contributions

As the brutal occupation of Iraq grinds on after two years of death and destruction, its toll on working-class youth and the growing impoverishment of already oppressed communities is reshaping the anti-war movement in the United States.
A demonstration here on March 19, the anniversary of the day two years ago when the Pentagon began its "shock and awe" campaign, reflected this change when it began in Harlem, the historic cultural center for African Americans.
"Why Harlem?" asked emcee (…)

Though US President George W Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have been giving the impression that the insurgency situation in Iraq is improving, the American Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), which monitors the situation daily, says it has worsened.
"The insurgency in Iraq has grown in size and complexity over the past year. Attacks numbered approximately 25 per day one year ago," DIA Director Vice Admiral Lowell Jacoby told the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington. (…)

There’s a rising tide of workers’ anger against the war in Iraq and the cuts in government programs to pay for it — in enforcement of worker- safety laws, health care, Social Security, education and jobs. The recent victory of the nurses’ union over Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s attempt to deny adequate staffing ratios in hospitals shows that labor can turn the tide.
Last year, the Port of Oakland — the fourth largest port in the United States, ratcheting Northern California higher up on (…)

In the baseball steroid hearings, we saw aggressive questioning by representatives, but when it involves anything important, like war funding or CIA torture, members of this Congress are nothing but yes-men and neutered pussycats.
If you watched or read about the Congressional hearings yesterday conducted by the House Government Reform Committee, you’d have thought Congress was a real legislature, with bulldog representatives willing to stop at nothing to get at the truth.
There was Rep. (…)

Thousands will demonstrate March 19/20. The movement is expanding. The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition Action Plan includes merging the struggle against endless war with resistance and opposition to Bush’s assault on Social Security, social programs, unions and working people’s rights at home. Please see below for the next step after March 19/20, as well as an update on demonstrations taking place this weekend across the country.
Tell Bush & Congress: Hands Off Social Security! Stop the Budget (…)

Meeting point: Porte d-Anderlecht near « Gare du Midi », Brussels - Belgium
1.30 pm: special events - music - stands 3.00 pm: social movement’s demonstration departure
On 19th March there will be a European demonstration in Brussels. It will be a colourful event with many demands. The first part is the -Youth March for Work-. They will be followed by the trade unions, calling for a -Social Europe-. The Social Forum will form the third part of the demonstration, under the title: (…)

Would your death, dear Rachel, wake the dead World who watches our death sleeping in its bed ? Would the world remain silent and continue to be mislead And with lies, hypocrisy and ignorance continue to be fed ?
Would your death, sweet Rachel, be another number Added to the long list of martyrs and freedom fighters ? No shame, no decency in the faces of those who govern No humanity, no courage in the hearts of the occupiers
Would your death, humane Rachel, beautiful flower Be transformed (…)

By Doug Lorimer
On February 25, US Army officials at Fort Stewart, Georgia, announced that Sergeant Kevin Benderman, a 40-year-old army mechanic who refused to deploy to Iraq for a second tour of duty, will be court-martialed on desertion charges. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.
After having spent 10 years in the US military, Benderman missed his unit’s deployment flight to Iraq on January 7. Ten days earlier, he had given his commanders notice that he planned to seek (…)

Strong, credible allegations of high-level criminal activity can bring down a government. When the government lacks an effective, fact-based defense, other techniques must be employed. The success of these techniques depends heavily upon a cooperative, compliant press and a mere token opposition party.
1. Dummy up. If it’s not reported, if it’s not news, it didn’t happen.
2.Wax indignant. This is also known as the "how dare you?" gambit.
3.Characterize the charges as "rumors" or, (…)

There is real and verifiable corruption in Washington DC. These facts are all public knowledge, but the media refuses to put it all together. The only conspiracy here is that of the media to keep this story buried.
Last year whistleblowers exposed fraudulent practices by Dick Cheney’s (433,000 stock options, $1 million annual paycheck) Halliburton. Our government gave Halliburton a no-bid contract valid for 5 years. The top army official recommended an open-bid 1 yr deal, she was (…)