After two crashes that killed 346 people
Fired CEO Dennis Muilenburg gets $80.7 million on exit from Boeing

By Bryan Dyne, 13 January 2020

The aerospace giant allocated only $50 million to compensate the 346 families who lost loved ones in the two Boeing 737 Max 8 crashes, $144,500 for each life lost.

Iran admits to inadvertently shooting down Ukraine International Airlines jet, killing 176

By Jordan Shilton and Keith Jones, 13 January 2020

The felling of Flight 752 came amid a war crisis fomented by Washington’s campaign of “maximum pressure” on Tehran and its January 3 assassination of Suleimani.

House Democrats to forward Trump impeachment articles, setting stage for Senate trial

By Patrick Martin, 13 January 2020

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the next step would be taken Tuesday at a meeting of the House Democratic caucus.

House and Senate deadlocked over Trump impeachment trial

Thousands displaced as Puerto Rico enters third straight week of relentless earthquakes

By Zac Corrigan, 13 January 2020

The earthquakes have compounded the social and economic crisis, with many residents still suffering from the destruction wrought by Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the criminal government indifference that followed.

Tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans still without electricity, water, days after earthquake

Working through injuries, bomb threats and tornadoes: Amazon workers describe conditions at Spartanburg, South Carolina warehouse

By Tom Carter, 13 January 2020

According to OSHA, there were 57 injuries last year at the GSP1 facility—but Amazon workers suspect the real number is higher.

More on Amazon »

Stop the War rally tries to restore Corbyn’s tattered anti-war credentials

By Robert Stevens, 13 January 2020

The more dangerous the world situation becomes, the less the STWC, which orients to the rightward-lurching Labour and trade union apparatus, is able to mobilise popular support.

UK: Corbyn offers no fight against war with Iran

Oppose Trump’s criminal war against Iran!

Boston area professor fired after anti-Trump Facebook posting

“We’ve seen this all happen before, with the Iraq war. We saw how that went. It was a complete tragedy”
UK protesters speak out against war on Iran

By our reporters, 13 January 2020

WSWS reporters spoke to attendees at Saturday’s demonstrations in the UK against the danger of war in Iran.

French strikers march as Prime Minister Philippe offers cosmetic changes to pension cuts

By Alex Lantier and Anthony Torres, 13 January 2020

Hundreds of thousands of strikers and “yellow vests” marched against French President Emmanuel Macron’s pension cuts Saturday.

Millions march in France as strikes against Macron pension cut spread

In New Year’s address, French President Macron pledges to impose austerity despite mass strike

Spain’s new PSOE-Podemos government commits itself to austerity and war

By Alejandro López, 13 January 2020

Described by its architects as Spain’s most progressive government since the Second Republic (1931-1939), it is in fact committed to austerity, repression and militarism.

Taiwan’s anti-China president wins re-election

By Ben McGrath, 13 January 2020

Emboldened by her victory, and with Washington’s backing, Tsai Ing-wen will continue to escalate cross-strait tensions with China.

General election in Taiwan marked by anti-China atmosphere

Australian PM declares “new normal” of climate disasters

By Mike Head, 13 January 2020

Morrison’s performance was a desperate attempt at political damage control, combined with an effort to exploit the bushfire disaster to boost the “emergency” powers of the armed forces.

The Australian fire crisis and the necessity for socialism

“It’s the big companies that are responsible for this”
Mass climate change rallies held amid Australian bushfire emergency

Australian bushfire catastrophe exposes the contempt of the ruling elites for working people

Australia: Gospers Mountain fire survivors denounce government cuts in firefighting and bush management

By our reporters, 13 January 2020

One resident stated “With regards to government policy, it’s all about the bottom line. It’s all about money.”

“Everyone is saying this government has to go”
Australia: Victim of East Gippsland bushfire voices anger over government negligence

Australian bushfire victims speak-out: “What is our government doing at the moment?”

