workers.org Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! march 1, 2007 Vol. 49, No. 8 50¢ February protests show

Bush aumenta Struggle heats up amenazas contra Irán 12 • vs. Iraq war funding

By Monica Moorehead WW COMMENTARY: New York INTERNATIONAL Congress could stop the war 9 The struggle from below to force Congress to vote NO on any WORKING additional funding for the racist occupation of and war on Iraq got Katrina survivors; stop the war at home—stop racist police ter- WOMEN a tremendous shot in the arm this past week with numerous anti- ror—stop ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] raids; war protests organized across the U.S. From the West Coast to military recruiters out of our schools and communities and no • Immigrant fight-back then the East Coast, thousands of people and especially students took draft—education, not war.” to the streets to demand, “Cut off war funding now and bring the and now 5 Chapel Hill, N.C. troops home.” th • Stop execution The Feb. 15-17 protests sent a clear message that there is growing On Feb. 16, while Rep. David Price (4 District-N.C.) was of Iraqi women 9 mass awareness that Congress cannot be counted on as a whole to on the floor of the House debating a meaningless nonbinding stop the Bush administration’s objective of staying in Iraq for an resolution, six youth were sitting in on the floor of his office, • Campaign for indefinite amount of time—even after the Nov. 7 elections, which demanding that the funds for the war on Iraq be cut off and that the people’s needs start being met. The six youth, members of the Cuban Five 8 became an anti-war mandate from registered voters. The Troops Out Now Coalition (TONC) initiated a national call U. of N.C.-Chapel Hill SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) for the Feb. 17 demonstrations. TONC is urging all progressive and Raleigh FIST (Fight Imperialism, Stand Together), were movements and activists, of all political persuasions, to unite subsequently arrested for the action. and come to Washington, D.C., for the march on the Pentagon The demonstration, organized in coordination with the CHRYSLER called by ANSWER for March 17. TONC is also urging activists Troops Out Now Coalition’s “Cut Off ALL War Funds Day,” More jobs on to occupy Washington, D.C., while the debate on the war funding Continued on page 6 takes place. 4 chopping block A TONC leaflet passed out in New York and elsewhere on Feb. 17 reads in part: “President Bush won’t stop the war. ... Congress won’t stop the war. ... It’s time to ... occupy Washington. ... Across lavender the U.S., activists and organizers are planning buses, car cara- vans, vans and peace trains to Washington—not just to march, & but to stay, because it’s time to go from mere protest to resistance. red We need a massive mobilization on the streets of Washington as Congress votes on war funding. We hope to set up an encampment t in D.C. beginning the week of March 12.” H TONC demands include an “immediate, complete and uncon- 1959 CUBAN ditional withdrawal from Iraq; an end to colonial occupation and imperialist aggression from Africa to Asia, Iraq, Palestine, REVOLUTION Afghanistan, Haiti, the Philippines and Puerto Rico; no new wars First step for against Iran, Syria or North Korea; hands off Cuba, Venezuela, Photo: Elena Everett 8 Bolivia and Lebanon; solidarity with immigrant workers and Students hang banner in front of Rep. David Price’s office, sexual liberation Chapel Hill, Feb. 16.

