out for opposing wage cuts

7 January 2012

The new year begins with major industrial lockouts in Ontario, Quebec and Ohio.

Earlier Perspectives »

Arts Review

The Artist: An amiable gimmick

By Joanne Laurier, 7 January 2012

The near-silent, black-and-white film recounts the demise of a fictitious silent screen icon.

David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

By Hiram Lee, 6 January 2012

Interview

David N. Gibbs, historian and author, discusses threat of US war against Iran

By Barry Grey, 7 January 2012

The World Socialist Web Site interviewed David N. Gibbs, professor of history at the University of Arizona and author of a 2009 book on the Kosovo War, about US war threats against Iran.

Commentary

The Egyptian Revolution, the Muslim Brotherhood and the apologetics of the Revolutionary Socialists
Part 3

By Jean Shaoul, 7 January 2012

This is the conclusion of a three-part article on the political apologetics extended by the Revolutionary Socialists for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

The scaffolding of an American police state

By Bill Van Auken, 6 January 2012

The return of mass poverty to Europe

By Peter Schwarz, 5 January 2012

Workers Struggles

LondonLondon, Ontario locomotive workers in showdown with Caterpillar

By Andre Damon, 6 January 2012

Findlay"We need a revolution in this country"
Six weeks into battle, Cooper Tire workers remain determined

By Jerry White, 6 January 2012

More on the lockout of Cooper Tire workers »

Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia & the Pacific

7 January 2012

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

Auto Workers Struggles

Union imposes real wage cut on Australian Toyota workers

By Peter Byrne and Patrick O’Connor, 6 January 2012

More on auto workers struggles »

Crisis in Detroit

Panel recommends state takeover of Highland Park, Michigan schools

By Shannon Jones, 6 January 2012

Rally against emergency manager law: A conspiracy against Detroit workers

By Lawrence Porter, 5 January 2012

Who’s who on Detroit’s financial review panel

By Shannon Jones, 3 January 2012

Visit the CAUS web site »

Science

Research on deadly flu virus prompts US government censorship

By Nicholas Russo, 6 January 2012

25 years ago: Student protests throw Chinese Stalinist regime into crisis

On December 31, 1986, the official New China News Agency charged that the growing student protests centered in Shanghai were inspired by secret agents from the anti-communist Kuomingtang government of Taiwan.


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50 years ago: Dutch agree to negotiate with Indonesia over New Guinea

On January 2, 1962, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Eduard de Quay told parliament the Netherlands was prepared to negotiate with Indonesia over the fate of Dutch New Guinea.

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75 years ago: US sit-down strikes spread

At a meeting called by the United Auto Workers (UAW) in Flint, Michigan on January 2, 1937, local union representatives established a Board of Strategy.

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100 years ago: Forerunner of the African National Congress founded

On January 8, 1912, the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), the forerunner of the African National Congress (ANC), was founded at a meeting in Bloemfontein.

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