8 September 2018

Obama speech escalates factional warfare against Trump

By Barry Grey, 8 September 2018

The central focus of Obama’s speech was an appeal to disaffected Republicans and conservatives to vote for the Democratic Party in the fall.

New York Times op-ed by anonymous Trump official gives implicit support for palace coup

Palace coup or class struggle: The political crisis in Washington and the strategy of the working class

Mass social unrest leaves Iraq’s oil capital in flames

By Bill Van Auken, 8 September 2018

After 15 years of devastation wrought by the US war against Iraq, anger over social conditions has led to an eruption of mass struggles.

UAW silent after Fiat Chrysler worker injured at Kokomo casting plant

By Shannon Jones, 8 September 2018

The injury of a worker this week at the Fiat Chrysler Kokomo Casting Plant underscores the seriousness of workers’ concerns over health and safety conditions.

In wake of credit downgrade huge job cuts looming at Ford

Thousands of rank-and-file US Steel workers cast unanimous votes to strike

By Jessica Goldstein, 8 September 2018

Workers at US Steel mills in Indiana, Pennsylvania and other states voted unanimously to strike in order to oppose the steelmaker’s demands for historic givebacks.

A warning to the working class
Facebook’s partnership with the Atlantic Council

By Kevin Reed, 8 September 2018

The campaign against “fake news,” “election meddling” and “disinformation” is emerging as the integration of the social media monopolies with the US military-intelligence apparatus.

Fifteen prisoners die in a month in Mississippi

By Aaron Muse, 8 September 2018

The sharp spike in prisoner deaths in Mississippi underscores the brutality and inhumanity of the prison system, which now holds over two million poor and working class people throughout the US.

Mistrial in case of formerly convicted Blackwater mercenary

By Jacob Crosse, 8 September 2018

Key testimony of the Nisour Square Massacre was called into question due to a brain injury sustained by an eyewitness.

Britain: No-confidence motions passed against leading Blairite MPs

By Paul Mitchell, 8 September 2018

The Blairites have no compunction about defying Labour members and will only go if they are forced out.

British media blacks out self-immolation of woman at Barnet council office

By Tom Pearce, 8 September 2018

The Conservative-run Barnet council has long been known for its cost-cutting and privatisation of services.

Far-right Sweden Democrats poised to make gains in general election

By Jordan Shilton, 8 September 2018

Chief responsibility for the rise of the right-wing extremists lies with the Social Democrats, who have gutted public spending and whipped up anti-immigrant chauvinism.

India expands anti-China “strategic partnership” with Washington

By Keith Jones, 8 September 2018

New Delhi signed onto a “foundational” military cooperation agreement aimed at transforming India into a front-line state in the US offensive against China.

Sri Lankan unions in closed-door discussions with plantation bosses

By W.A. Sunil, 8 September 2018

All the plantation unions are collaborating with the employers to impose the burden of the tea industry crisis on workers.

Australian construction worker dies after being struck by tub of concrete

By Oscar Grenfell, 8 September 2018

The incident, like other industrial deaths, points to the role of the unions in enforcing the dangerous conditions that prevail in the construction sector.

Following strike wave, New Zealand prime minister appeases the corporate elite

By John Braddock, 8 September 2018

Ardern’s move to reassure business is in response to the leftward shift in the working class.

New in French

La capitalisation boursière d’Amazon dépasse mille milliards de dollars

E.P. Milligan, 8 septembre 2018

L’essor des profits d’Amazon, comme ceux d’Apple, est le résultat direct de l’exploitation brutale de sa main d’œuvre.

Le New York Times passe sous silence la censure menée par Google

Andre Damon, 8 septembre 2018

L’article du Times sur les allégations selon lesquelles Google censure Internet est un blanchiment, faisant écho aux dénégations intéressées de la société sans un examen sérieux des faits.

