12 February 2013

On eve of State of the Union speech
Obama pushes austerity in the guise of defending the “middle class”

By Patrick Martin, 12 February 2013

Obama is calling for further deficit-reduction measures, including cuts in core social programs.

Pentagon chiefs reveal divisions over Syria

By Bill Van Auken, 12 February 2013

Tactical differences have emerged within the Obama administration over how best to prosecute its strategy for regime-change in Syria.

In the Italian elections, Rifondazione Comunista emerges as a bourgeois party

By Marc Wells, 12 February 2013

Rifondazione is joining the Citizens’ Revolution alliance of prosecutor Antonio Ingroia, completing its transformation into a bourgeois party.

Tunisian government begins to unravel

By Antoine Lerougetel, 12 February 2013

The murder last Wednesday of anti-Islamist politician Chokri Belaïd has undermined the government coalition, whose main component is the Islamist Ennahda Party.

The role of Germany in the war in Mali

By Wolfgang Weber, 12 February 2013

Germany is expanding its participation in the French colonial war in Mali from week to week.

UK horsemeat scandal spreads to Europe

By Barry Mason, 12 February 2013

A European Union-wide health alert has been issued after Findus France recalled products.

A legal lynching: Indian government executes Afzal Guru

By Kranti Kumara and Keith Jones, 12 February 2013

In an action that exemplifies the reactionary trajectory of India’s Congress Party-led government, it ordered the secret execution last Saturday of Mohammad Afzal Guru.

Australian mining tax debacle intensifies pressure for deep budget cuts

By Mike Head, 12 February 2013

After attempting to block the release of the tax data, the Labor government eventually revealed the miniscule amount raised by the Minerals Resource Rent Tax.

Bus collision kills 22 migrant workers in United Arab Emirates

By Dylan Lubao, 12 February 2013

The accident is another indication of the exploitative and oppressive conditions facing millions of migrant contract workers around the world.

US food assistance benefits face cut in November

By Shannon Jones, 12 February 2013

A family of three could lose up to $300 a year in food benefits this coming November.

New in German

Das Drohnen-Mordprogramm und die Gefahr einer Diktatur

Von Bill Van Auken, 12. Februar 2013

Die Anhörung John Brennans, Präsident Obamas Kandidat für den Posten des CIA-Direktors, enthüllt, wie sehr die demokratischen Rechte in den Vereinigten Staaten schon verkommen sind.

Mobilisiert die Arbeiterklasse zur Verteidigung der New Yorker Schulbusfahrer

Von der Socialist Equality Party, 12. Februar 2013

Der seit über drei Wochen dauernde Streik der 9000 New Yorker Schulbusfahrer, Betreuer und Mechaniker hat jetzt einen entscheidenden Wendepunkt erreicht.

Die Rolle Deutschlands im Mali-Krieg

Von Wolfgang Weber, 12. Februar 2013

Deutschland weitet seine Beteiligung am französischen Kolonialkrieg in Mali von Woche zu Woche weiter aus.

Tunesien
Generalstreik und Massenproteste erschüttern islamistisches Regime

Von Barry Grey, 12. Februar 2013

Die jüngsten politischen Unruhen in Tunesien – den größten seit den Ereignissen Ende 2010 und Anfang 2011 – begann nur wenige Tage vor dem zweiten Jahrestag des Sturzes des ägyptischen Diktators Hosni Mubarak.

Hewlett-Packard schließt Werk in Rüsselsheim

Von Jan Peters, 12. Februar 2013

Am 1. Februar erfuhren 1.100 Mitarbeiter von Hewlett-Packard in Rüsselsheim, dass ihr Standort zum 31. Oktober 2013 geschlossen werden soll.

New in French

Les tensions de classes en Europe au point de rupture

Par Peter Schwarz, 12 février 2013

Les gouvernements européens réagissent à l'opposition de la classe ouvrière en imposant l'interdiction des grèves et en employant des méthodes de violence d'Etat traditionnellement associées aux dictatures.

