En Passant

Thank heaven for The Australian.

Ashley Smith and Alan Maass in Socialist Worker US provide the facts you need to know about the U.S. war on ISIS – and why it will make the world more chaotic and violent than ever.

A snippet from Juan Cole in Znet on why Obama is really bombing Iraq. The US is intervening for political as well as military reasons. Washington says that more such military aid may be forthcoming if Iraq will form a government of national unity. So basically, Obama is putting pressure on President Fuad Massoum to […]

If Abbott and Bishop really want Peter Greste freed, then it is time to play dirty. Threaten Pine Gap and the US base in Darwin if Obama doesn’t get the Egyptians to release Peter Greste and his colleagues. The task for the Egyptian people, again, is to overthrow the tyranny and this time defeat reaction. Only a working class socialist revolution can do that.

Lance Selfa, author of The Democrats: A Critical History, unravels in Socialist Worker US the myths circulating about the 1 January “fiscal cliff” and explains what’s really at stake – far-reaching and harmful attacks on the social safety net.
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The disarray of the Republican Tea Party right will give confidence to all those that want to fight back. Our hope must be that in doing so, workers discover the power to unite and go well beyond the Democratic Party that has taken their votes for granted and delivered so little.

America’s growing working poor will be courted for their votes on 6 November, but there is very little on offer for them in this election writes Alex Callinicos in Socialist Worker UK.

Me in today’s The Conversation on Obama or Romney: the choice of the 1%. http://theconversation.edu.au/obama-or-romney-the-choice-of-the-1-9498?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+18+September+2012&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+18+September+2012+CID_2eaf9c0accf385c1810e80dba70944a8&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Obama+or+Romney+The+choice+of+the+1

Obama isn’t being a “leader” on the issue of marriage equality, as some supporters claim, but a latecomer. His position only “evolved” to an open statement of sympathy after opinion polls showed it was a politically safe position among a large majority of the population outside of conservative Republicans.

That sea change in public sentiment was driven not by politicians, but because masses of LGBT people and their supporters spoke up and took action. Their position on what ought to be considered an elementary right hasn’t “evolved,” and they have good reason to be frustrated when supporters of the Democrats claim that Obama is making a “courageous” statement.

Obama is speaking to the politicians of Australia’s one percent on Thursday. That day there is a demonstration against him at Federation Park outside Parliament House in Canberra at lunchtime. Be there to show your support for the Wall Street Occupiers and the protesters around the globe. And for the other members of the Occupy movement across Australia – support the 99% in struggle. Support the QANTAS workers, the Baiada picketers, the maritime workers, the public servants, the nurses, all those fighting for better wages and conditions. That is our future. That is our hope.