Pompeo se rend au Pakistan pour réclamer une « remise à zéro » en faveur de la guerre en Afghanistan

V. Gnana et Athiyan Silva, 8 septembre 2018

Le secrétaire d’État américain, M. Pompeo, et le président des chefs d’état-major, le général Dunford, ont effectué mercredi une visite de quatre heures au Pakistan.

La dirigeante du Parti de gauche allemand lance un mouvement nationaliste de droite

Ulrich Rippert, 8 septembre 2018

Mardi, la dirigeante du Parti de gauche Sahra Wagenknecht a présenté son mouvement « Debout » à Berlin.

Avec une cote de crédit en baisse, d'énormes réductions d'emplois sont imminentes chez Ford

Shannon Jones, 8 septembre 2018

L’annonce de l'agence de notation de crédit ciblant Ford représente une mesure disciplinaire de la part de Wall Street, qui exige une nouvelle attaque contre les travailleurs.

New in Turkish

Dördüncü Enternasyonal'in kuruluşunun 80. yıldönümü üzerine

David North, 7 Eylül 2018

Dördüncü Enternasyonal'in Troçki'nin önderliğinde kurulması, son derece büyük tarihsel öneme ve güncel geçerliliğe sahip bir olaydır.

New in Russian

Путин поддерживает ненавистную массам пенсионную реформу

Клара Вайс, 7 сентября 2018 г.

Пенсионная реформа — с предлагаемыми изменениями Путина или без них — представляет собой агрессивный удар со стороны олигархии в ее войне против российских рабочих.

New in Spanish

El New York Times encubre la censura de Google

Por Andre Damon, 8 septiembre 2018

El reporte del Times sobre acusaciones de que Google está censurando el internet es un encubrimiento, reproduciendo las negaciones deshonestas de la empresa sin examinar seriamente los hechos.

Cincuenta años desde la invasión de Checoslovaquia por el Pacto de Varsovia: primera parte
La creación de un Estado obrero deformado en Checoslovaquia

Clara Weiss, 8 septiembre 2018

El 20 y 21 de agosto de 1968, decenas de miles de tropas de los Estados miembros del Pacto de Varsovia invadieron Checoslovaquia para aplastar la “Primavera de Praga” y ahorcar un naciente movimiento obrero. Esta es la primera de cuatro partes.

La capitalización del mercado de Amazon supera $1 billón

Por E. P. Milligan, 8 septiembre 2018

Las ganancias desorbitadas de Amazon, como las de Apple, son el resultado directo de la explotación brutal de su fuerza laboral.

La administración Trump abandonará el acuerdo judicial que prohíbe la detención indefinida de niños inmigrantes

Por Meenakshi Jagadeesan, 8 septiembre 2018

La decisión es una gran escalada en el ataque de la administración contra los inmigrantes.

A raíz de la rebaja del crédito, se avecinan enormes recortes de empleos en Ford

Por Shannon Jones, 8 septiembre 2018

La rebaja del crédito de Ford a casi un estatus basura es una advertencia por parte de Wall Street para presionar a la patronal para que intensifique sus ataques a los trabajadores.

New in Italian

La crisi della lira turca rinnova i timori di un collasso del sistema bancario italiano

Allison Smith, 7 settembre 2018

Le maggiori banche italiane sono fortemente esposte all'economia turca attraverso prestiti per quasi 20 miliardi di euro, molti dei quali stanno andando in default.

New in Norwegian

Facebook sverger i Senat-høring å erstatte «dårlige ytringer» med «alternative fakta»

Andre Damon i Washinton, 6. september 2018

Onsdagens høring for Senatets Etterretningskomité gjorde én ting klart: Det er ikke ei stripe dagslys mellom Facebook og spionasjebyråene i pådrivet for å sensurere internett.

Anonym Trump-representant publiserer kronikk i New York Times med implisitt støtte for palasskupp

Eric London, 6. september 2018

Representanten skrev: «Vi gjør det vi kan for å geleide administrasjonen i riktig retning, inntil det – på den ene eller den andre måten – er over.»