Le vice-président américain Joseph Biden montre à Munich la grimace hideuse de l’impérialisme

Par Bill Van Auken, 12 février 2013

Le vice-président américain Joseph Biden qui a donné le ton à la récente Conférence sur la Sécurité à Munich, marquée par un néocolonialisme sans vergogne, a signalé que l’impérialisme américain se préparait à des combats dans toutes les régions du globe

Other Languages

Perspective

The danger of war in Asia

12 February 2013

Parallels are being drawn between the tense maritime disputes in Asia and the fierce rivalry in the Balkans a century ago that sparked World War I.

Earlier Perspectives »

Workers Struggles

Why the unions refuse to mobilize support for striking New York City bus drivers

By Fred Mazelis, 12 February 2013

A glaring contradiction exists between the wide support for the striking school bus workers and the isolation of these workers from their genuine allies in New York and around the world.

The New York City school bus strike and the for-profit student transportation industry

By Dan Brennan, 12 February 2013

Mayor Bloomberg’s attack on school bus workers’ job security is not merely a matter of individual cold-bloodedness, but rather the product of a decades-long process of deregulation and privatization.

Striking New York City bus drivers march in defense of jobs

By a reporting team, 11 February 2013

Video: Striking New York City bus workers speak on their struggle

6 February 2013

More on the New York school bus drivers strike »

Workers Struggles: The Americas

12 February 2013

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

NHS Fightback

UK government implements cuts in South East London Healthcare Trust

By Rick Wilson, 12 February 2013

The coalition government is to press ahead with serious cuts to heath services in south east London.

Visit the NHS FightBack web site » »

Crisis in Detroit

Cuts in fire protection leading to deaths in Detroit

By Lawrence Porter, 12 February 2013

A series of brutal budget cuts to the Detroit Fire Department and other social services is producing the foreseeable outcome: the death of Detroit residents.

Commentary

Class tensions in Europe at the breaking point

By Peter Schwarz, 11 February 2013

US to expand assassination program to northern Africa

By Joseph Kishore, 11 February 2013

Australia’s Socialist Alternative hails betrayal of Chicago teachers strike as a victory

By Will Morrow, 11 February 2013

The US drone assassination program and the threat of dictatorship

By Bill Van Auken, 9 February 2013

Arts Review

Donald Byrd, extraordinary jazz trumpeter, dies at 80

By John Andrews, 11 February 2013

Donald Byrd, a trumpet master associated with the post-bebop jazz that emerged in New York City during the 1950s and 1960s, died last week at the age of 80.

Netflix’s US remake of House of Cards stands up despite weaknesses

By Christine Schofelt, 9 February 2013

Socialist Equality Party

An extraordinary cinematic event:
Tsar to Lenin to be screened Wednesday in Montreal

7 February 2013

On Wednesday, February 13, the Socialist Equality Party will be hosting a showing of Tsar to Lenin at the Université de Montréal.

This Week in History: February 11-17

25 years ago: Ford hit by strikes in UK and worldwide

Auto workers at all 22 of Britain’s Ford plants entered the second week of their strike on February 15, 1988.

More »

50 years ago: Italian metal strike ends

On February 17, 1963, 800,000 Italian metal and auto workers returned to the job having won shorter working hours and higher wages.

More »

75 years ago: GPU assassinates Trotsky’s son Leon Sedov

On the February 16, 1938, Leon Sedov, the eldest son of the Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky and his second wife Natalya, was murdered in Paris by Stalin’s agents.

More »

 

100 years ago: Austrian socialist leader assassinated

On February 11, 1913, Franz Schuhmeier, a leader and parliamentary representative of the Austrian socialist movement, was assassinated at a railway station in Vienna.

More »

Correspondence

Letters from our readers

12 February 2013

A selection of recent letters to the World Socialist Web Site.

A reply to a defender of the UK’s RMT rail union

11 February 2013

A reply to a defender of SYRIZA

By Robert Stevens, 8 February 2013