8 October 2016

Kerry charges “war crimes” as US escalates tensions with Russia

By Bill Van Auken, 8 October 2016

The US secretary of state charged Moscow with “war crimes” as US-backed, Al Qaeda-affiliated “rebels” appeared close to defeat in Aleppo.

Pentagon paid British PR firm $500 million to create fake al-Qaeda recruiting videos

By Jean Shaoul, 8 October 2016

Threat of US-Russia clash grows after Washington cuts off Syria talks

The “major and deadly” wars to come

More on the war in Iraq and Syria »

Australian Labor Party restates call for military challenge to China

By James Cogan, 8 October 2016

Labor’s statements indicate frustration within the US and Australian establishments over the Turnbull government’s refusal to order an operation in the South China Sea.

Escalating war games in the South China Sea

More on the South China Sea crisis »

British pound plummets over “hard Brexit” fears

By Nick Beams, 8 October 2016

The currency’s sudden fall on Friday was a warning that capital inflows needed to finance the British current account deficit could dry up.

As geo-political and economic tensions mount
IMF warns of record high global debt

Deutsche Bank and the global financial crisis

As autoworkers mobilize against concession demands
Unifor President Dias attempts to “whipsaw” Canadian auto plants

By Carl Bronski, 8 October 2016

Militant opposition to the miserable GM pattern settlement is growing at Fiat Chrysler and Ford Canada auto plants.

Political lessons from the Canadian auto “bailout”

More on autoworkers issues »

Boone County, West Virginia students lack textbooks

By Clement Daly, 8 October 2016

Following the imposition of deep budget cuts to public education, many students lack basic science textbooks.

West Virginia: Seven Fayette County schools to be shuttered

Germany: Kaiser’s Tengelmann supermarket chain threatened with closure

By Dietmar Henning, 8 October 2016

Following another secret meeting, the takeover of the supermarket chain by Edeka was again postponed.

Pakistani elite rattled by “strategic isolation” following Indian attack

By Keith Jones, 8 October 2016

To the shock of Pakistan’s elite, its appeals for international condemnation of India’s military strikes have fallen on deaf ears.

Fifteen years of the war in Afghanistan

India’s military calls for more strikes on Pakistan

Australian union imposes 10 percent pay cut on steelworkers

By Oscar Grenfell, 8 October 2016

The Australian Workers Union is playing the central role in the destruction of the jobs, wages and conditions of steelworkers.

Australian politicians hold sham hearings on banks’ “unethical behaviour”

By Mike Head, 8 October 2016

Thousands of working class people, retirees, small business owners and family farmers have been ruined by the banks.

New in Spanish

Los impuestos de Trump: Corrupción y desigualdad capitalistas

Por Patrick Martin, 8 octubre 2016

La forma en que Trump logró evadir impuestos muestra la verdadera naturaleza del sistema de libre empresa dedicado a la explotación sistemática de la clase obrera.

New in Russian

Индия наносит военный удар по Пакистану

Кейт Джонс, 8 октября 2016 г.

По сообщениям СМИ, индийские военные убили «двузначное число» людей, поставив Южную Азию на опасную грань полномасштабной войны с потенциально катастрофическими последствиями.

New in French

Quinze ans de guerre en Afghanistan

Par James Cogan, 8 octobre 2016

Les États-Unis sont les instigateurs principaux de la tragédie afghane depuis maintenant 38 ans, avec un bilan de morts et blessés de bien plus d’un million de personnes.

Alors que les tensions géopolitiques et économiques montent
Le FMI met en garde contre une dette mondiale record

Par Nick Beams, 8 octobre 2016

Le Fonds monétaire international a déclaré que des taux d’intérêt bas et négatifs atteignent les limites de leur efficacité et porteraient atteinte à la solvabilité des fonds de pension et d’assurance.

Clinton réclame un service national

Par Nancy Hanover, 8 octobre 2016

Ce projet marque un pas dangereux vers de nouvelles guerres à l'étranger et une société américaine encore plus militarisée.

New in German

Fünfzehn Jahre Krieg in Afghanistan

Von James Cogan, 8. Oktober 2016

Die Tragödie in Afghanistan dauert nun schon 38 Jahre. Sie hat weit über eine Million Tote und Verwundete gefordert. Die entscheidende Verantwortung dafür tragen die Vereinigten Staaten.

Bundesregierung fordert schärferes Vorgehen gegen Russland und Syrien

Von Johannes Stern, 8. Oktober 2016

Während die syrische Armee mit Unterstützung Russland im Osten Aleppos vorrückt und sich der Konflikt zwischen den USA und Russland dramatisch zuspitzt, verschärft auch die Bundesregierung ihren Ton gegenüber Moskau.

Bundesgerichtshof lehnt Entschädigung für Kundus-Opfer ab

Von Verena Nees, 8. Oktober 2016

Das Kundus-Urteil vom 6. Oktober hat politisch weitreichende Bedeutung. Es stärkt die Position des Militärs in der Politik und senkt die Hemmschwelle für künftige Verbrechen in Kampfeinsätzen.

Inmitten geopolitischer und wirtschaftlicher Spannungen:
IWF warnt vor globaler Rekordverschuldung

Von Nick Beams, 8. Oktober 2016

Niedrige und negative Zinssätze stoßen an ihre Grenzen und gefährden die Zahlungsfähigkeit von Renten- und Versicherungsfonds. Davor warnt der Internationale Währungsfonds.