Inadequate government relief for Australian bushfire victims

Strikebreaking operation directed at workers in plant near Pittsburgh

By Samual Davidson, 13 January 2020

Management at a metal fabricating plant near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have begun hiring scabs to replace 90 members of the United Auto Workers, on strike since September.

GM layoff of 240 temps exposes UAW’s bogus “pathway” to full-time positions

By Tom Hall, 13 January 2020

This move reveals the pattern for the future: a small trickle of temps hired in, with the rest strung out on a nearly unattainable “pathway” before being disposed of.

Corruption investigation targets newly installed UAW president Rory Gamble

Lessons of the US autoworkers’ struggle of 2019

Rank-and-file teachers in San Diego County initiate fight against layoffs and school cuts

By Evelyn Rios, 13 January 2020

After union-sanctioned mass layoffs, San Diego area teachers call for rank-and-file committees in every school to mobilize students, parents and workers to defend hundreds of educators' jobs.

Washington, D.C., political establishment blocks minimum wage increase for city’s tipped workers

By Douglas Lyons and Nick Barrickman, 13 January 2020

Analysis of the past two District election cycles found that restaurant industry lobbyists contributed more than $236,000 in total to the campaigns of the Democratic mayor as well as multiple city council members.

Archives Australia suppresses documents detailing Papua New Guinea intervention

By John Braddock, 13 January 2020

The suppressed documents will contain further damning evidence of Canberra’s 1997 destabilisation operations in its former colony.

11 January 2020

Denied US entry, asylum seeker takes his own life on US-Mexico border bridge

By Norisa Diaz, 11 January 2020

Surveillance video outside Jeffrey Epstein’s cell during first “suicide attempt” deleted

By Kevin Reed, 11 January 2020

Mack Trucks to layoff 305 workers at Allentown, Pennsylvania factory

By Steve Filips, 11 January 2020

Royal Canadian Mounted Police advocated use of live fire against indigenous pipeline protesters

By Penny Smith and Roger Jordan, 11 January 2020

UK police fire stun guns 2,500 times as deployment of weapon escalates

By Dennis Moore, 11 January 2020

Germany: Response to satirical children’s video exposes self-censorship of the media

By Dietmar Gaisenkersting, 11 January 2020

World famous pianist Igor Levit victim of anti-Semitic death threats

By Marianne Arens, 11 January 2020

US and Australia ready another regime-change operation in Solomon Islands

By Patrick O’Connor, 11 January 2020

American and Australian officials had exerted considerable efforts to dissuade Sogavare from aligning with China, and reacted with fury to his diplomatic switch away from Taiwan.

New in Russian

Сторонники Бандеры маршируют в крупных городах Украины после того, как правительство объявило нацистских коллаборационистов «национальными героями»

Джейсон Мелановски и Клара Вайс, 11 января 2020 г.

Прославление киевским правительством одиозных антисемитских фигур и нацистских коллаборационистов сопровождается постыдным молчанием со стороны империалистических патронов Украины.

New in Turkish

Grevlerin yayıldığı Fransa'da milyonlarca insan yürüyüşlere katıldı

Anthony Torres ve Alex Lantier, 11 Ocak 2020

İleriye giden yol, sendikalardan bağımsız eylem komiteleri inşa ederek, grevcileri, "sarı yelekliler"i ve gençleri, kapitalist sisteme karşı işçi iktidarı uğruna mücadelenin parçası olarak Macron hükümetine karşı birleştirmekten geçiyor.

New in Norwegian

Millioner masjerer i Frankrike der streikene mot Macrons pensjonskutt brer seg

Anthony Torres og Alex Lantier, 11. januar 2020

Raffinerier, havner og flyselskaper meldte seg med i streiken, med hundretusener av arbeidere og ungdommer som marsjerte mot innstramminger, militarisme og politiets undertrykking.

Massiv generalstreik over hele India protesterte mot Modis pro-investor og kommunalistiske politikk

Deepal Jayasekera og Keith Jones, 11. januar 2020

Streikens størrelse og omfang varierte over landet, men det er ingentvil om at den hadde massive konsekvenser og attesterte arbeiderklassens voksende militans og enorme sosiale kraft.