Økende kaos i fremvoksende markeder

Nick Beams, 6. september 2018

Stupet for vekstmarkedsvalutaer er produkt av styrkingen av dollaren og økningen i amerikanske rentenivå, som suger kapital tilbake til amerikanske markeder.

New in German

Seehofer stellt sich hinter den braunen Mob

Peter Schwarz, 7. September 2018

Die Neonazis und ihre Mitläufer wagen es nur deshalb so unverschämt aufzutreten, weil die Regierung und die Sicherheitskräfte voll hinter ihnen stehen.

Facebook will „unangemessene Äußerungen“ durch alternative Fakten ersetzen

Andre Damon in Washington, 7. September 2018

Eine Anhörung im US-Senat hat deutlich gemacht, dass Facebook und die Geheimdienste in der Frage der Internet-Zensur vollkommen übereinstimmen.

Kavanaugh-Anhörung unterstreicht Kontrolle der Wirtschaft über den Obersten Gerichtshof der USA

Patrick Martin, 7. September 2018

Die Senatsanhörung zur Nominierung Brett Kavanaughs als Richter am Obersten Gerichtshof der USA warf ein Schlaglicht auf die Kontrolle, die die Wirtschaftsoligarchie nicht nur über die Justiz, sondern über jeden Regierungszweig ausübt.

Other Languages

Perspective

A record $31.5 trillion hoarded by corporate oligarchs

8 September 2018

The Wealth X report points to the immense revolutionary potential in the present situation. The resources for the transformation of the planet on an egalitarian basis already exist.

Earlier Perspectives »

Featured Commentary

New York Times covers up Google’s censorship

By Andre Damon, 7 September 2018

In Senate hearing, Facebook pledges to replace “bad speech” with “alternative facts”

As social opposition mounts, Silicon Valley and Washington step up internet censorship

History of the Fourth International

On the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Fourth International

By David North, 3 September 2018

The founding of the Fourth International on September 3, 1938, was an event of great historical significance and contemporary relevance.

Historic discovery of Left Opposition manuscripts from the early 1930s

Teachers Struggles

Reject the sellout in Seattle! For a statewide and national teachers strike!

By WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 8 September 2018

The WSWS Teacher Newsletter urges Seattle teachers meeting today to vote “no” and immediately constitute themselves as an independent rank-and-file committee to plan a serious struggle.

Striking Tacoma, Washington, teachers demand better pay, funding for education

Tacoma teachers strike as walkouts spread across Washington

Seattle Education Association orders teachers to work without contract vote

Workers Struggles

What is the Teamsters for a Democratic Union?

By Tom Mackaman, 8 September 2018

Since 1976 the Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU), long a faction in the union bureaucracy, has been trying to replace IBT officials with those it claims will be more accountable to the rank and file.

Teamsters announces October 5 vote deadline
Vote “no” on the UPS-Teamsters sellout contract! Form rank-and-file committees to organize opposition!

By the WSWS UPS Workers Newsletter, 6 September 2018

Break the UPS-Teamsters conspiracy! Mobilize opposition to the sellout contract!

More on the struggle at UPS »

Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific

8 September 2018

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

Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) forum reviews lessons of nursing union sellout

By our reporter, 7 September 2018

Alcoa workers in Canada and Australia confront the same employer offensive

By Laurent Lafrance, 6 September 2018

Commentary

German Interior Minister Seehofer backs the brown mob

By Peter Schwarz, 8 September 2018

The Neo-Nazis and their milieu dare to behave so brazenly only because the government and the security services fully support them.

Saxony’s minister president declares solidarity with far-right protests in Chemnitz

Chemnitz and the call for a stronger state

The fight against fascism in Germany requires a socialist perspective

German government places Socialist Equality Party on subversive watch list

More on the growth of the extreme right in Europe »

The Socialist Equality Party and the anti-Corbyn coup plot: A reply to a reader

By Chris Marsden, 5 September 2018

Reject the anti-Semitism slurs against Jeremy Corbyn! Drive out the Labour Party right wing!

