by Gerry Foley The apparent sudden reversal of Marwan Barghouti, a Fatah leader jailed for life by the Zionist rulers, who has now allowed his relatives and supporters to register him as a candidate for president of the Palestinian Authority (PA), is a new upset in the tumultuous search for a successor to Yasir Arafat. … Continue reading Dim prospects for new Palestinian Authority leadership
Month: December 2004
Decisive test nears for both the Iraqi resistance & the U.S.
by Gerry Foley As was generally expected, the long prepared massive U.S. military assault on Falluja ignited a series of explosions throughout the predominantly Sunni areas of Iraq, including the Sunni neighborhoods of Baghdad, which belied the claims of U.S. military commanders that they had crushed the head of the insurgency. About 10,000 troops were … Continue reading Decisive test nears for both the Iraqi resistance & the U.S.
Ukrainian election conflict sets masses into the streets
by Gerry Foley In the wake of the second round of the Ukrainian presidential elections on Nov. 21, the contradictions that have marked the independent Ukrainian state since its origins in 1991 reached the brink of civil war. The conflict threatened not only open war in Ukraine but the first major clash between the Western … Continue reading Ukrainian election conflict sets masses into the streets
Was the vote for Bush a vote for war?
by Joe Auciello Leading up to the 2004 presidential election, some prominent figures on the left, including Tariq Ali, author of “Bush in Babylon” and an editor of New Left Review,” urged the defeat of George Bush. Ali’s voice was a surprising addition to the “Anybody-But-Bush” crowd. As a socialist, Ali would have been expected … Continue reading Was the vote for Bush a vote for war?
Condoleeza Rice: New ruling-class mouthpiece
by Mark Ostapiak Condoleeza Rice’s nomination as secretary of state awaits certain Senate approval and has created quite a stir among those who worry that her replacing Colin Powell is a harbinger of a more aggressive U.S. foreign policy. That sentiment is propped up by the myth that if Powell’s views had prevailed, the war … Continue reading Condoleeza Rice: New ruling-class mouthpiece
More repression at home
by Mark Ostapiak Following John Ashcroft’s departure from his post as the attorney general, his notorious Patriot Act legislation remains to be tended by George W. Bush’s personal legal council and attorney general nominee, Alberto Gonzales. He will have until Dec. 31, 2005, to uphold and enforce many of the reactionary measures stipulated in the … Continue reading More repression at home
Socialist wins mayor’s race in Brazil
The municipal elections, held in two rounds (Oct. 3 and Oct. 30) were a warning for the government of Luiz Ignacio da Silva ("Lula") and the leadership of his party, the Workers Party (PT). Since taking office as the head of a regime based on an alliance of the PT with capitalist parties, Lula has … Continue reading Socialist wins mayor’s race in Brazil
The twin party shell game: Bush trumps look-alike Kerry
by Jeff Mackler Were the 2004 presidential elections rigged? Absolutely! But rigged against whom? Against the billionaire capitalist Democrat John Kerry, who all agree lost the popular vote by 3.5 million votes, or against the American people? I think the latter were the victims. The machinations against Kerry, in Ohio and elsewhere, are the coin … Continue reading The twin party shell game: Bush trumps look-alike Kerry
Paul Martin takes his doctrine for test drive
by Barry Weisleder Given the accelerating pace and reach of U.S. military intervention around the world, it is getting more and more difficult for junior imperialists to demonstrate their usefulness to the Empire. But credit Canada’s Prime Minister Paul Martin for trying harder. Mr. Martin has a new global doctrine called “Responsibility to Protect”. He … Continue reading Paul Martin takes his doctrine for test drive
State bungles ‘evidence’ in Kevin Cooper case
by Rebecca Doran The controversial case of San Quentin Death Row inmate Kevin Cooper continues in U.S. District Court in San Diego. However, for those interested in learning details of the hearings, the mainstream media has proven to be a great disservice. Cooper has spent nearly 20 years on Death Row. He was convicted in … Continue reading State bungles ‘evidence’ in Kevin Cooper case
OCAP eyes ex-cop shop for squat
by Judy Koch On Nov. 13 the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (a movement based in this city that fights for the rights of unemployed and poor working people) took direct action to occupy an empty building so that it could be used as a squat or shelter for homeless people. As in many other cities … Continue reading OCAP eyes ex-cop shop for squat
Report on the Ontario NDP convention
by Sean Cain More than 600 delegates converged on Hamilton, Canada’s steel town 45 minutes west of Toronto, for the Ontario New Democratic Party’s (ONDP) 22nd convention, held Nov. 19-21. North America’s only major labour-based political party was founded in 1961 as a successor to the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). Although the NDP has rebounded … Continue reading Report on the Ontario NDP convention
Review of the Film “Motorcycle Diaries”
by Gaetana Caldwell-Smith Walter Salles’s beautifully photographed film (by French photographer, Eric Gautier), could be a South American travelogue were it not based on an iconic revolutionary. "Motorcycle Diaries," was adapted from the diaries from 1952 that Ernesto "Che" Guevara and his friend, Alberto Granado, wrote while riding around South America on a 1939 Norton … Continue reading Review of the Film “Motorcycle Diaries”
Review of the Musical “Hooray for What!”
by Gaetana Caldwell-Smith The musical "Hooray for What!" was presented in November by 42nd Street Moon Productions at San Francisco’s Eureka Theatre. The company is noted for presenting concert performances of overlooked, classic, and "lost’ musicals. "Hooray" is a delightful, rollicking 1930s musical satire about war profiteering. Its lyricist, Edgar Yepsil "Yip" Harburg, was born … Continue reading Review of the Musical “Hooray for What!”