India: Massive ramaskrik over hindu-sjåvinisters voldelige angrep på JNU-studenter

Wasantha Rupasinghe, 11. januar 2020

Alle omstendighetene rundt angrepet peker på at det ble utført med Narendra Modis BJP-regjerings medvitende, om ikke på dens befaling.

FN-rapportør Nils Melzer fordømmer Storbritannias kriminelle rolle i torturen av Julian Assange

Oscar Grenfell, 11. januar 2020

Melzer krever at utleveringsbehandlingen avvises, Assanges frihet og en kriminaletterforskning av de ansvarlige for hans forfølgelse.

New in Spanish

Los demócratas aprueban resolución fraudulenta de Pelosi contra la guerra

Patrick Martin, 11 enero 2020

El jueves, los demócratas de la Cámara de Representantes respaldaron una resolución “concurrente” que no limita significativamente la habilidad de Trump de iniciar una guerra contra Irán.

El relator de la ONU, Nils Melzer, condena el papel criminal británico en la tortura de Julian Assange

Oscar Grenfell,11 enero 2020

Melzer exigió el abandono de los procedimientos de extradición, la libertad de Assange y una investigación criminal de los responsables de su persecución.

Millones de personas marchan en Francia mientras las huelgas se extienden contra los recortes de las pensiones bajo Macron

Anthony Torres y Alex Lantier, 11 enero 2020

Los trabajadores de las refinerías, portuarios y empleados de Air France se unieron a la huelga mientras cientos de miles de trabajadores y jóvenes marchaban contra la austeridad, el militarismo y la represión policial.

Gobierno de Trump inicia programa para deportar solicitantes de asilo mexicanos a Guatemala

Meenakshi Jagadeesan, 11 enero 2020

Las deportaciones ya estaban en marcha cuando salió la noticia; sin embargo, el Gobierno de Trump ha pausado el programa desde entonces, en gran parte por las críticas de los defensores de inmigrantes y las agencias federales.

Inicia recolección de ADN de inmigrantes detenidos bajo Gobierno de Trump

Kevin Reed, 11 enero 2020

La nueva política infringe los derechos bajo la Cuarta Enmienda a la Constitución y establece el primer paso para la creación de una base de datos biométrica policial de toda la población.

Tras el asesinato de Soleimani, el Nuevo Partido Anticapitalista respalda la guerra de EEUU con Irán

Alex Lantier, 11 enero 2020

El NPA plantea la mentira de que Irán, un antiguo país colonial, es de hecho una potencia imperialista que ataca a Washington y calumnia personalmente a Soleimani como asesino en masa.

New in German

Demokraten verabschieden heuchlerische Antikriegsresolution im US-Repräsentantenhaus

Patrick Martin, 11. Januar 2020

Am Donnerstag verabschiedete das US-Repräsentantenhaus mit der Mehrheit der Demokraten eine rein symbolische Resolution, die Trumps Möglichkeit, einen Krieg gegen den Iran zu entfesseln, nicht im Geringsten einschränkt.

Demonstrationen und Streiks in Frankreich gegen Macrons Rentenkürzungen breiten sich weiter aus

Anthony Torres und Alex Lantier, 11. Januar 2020

Immer mehr Arbeiter und Jugendliche beteiligen sich an den landesweiten Streiks in Frankreich, die sich nicht nur gegen Macrons geplante Rentenkürzungen richten, sondern auch gegen weitere Sparmaßnahmen, Militarismus und Polizeigewalt.

Mahnwache für Julian Assange in Frankfurt am Main

einem Korrespondenten, 11. Januar 2020

Weltweit mehren sich die Initiativen zur Verteidigung des inhaftierten WikiLeaks-Gründers. Eine Unterstützergruppe demonstrierte am Mittwoch in Frankfurt für Julian Assanges Freiheit.