Amazon market capitalization surpasses $1 trillion

By E.P. Milligan, 7 September 2018

UK “identifies” Russian agents in attempted Skripal assassination

By Robert Stevens, 7 September 2018

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announces he will not seek reelection

By Kristina Betinis, 7 September 2018

Report by Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media undermines claims of chemical attack in Douma

US whistleblower Chelsea Manning defies ban to speak in Australia

IYSSE

CIA out of University of Illinois Chicago!

By IYSSE at University of Illinois at Chicago, 8 September 2018

The CIA partnership is an expression of the militarization of life in the US and internationally that must be opposed by students and young people.

Join the International Youth and Students for Social Equality and take up the fight for socialism!

By the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (US), 31 August 2018

Join the IYSSE, the only organization fighting against war, authoritarianism and dictatorship, and for the socialist transformation of society.

SEP 2018 Election Campaign

Socialist Equality Party campaign for Michigan’s 12th congressional district launches website

16 August 2018

Visit our new website to find out how you can get involved in Niles Niemuth’s campaign against war, inequality and dictatorship, and for the socialist transformation of society.

Elissa Slotkin: A CIA Democrat runs for Congress in Michigan

Science

Waste plastics poison the food chain and contribute to global warming

By Philip Guelpa, 7 September 2018

Arts Review

Leave No Trace: An Iraq War veteran looks to leave the world behind

By Kevin Martinez, 6 September 2018

100 years since the birth of American filmmaker Robert Aldrich
Including an interview with film historian Tony Williams

By David Walsh, 31 August 2018

One of the greatest musical figures of the 20th century
The centenary of Leonard Bernstein—Part 2

By Fred Mazelis, 25 August 2018

One of the greatest musical figures of the 20th century
The centenary of Leonard Bernstein—Part 1

International Amazon Workers Voice

“Amazon thinks I’m a piece of trash on the ground and they’ll walk all over me”
Amazon Nightmare: Grandmother injured on the job goes homeless, suffers pneumonia

By Eric London and Zac Corrigan, 3 September 2018

Life under capitalism for an American youth
Injured Texas Wal-Mart worker describes how and why she switched to socialism

By Eric London, 5 September 2018

Amazon unleashes army of Twitter trolls to improve its image

Following IAWV exposure at Texas warehouse
More Amazon workers speak out against atrocious working conditions

More on Amazon »

Public meetings in Australia

Nick Beams to lecture at Australian universities on the contemporary significance of Karl Marx

6 September 2018

The lectures will make clear that Marx’s theoretical breakthroughs were inextricably linked to his political work as a revolutionary determined to arm the emerging working class with a program that advanced its independent interests.

SEP Australia public meeting in Sydney: The key political issues behind the coup against Turnbull

6 September 2018

As international relations and parliamentary forms of rule break down, the ruling elite is terrified of the growing left-wing sentiment among workers and young people.

This week in history: September 3-9

25 years ago: US helicopter gunships murder hundreds in Somalia

On September 9, 1993, two US Cobra helicopter gunships swooped down on a large crowd of Somali civilians protesting at a checkpoint in Mogadishu.

More »

50 years ago: US casualties escalate in Vietnam

The Pentagon announced on September 5, 1968 that US casualties in Vietnam totaled 408 for the last week in August, the highest weekly figure in three months.

More »

75 years ago: Allied forces invade Italy

On September 3, 1943, the Allied powers began a full-scale invasion and occupation of Italy with large detachments of British and Canadian troops.

More »

 

100 years ago: Red Army launches attack on Kazan

On September 7, 1918, the Red Army began shelling Kazan, the most important city held by the counterrevolutionary forces opposed to the Bolshevik regime.