Massenhafte Krankmeldungen zwingen TUI zu Flugstreichungen

Von Markus Salzmann, 8. Oktober 2016

Piloten und Kabinencrews sind nicht nur mit den Luftfahrtkonzernen und der Bundesregierung konfrontiert, sondern auch mit den Gewerkschaften, die ihnen in den Rücken fallen.

Veranstaltung mit David North in Frankfurt
Philosophie und Politik in Zeiten von Krieg und Revolution

International Youth and Students for Social Equality, 8. Oktober 2016

Am 22. Oktober spricht David North in Frankfurt zur Aktualität der Perspektive des Sozialismus.

Other Languages

Perspective

One month to the US presidential election—what lies ahead

8 October 2016

The next president will oversee a deepening global crisis of capitalism, mounting attacks on jobs, living standards and social services at home, and the escalation of military conflicts in the Middle East and against Russia and China.

Earlier Perspectives »

Book Review

Trotsky in New York, 1917: A Radical on the Eve of Revolution, by Kenneth D. Ackerman

By Linda Tenenbaum, 8 October 2016

Trotsky in New York, 1917 focuses on a remarkable period in the life of one of the greatest political figures in modern history.

November 5 Antiwar Conference

Socialism vs. Capitalism and War
The SEP and IYSSE schedule November 5 antiwar conference in Detroit

Register today at socialismvswar.com


SEP 2016 US Election Campaign

The class issues exposed by Hurricane Matthew

By Niles Niemuth—Socialist Equality Party candidate for US vice president, 8 October 2016

Poverty, combined with the lack of adequate infrastructure and planning, has resulted in the deaths of more than 800 in Haiti and at least 4 people in the US, while disrupting the lives of millions.

Socialism and the 2016 elections
Socialist Equality Party campaign launches fall election meetings

Socialist Equality Party (US) 2016 Congress Resolutions
Perspectives and Tasks of the Socialist Equality Party

Science

Nobel Prize in physics awarded for discoveries about condensed states of matter

By Bryan Dyne, 8 October 2016

The combination of the mathematics of topology and condensed matter physics is expected to lead directly to new types of materials and electronics.

Arts Review

Werner Herzog’s Lo and Behold: Reveries of The Connected World
Exploring the origins and impact of the Internet

By Kevin Reed, 8 October 2016

The movie examines the origins and implications of the Internet and related technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things and space travel.

Toronto International Film Festival 2016—Part 5
Lady Macbeth, John Coltrane, Mali Blues and more: What makes a film festival interesting?

By Joanne Laurier, 7 October 2016

Toronto International Film Festival 2016
Ma’ Rosa from the Philippines: Small-time drug dealers set upon by the police

By Dylan Lubao, 5 October 2016

Workers Struggles

Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific

8 October 2016

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

“This is everyone’s fight”
After rejection of contract at Allina, Minnesota nurses call for expanded struggle

By Anthony Bertolt, 7 October 2016

Commentary

Germany: Common ground between Left Party leader Wagenknecht and the far-right AfD

By Johannes Stern, 7 October 2016

Bernie Sanders stumps for Clinton in Michigan

By Shannon Jones, 7 October 2016

Sanders’ campaign for Clinton: A “political revolution” in defense of the status quo

Clinton calls for National Service

By Nancy Hanover, 7 October 2016

More on the US elections »

US Fortune 500 firms use tax havens to avoid $717.8 billion in taxes

By Barry Grey, 7 October 2016

Trump’s taxes: Capitalist corruption and class privilege

Socialist Equality Party

Sri Lankan plantation workers’ struggle: Build action committees, fight for socialist policies

By the Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka), 7 October 2016

The protests spreading throughout the plantation areas sharply pose the need for workers to establish new forms of organisation and a new socialist leadership.

Online Interview with David North

Large audience for interview with David North, author of A Quarter Century of War: The US Drive for Global Hegemony, 1990-2016

By our reporter, 29 September 2016

25 years ago: Yugoslav civil war deaths reach 2,500

On October 7, 1991, the Croatian capital of Zagreb sustained surface-to-surface missile attacks and the presidential palace was rocketed by warplanes, nearly killing the republic’s president and other leaders.

More »

50 year ago: Hoffa fraud and conspiracy conviction upheld

On October 4, 1966, the conviction on fraud and conspiracy charges of Teamster President James R. “Jimmy” Hoffa was upheld by the US Court of Appeals in a 2-to-1 decision.

More »

75 years ago: Nazi armies advance upon Moscow

On October 3, 1941, Hitler made his first address to the German public since the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, known as Operation Barbarossa.

More »

 

100 years ago: New Japanese cabinet formed amid international tensions

On October 4, 1916, the Emperor of Japan, Taishō, requested that Lieutenant General Count Seiki Terauchi form a new cabinet to replace the government that had been headed by Marquis Okuma.

More »

Obituary

Shimon Peres (1923-2016)

By Patrick Martin, 1 October 2016

The state funeral for Shimon Peres, former Israeli president and prime minister, brought leaders from around the world to pay tribute, not so much to the individual as to the rapacious, land-grabbing, militaristic state he did so much to construct.

25 years since the death of Bill Brust

A remembrance of veteran Trotskyist Bill Brust, twenty-five years after his death

By Fred Mazelis, 15 September 2016

Today marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of veteran Trotskyist Bill Brust, whose political struggle as a revolutionary socialist spanned 53 years.

The Life and Times of Bill Brust

By David North, 15 September 2016

This speech, originally delivered by David North at a memorial meeting in Minneapolis in 1991, reviews the life and political legacy of Bill Brust.