Neue Tatversion im Lübcke-Mord

Dietmar Gaisenkersting, 11. Januar 2020

Der mutmaßliche Mörder des CDU-Politikers Walter Lübcke hat in einer neuen Aussage einen Bekannten der Tat beschuldigt. Dieser soll den Kasseler Regierungspräsidenten „versehentlich“ erschossen haben.

Europäische Regierungen unterstützen Kriegsvorbereitungen gegen Iran

Peter Schwarz, 11. Januar 2020

Drei Jahrzehnte nach dem Zusammenbruch der Sowjetunion haben die Anarchie des Kapitalismus und die Überholtheit des Nationalstaatensystems zu einer dramatischen Verschärfung imperialistischer Konflikte geführt.

New in French

L'Iran frappe des bases américaines en Irak alors que le Pentagone déploie des bombardiers B-52

Bill Van Auken, 9 janvier 2020

En préparation évidente d'une guerre à grande échelle, le Pentagone a envoyé une force de frappe composée de six bombardiers lourds B-52 sur la base militaire américaine de l'île de Diego Garcia.

Après le meurtre de Soleimani, le NPA part en guerre contre l’Iran

Alexandre Lantier, 9 janvier 2020

Le NPA met en avant le mensonge que l’Iran, un pays ex-colonial, serait une puissance impérialiste qui attaque Washington, et traite Soleimani de meurtrier de masse.

Corbyn rampe devant le Conseil privé, cherchant à bloquer un mouvement anti-guerre de masse

Laura Tiernan, 9 janvier 2020

La lettre de Corbyn à Johnson était rédigée de manière à défendre les intérêts de la sécurité nationale britannique et portait la marque de fabrique de Corbyn, celle de sa soumission à l’Etat

Podemos entre au gouvernement espagnol

Alex Lantier, 9 janvier 2020

La formation du gouvernement a mis un terme à deux mois de manœuvres dans l’élite dirigeante espagnole suite au parlement sans majorité sorti des élections du 10 novembre.

Other Languages

Perspective

The assassination of Qassem Suleimani and the criminalization of US state policy

13 January 2020

The normalization of extrajudicial killing is the outcome of the “war on terror” and decades of continuous war.

Earlier Perspectives »

Arts Review

Theater of Operations: The Gulf Wars 1991–2011: A significant exhibition at Museum of Modern Art’s contemporary arts center

By Clare Hurley, 13 January 2020

A large-scale group exhibition focused on US violence in the Middle East is currently on display at MoMA PS1 in Queens, New York.

Bombshell invents a ruling-class hero

By Erik Schreiber, 11 January 2020

The Kill Team: Are US military atrocities in Afghanistan just the work of a few “bad apples”?

By Joanne Laurier, 10 January 2020

At the Golden Globes awards ceremony: Comic Ricky Gervais causes a stir

By David Walsh, 9 January 2020

The Mandalorian and Disney Plus: The media giant targets the small screen

By Matthew MacEgan, 8 January 2020

Commentary

The Indian general strike and the global fight against communalism and war

By Keith Jones, 11 January 2020

Tens of millions of workers, youth and rural toilers participated in Wednesday’s all-India one-day general strike, transcending communal, caste and ethno-linguistic divides.

European powers support war preparations against Iran

By Peter Schwarz, 11 January 2020

After Suleimani murder, New Anti-capitalist Party backs US war on Iran

Bernie Sanders says “some wars are necessary”

By Tom Hall, 11 January 2020

The Democrats pass Pelosi’s phony antiwar resolution

Trump bides his time, but the preparations for war against Iran will continue

The US propaganda machine justifies the assassination of Qassem Suleimani

The decade of socialist revolution begins

By David North and Joseph Kishore, 3 January 2020

This week in history: January 13-19

25 years ago: Great Hanshin Earthquake strikes Japan

On January 17, 1995, the Great Hanshin Earthquake struck the Hyogo prefecture in southern Japan. It registered a 6.9 on the moment magnitude scale and reached a maximum intensity of 7 on the JMA Seismic Intensity Scale.