More »

Book Review

Olen Steinhauer’s The Middleman: An American uprising, darkly imagined

By James Brookfield, 5 September 2018

At the outset of The Middleman a group of approximately 400 Americans scattered throughout the country suddenly disappear from their day-to-day lives without telling friends and family.

Seymour Hersh’s Reporter: A life exposing government lies and crimes

By Andre Damon, 3 September 2018

History

Fifty years since the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia: Part one
Establishment of a deformed workers’ state in Czechoslovakia

By Clara Weiss, 28 August 2018

On August 20-21, 1968, tens of thousands of troops of the Warsaw Pact states invaded Czechoslovakia to crush the “Prague Spring” and stifle a nascent movement of the working class. This is the first part of a four-part series.

Part two | Part three | Part four

Obituary

Arsène Tchakarian (1916–2018): The Manouchian Group’s resistance struggle
Part 1: The political origins and military record of the resistance fighters

By Francis Dubois and Alex Lantier, 30 August 2018

Arsène Tchakarian (1916-2018): the Manouchian Group’s resistance struggle
Part 2: Who betrayed the Manouchian Group?

International Committee of the Fourth International

Resolution of the SEP (US) Fifth National Congress
The Resurgence of Class Struggle and the Tasks of the Socialist Equality Party

8 August 2018

This resolution was unanimously adopted by the Socialist Equality Party Congress, held from July 22–27, 2018.

Opening report to the Fifth National Congress of the Socialist Equality Party (US)

By David North, 4 August 2018

Preface to the thirtieth anniversary edition of The Heritage We Defend

By David North, 21 June 2018

We are posting the new preface written by David North for the soon to be released thirtieth anniversary edition of The Heritage We Defend: A Contribution to the History of the Fourth International.

Support the Socialist Equality group in Turkey!
Statement of the SE group, in sympathy with the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), on the snap elections in Turkey

Security and the Fourth International

An “Exemplary Comrade”: The Socialist Workers Party’s 40-year-long cover-up of Stalinist spy Sylvia Callen: Part one

By Eric London, 14 August 2018

This is the first part in a four-part series examining the cover-up by the Socialist Workers Party beginning in 1947 of information exposing the role of Sylvia Callen, the personal secretary of long-time party leader James P. Cannon, as a Stalinist agent.

Part two | Part three | Part four

Seventy-eight years since the assassination of Leon Trotsky

By Eric London and David North, 21 August 2018

On August 21, 1940, Leon Trotsky, the founder of the Fourth International and the co-leader of the Russian Revolution, died from wounds inflicted the day before by an assassin, the Stalinist GPU agent Ramon Mercader.

Autoworkers Issues

Late Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne lied to federal investigators about gift to UAW official

By Marcus Day, 17 August 2018

UAW bribery predated 2009, lawyer for former Fiat Chrysler executive tells court

More on autoworkers issues »

Defend Julian Assange!

London: Ecuador embassy vigil marks six years since Julian Assange granted asylum

By Paul Mitchell, 18 August 2018

Christine Assange, mother of WikiLeaks editor: “I’ve not been able to speak to my son for four months”

By Richard Phillips, 24 July 2018

Mueller investigation seeks to implicate WikiLeaks and Julian Assange in “Russian interference”

Protest in London against Ecuadorian President Moreno’s persecution of Julian Assange

The Turnbull government must act to repatriate Australian citizen Julian Assange to Australia

Bringing Julian Assange Home

More on the campaign to free Julian Assange »

WSWS 20th Anniversary

Twenty years of the World Socialist Web Site: 1998–2018

By David North and Joseph Kishore, 14 February 2018

As the WSWS marks its 20th anniversary of daily posting, it is taking the lead in exposing the conspiracy by governments and corporations to censor the Internet as the ruling class prepares for war and domestic repression.

Lenin, Trotsky and the Marxism of the October Revolution

By David North, 19 March 2018

David North, chairperson of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site and of the Socialist Equality Party (US), delivered this lecture at the University of Leipzig on March 16.