7 December 2012
Egypt’s US-backed president Mursi deploys army, prepares massive repression
By Johannes Stern, 7 December 2012
Fearing mass protests, the Mursi regime deployed the army around the Presidential Palace in Cairo.
US tightens military noose around Syria
By Bill Van Auken, 7 December 2012
Amid an escalating drumbeat about a supposed threat that Syria is preparing to use chemical weapons, Washington has deployed a naval armada off the country’s coast.
Global retail giants and the Bangladesh factory fire
By Peter Symonds, 7 December 2012
Corporations are desperate to deny responsibility in order to protect their public relations image and profits, and avoid potential legal action.
Spanish bank bailout paves way for new attacks on working class
By Alex Lantier, 7 December 2012
On Monday night euro zone finance ministers approved a bailout requested for Spain’s banking sector.
Michigan woman killed in blaze near closed fire station
By David Brown and Andre Damon, 7 December 2012
A 73-year old Alabama woman visiting relatives in Taylor, Michigan burned to death in a mobile home Thursday morning in a fire rescuers believe could have been ignited by a space heater.
Michigan legislators pass right-to-work bill as police attack protesters
By Shannon Jones, 7 December 2012
The WSWS and SEP condemn the police attack on workers protesting Michigan’s right-to-work legislation.
Behind the growth of D.C. charter schools
By Trent Novak and Nick Barrickman, 7 December 2012
An examination of the personnel behind the charterization of the Washington, D.C. school system reveals private profit as the motive.
UK by-elections reveal hostility to government
By Dave Hyland, 7 December 2012
Six by-elections in England have underscored the hostility of broad layers of working people to the bourgeois political setup.
Survey shows Australian teachers oppose NAPLAN testing
By Oliver Campbell, 7 December 2012
Ranking schools by NAPLAN literacy and numeracy test results is part of the Labor government’s regressive education agenda.
New in German
Obama und al-Qaida
Von Bill Van Auken, 7. Dezember 2012
Die US-Regierung, die Syrien wegen angeblicher Chemiewaffen mit Intervention droht, arbeitet in erschreckender Weise mit al-Qaida-Kräften zusammen.
Kairo
Moslembrüder gehen mit Gewalt gegen
Proteste vor
Von Johannes Stern, 7. Dezember 2012
Die Islamisten versuchen mit stillschweigender Unterstützung durch Washington, Streiks und Proteste niederzuschlagen und eine neue Diktatur in Ägypten aufzubauen.
Perspective
The American establishment and the British royal pregnancy
7 December 2012
The announcement that Kate Middleton, wife of Britain’s Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge, is expecting a baby has produced unseemly squeals of delight from the American media and establishment generally.
Commentary
The SYRIZA model
By Christoph Dreier, 7 December 2012
A class gulf separates workers from the affluent political operators who gathered at the Left Party youth congress in Cologne, Germany and took Greece’s pro-austerity SYRIZA party as a model.
Mursi’s crackdown exposes counter-revolutionary role of Egyptian Revolutionary Socialists
By Johannes Stern, 6 December 2012
Leveson whitewash of Murdoch’s UK media empire
By Julie Hyland, 6 December 2012
Congressman Jack Brooks, Rex ’84 and the Iran-Contra affair
By Patrick Martin, 6 December 2012
The “rule of law” and state killings
By David North and Bill Van Auken, 3 December 2012
Workers Struggles
Locked out American Crystal Sugar workers reject contract again
By Michael Stapleton, 7 December 2012
Sixteen months into a lockout, workers at American Crystal Sugar Company rejected the company’s contract demands for the fourth time.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
7 December 2012
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
ILWU ends Los Angeles port strike
By our reporter, 6 December 2012
Auto Workers Struggles
Defend auto workers victimised by Maruti Suzuki and Indian authorities
By the World Socialist Web Site, 6 December 2012
Behind the UAW’s “support” for the Maruti Suzuki workers
By Jerry White, 5 December 2012
More on the struggle in auto »
Arts Review
Elliott Carter (1908-2012) and the crisis of contemporary music
By Fred Mazelis, 6 December 2012
American composer Elliott Carter reflected the trajectory of Western classical music in the past century.
Nirvana’s Nevermind reissued by Sony/Universal
Assessing an American pop icon
By Nick Barrickman, 5 December 2012
Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln and the historical drama of the Civil War
By Tom Mackaman, 12 November 2012
Socialist Equality Party
Report to the Second National Congress of the Socialist Equality Party
By David North, 27 November 2012
We are publishing here the opening report to the Socialist Equality Party (US) Second National Congress, given July 8, 2012 by SEP National Chairman David North.
Socialist Equality Party (Britain) South West NHS Fightback
UK health unions mount feeble protest against attacks on National Health Service
By Mark Blackwood, 4 December 2012
Visit the South West NHS FightBack web site »
Mehring Books
Now available from Mehring Books: Russian Revolutionary Posters by David King
29 November 2012
Mehring Books is proud to offer for sale a new book, Russian Revolutionary Posters: From Civil War to Socialist Realism, From Bolshevism to the End of Stalinism by David King (Tate Publishing).
This Week in History: December 3-9
25 years ago: Beijing protest against murder of student
A thousand students marched in Beijing on December 8, 1987, protesting the murder of a fellow student three days earlier.
50 years ago: Acheson belittles Britain in West Point speech
On December 5, 1962, former US Secretary of State Dean Acheson delivered a speech to the Army Academy at West Point that singled out the United Kingdom for sharp criticism.
75 years ago: Japanese forces demand surrender of Nanking
At noon December 9, 1937, Japanese aircraft dropped leaflets over the capital of China's Jiangsu province, Nanking, demanding an unconditional surrender of the city.
100 years ago: Germany prepares for European conflagration
On December 8, 1912, the military and civilian leaders of Germany met in Berlin to hold an informal conference dubbed the German Imperial War Council.
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