More »

50 years ago: Frame-up at Soledad Prison in California

On January 16, 1970 three African American inmates at Soledad Prison in California were charged with the crime of murdering a guard. The accused, George Jackson, Fleeta Drumgo and John Clutchette, all under age 30, would become known as the “Soledad Brothers” as they fought to prove their innocence.

More »

75 years ago: Red Army liberates Warsaw

On January 17, 1945, the Soviet Red Army’s First Belorussian Front secured control of Warsaw, the capital of Poland, expelling German troops from a city that had been the site of some of the worst crimes committed during the Second World War.

More »

100 years ago: Social Democrats declare martial law in Germany

On January 14, 1920, the Social Democratic (SPD) government, with Gustav Noske as minister of defense, declared martial law throughout Germany as government troops killed 50 protesters and wounded over 100 in front of the Reichstag.

More »

The New York Times' 1619 Project

The New York Times’ 1619 Project promoted in schools across the US

By Genevieve Leigh, 10 January 2020

Despite its historical errors and omissions, major efforts are underway to establish the 1619 Project as the official narrative of American history at schools and major academic institutions.

The 1619 Project and the falsification of history: An analysis of the New York Times’ reply to five historians

By David North and Eric London, 28 December 2019

New York Times Magazine editor Jake Silverstein, reviving discredited racialist distortions of the American Revolution and Civil War, refuses to correct historical errors in the 1619 Project.

The New York Times’ “1619 Project”
Nikole Hannah-Jones, Shell Oil and mass killings in Africa

By Trévon Austin and Bill Van Auken, 18 December 2019

The New York Times’s 1619 Project: A racialist falsification of American and world history

By Niles Niemuth, Tom Mackaman and David North, 6 September 2019

“A preposterous and one-dimensional reading of the American past”
Oxford historian Richard Carwardine on the New York Times’ 1619 Project

By Tom Mackaman, 31 December 2019

1619 Project director speaks at New York University
Nikole Hannah-Jones, race theory and the Holocaust

By Eric London and David North, 26 November 2019

More on the New York Times’ 1619 Project »

Autoworkers Struggles

GM workers in Mexico thank Australian workers for support

By the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter, 10 January 2020

Amid the looming threat of war after the US killing of Iranian General Suleimani, the statement calls workers to fight against war and the environmental destruction that triggered Australia’s bushfires.

GM workers in Mexico thank US workers for donating to their defense fund

Defend the Silao Seven!
Fired Mexican GM workers issue open letter to American workers

More on autoworkers struggles »

Commentary

Chelsea Clinton’s millions and the American aristocracy

By Sam Dalton, 10 January 2020

Harvey Weinstein criminal trial begins amid media frenzy

By Eric London, 9 January 2020

Central banks losing firepower to counter recession

By Nick Beams, 9 January 2020

Workers Struggles

India: Haryana public transport workers strike against outsourcing; Pakistani journalists oppose salary and job cuts
Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia

11 January 2020

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

Florida teachers to rally January 13 against attacks on public education

By Matthew MacEgan and Nancy Hanover, 10 January 2020

Another Kentucky coal company refuses to pay miners

By Samuel Davidson, 9 January 2020

Free Assange and Manning

Sri Lanka: SEP meeting in Colombo demands release of Assange and Manning

By our correspondents, 7 January 2020

Afterwards, a University of Colombo student, declared: “I agree with the point made in this meeting that the fight for the freedom of Assange is so crucial for the defence of democratic rights internationally.”

Ex-Australian foreign minister calls for release of Julian Assange to halt damage to US alliance

By Mike Head, 4 January 2020

Mexican president calls for Julian Assange’s freedom

By Kevin Reed, 4 January 2020

More on the campaign to defend Julian Assange »

Mehring Books

Vadim Rogovin’s Bolsheviks against Stalinism 1928–1933: Leon Trotsky and the Left Opposition
A magnificent account of Stalin’s opponents in the USSR

By Andrea Peters, 21 December 2019

Stalin’s rise was neither foreordained nor a natural outgrowth of the October Revolution. The Great Russian chauvinist and bureaucrat secured power in ferocious conflict with the proletariat, peasantry and cadre of the revolutionary socialist movement.

Socialist Equality Party

UK Public Meetings:
The election of Boris Johnson and the failure of Corbynism

28 December 2019

Socialist Equality Party used UK general election to put forward a socialist perspective

Sri Lankan SEP/IYSSE to hold public meeting on how to fight the new Rajapakse regime

14 December 2019

International Youth and Students for Social Equality

The Reiss Center at NYU’s Law School: A think tank for the national security establishment and the Democratic Party
Part 2: The Reiss Center’s role in the impeachment crisis and anti-Russia campaign

the New York University IYSSE, 11 December 2019

The Reiss Center at NYU’s Law School: A think tank for the national security establishment and the Democratic Party
Part 1: Obama’s national security apparatus in exile

IYSSE, student unions defend students in Germany against right-wing attacks

By our reporters, 2 December 2019

Science

Skin Deep, Journey in the Divisive Science of Race, by Gavin Evans

By Philip Guelpa, 9 December 2019

The overwhelming weight of scientific research demonstrates that “race” does not exist as a valid biological category, but is a social construct.

History

David North introduces Turkish-language edition of In Defense of Leon Trotsky at Istanbul Book Fair

By our reporter, 11 November 2019

Mehring Yayıncılık announced the publication of five major works by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) at its Istanbul Book Fair stall, including two authored by David North.

Socialist Equality Party

Video: 70 years after the Chinese Revolution—How the struggle for socialism was betrayed

31 October 2019

Introduction to the 1955 SWP resolution “The Third Chinese Revolution and its Aftermath”

From the archives
SWP resolution: The Third Chinese Revolution and its Aftermath

Introduction to the 1951 report to the Fourth International by Chinese Trotskyist Peng Shuzhi

From the archives
The Causes of the Victory of the Chinese Communist Party over Chiang Kai-Shek, and the CCP’s Perspectives

Mehring Books

Mehring Yayıncılık publishes new ICFI books for İstanbul Book Fair

By Ulas Atesci, 29 October 2019

Preface to the Turkish edition of The Russian Revolution and the Unfinished Twentieth Century

By David North, 2 September 2019

Preview the new publication from Mehring Books
Author’s introduction to Bolsheviks Against Stalinism 1928-1933: Leon Trotsky and the Left Opposition

By Vadim Rogovin, 30 August 2019

Now available from Mehring Books
Bolsheviks Against Stalinism 1928-1933: Leon Trotsky and the Left Opposition by Vadim Z. Rogovin

Featured Commentary

Drawing the lessons of the ICFI split—International Strategy and National Tactics: The change in the ICFI’s approach to national liberation movements

By Deepal Jayasekera, 30 September 2019

This lecture was delivered to the Socialist Equality Party (US) Summer School on July 25, 2019 by Deepal Jayasekera, Assistant Secretary of the Socialist Equality Party in Sri Lanka

Introduction to the Turkish language edition of In Defense of Leon Trotsky
Leon Trotsky’s four fateful years in Prinkipo: 1929-1933

By David North, 23 September 2019

The ICFI and the Crisis of Stalinism

The World Capitalist Crisis and the Tasks of the Fourth International: An analysis of the ICFI Perspectives resolution of 1988

The International Committee’s response to the “End of History”: The March 1992 Plenum of the ICFI

The Dissolution of the USSR and the Unipolar Moment of US Imperialism

China: Thirty years since the Tiananmen Square massacre

The Political Origins and Consequences of the 1982–86 Split in the International Committee of the Fourth International

The 2020 US Elections

Joe Biden: A familiar face, a deeply reactionary record

By Patrick Martin, 23 September 2019

Amy Klobuchar: The favorite Democrat of Senate Republicans

By George Gallanis, 19 August 2019