Black Editor on Sudan & Somalia 10

WW photo: Cheryl LaBash Abayomi Azikiwe

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Milwaukee. Youth focus of Black History Month H In the U.S. By Bryan G. Pfeifer human; how to build unity between African Americans Struggle heats up vs. Iraq war funding...... 1 and other disenfranchised individuals and communities, Youth focus of Black History Month events...... 2 The war on the Black Nation within the United States, including the white working class; the role of African- Al-Arian hospitalized on 23rd day of hunger strike. . . . . 3 particularly on the youth and how to fight back, sparked American and other women; the often negative treat- lively discussion at two Black History Month events at ment of youth by police and security personnel at public Federal judge trounces Ohio prison system...... 3 the U. of Wisconsin Milwaukee. spaces such as Mayfair Mall; the lack of public spaces NAACP People’s Assembly builds a working-class move- Speaking before a packed room of multinational for youth; the relationships between youth and elders; ment...... 3 campus members, representatives from three commu- nutrition; the role of unions and churches; the U.S. war Chrysler to cut 13,000 jobs...... 4 nity-based Milwaukee youth organizations spoke Feb. on Iraq and its effect on poor communities; and the neg- 13 on “The Reality of African-American youth.” On Feb. ative and positive aspects of hip hop culture. On the picket line...... 4 15, M1 of the hip hop group Dead Prez also spoke at the Concluded Mbalia, “We must no longer sit back and Court rules in favor of protesters...... 5 university. do nothing. If you are unorganized you can’t control any Congress could stop the war--but won’t...... 9 The chair for both events, Dr. Ahmed Mbalia, an situation. If you’re organized you can make a difference. assistant professor in the department of Africology and Youth are the spark.” H Around the world a member of the Pan African Revolutionary Socialist Party, began the Feb. 13 panel discussion by describing ‘Defeat imperialism!’ International women’s rights...... 5 the effects of institutional racism confronting African On Feb. 15 M1, or Mutulu Olugabala, focused on the International women’s campaign for the Cuban Five . . . 8 Americans, specifically youth in Milwaukee, and nation- relationship between Black revolutionaries in the 1960s Rainbow Solidarity for the Cuban Five ...... 8 wide. He described health care disparities, endemic and 1970s and the international movements arising from Sex-changes in Cuba will be no-cost...... 8 poverty, unemployment rates which are double that of these roots, including hip hop. Olugabala is currently on whites, failing schools and how African-American youth a U.S. speaking tour that is being filmed for a future DVD Lavender & red, part 91 ...... 8 in Wisconsin are imprisoned at the highest rates in the release. He had just come from Omaha, Neb., Malcolm Stop execution of Iraqi women ...... 9 nation. X’s birthplace. Black editor in Detroit on: Somalia and Sudan...... 10 “Our youth are a product of the environment they Olugabala, wearing a military hat with a red star International briefs...... 11 come from. This is a population that is indeed faced with insignia and “Cuba” above the star, spoke before a large major crises,” said Mbalia. multinational audience that included many long-time H Editorials Reggie Moore of Urban Underground grew up and still Black and other liberation movement freedom fighters— The prisons are the crime...... 10 resides in Milwaukee. He described how he had to search including African-American Milwaukee City Council for institutional assistance beyond his family and kinship Alderman Michael McGee Jr., who is currently under networks while he saw this wasn’t the case in more afflu- racist attack for defending and supporting working class H Noticias En Español ent areas. This, in part, led him and others to create Urban and oppressed people. Bush aumenta amenazas contra Irán...... 12 Underground in 2000. Moore said much of the organiza- Olugabala described his personal journey, beginning tion’s focus is “how to create spaces for young people in with his formative years from his birth in Jamaica to this community” and help them overcome personal chal- living in Brooklyn, Raleigh, N.C., and Tallahassee, Fla., lenges. Activities, mostly led by young African-American where he met his Dead Prez partner Sticman, helped women, include community organizing such as fighting form the Black Survival Movement and joined the African police brutality and harassment, educational programs, People’s Socialist Party and the National Democratic finding alternatives to incarceration and workshops. Uhuru (Freedom) Movement. Victor Barnett, executive director of Running Rebels, From there he gave an overview of the U.S. “unde- Workers World described how this organization has participated in help- clared war” on the Black Nation in the latter half of the 55 West 17 Street ing thousands of youth since 1980. Barnett said one of twentieth century largely waged through COINTELPRO, New York, N.Y. 10011 the main goals of Running Rebels is to “show the youth a counterinsurgency program that used assassinations, Phone: (212) 627-2994 that someone cares about them.” With an expansive torture and other forms of terror against the Black and Fax: (212) 675-7869 office in the central city, the organization runs a variety other liberation movements. Olugabala stressed that E-mail: [email protected] of programs focusing on educational and recreational particular targets of U.S. imperialism were the Black Web: www.workers.org activities. These include mentoring, tutoring, crisis sta- Panther’s people’s programs and dynamic leaders, orga- Vol. 49, No. 8 • March 1, 2007 bilization, anger management, daily living skills, a music nizers and theoreticians such as Assata Shakur, Fred Closing date: Feb. 21, 2007 instruction program and an after-school and summer Hampton Sr., Dr. Huey P. Newton and Geronimo ji-Jaga Editor: Deirdre Griswold safe-and-sound program. Pratt. The inspiration these struggles gave to interna- “We have to save us. If you’re not organized then noth- tional liberation movements was another main reason Technical Editor: Lal Roohk ing’s going to happen. As college students you can cre- for their neutralization, said Olugabala. He said after the Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, ate change,” began Carey Jenkins of Campaign Against military defeat of the U.S. liberation movements, begin- Leslie Feinberg, Monica Moorehead, Gary Wilson Violence, which works with 18- to 35-year-olds teach- ning in the early 1970s, the U.S. “doped out the ‘hood West Coast Editor: John Parker ing non-violent conflict resolution, voter education and and brought in crack cocaine in the most vicious way,” Contributing Editors: Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel more. His organization recently conducted a survey in in another form of racist neutralization. Fred Goldstein, Teresa Gutierrez, Larry Hales, predominantly African-American neighborhoods and Olugabala closed by stressing the need for revolution- David Hoskins, Berta Joubert-Ceci, Cheryl LaBash, Milt found that many residents felt “a lack of resources” was ary political education, using the science of dialectical Neidenberg, Bryan G. Pfeifer, Minnie Bruce Pratt a major reason why their communities were being dev- and historical materialism, and declared that organizing Technical Staff: Shelley Ettinger, Bob McCubbin, astated. Jenkins closed with a spoken word rap about to build for socialism to defeat imperialism is the way Maggie Vascassenno a 7-year-old girl shot dead by a stray bullet and asked, forward. Mundo Obrero: Carl Glenn, Teresa Gutierrez “If cocaine is running the economy are they really con- “All of us have a role to play in this struggle that we’re cerned about the youth?” in,” said Olugabala. Suggesting a life mission to those Berta Joubert-Ceci, Donna Lazarus, Carlos Vargas Questions by audience members included the role of progressives and revolutionaries present, he concluded: Internet: Janet Mayes the corporate media, such as Clear Channel, that often “I’m going to do everything I can to defeat imperialism. Supporter Program: Sue Davis, coordinator only portray African Americans as criminals and sub- n That’s my job.” Copyright © 2007 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved. JOIN US. National Office Buffalo, N.Y. Detroit Richmond, Va. Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published week- 55 W. 17 St., 367 Delaware Ave, 5920 Second Ave., P.O. Box 14602, ly except the first week of January by WW Publishers, Workers World Party New York, NY 10011 Buffalo,N Y 14202 Detroit, MI 48202 Richmond, VA 23221 55 W. 17 St., N.Y., N.Y. 10011. Phone: (212) 627-2994. (WWP) fights on all (212) 627-2994; (716) 566-1115 (313) 831-0750 [email protected] Subscriptions: One year: $25; foreign and institutions: issues that face the Fax (212) 675-7869 [email protected] [email protected] Rochester, N.Y. $35. Letters to the editor may be condensed and edited. [email protected] working class and Houston (585) 436-6458 Articles can be freely reprinted, with credit to Workers oppressed peoples— Atlanta Chicago P.O. Box 130322, [email protected] World, 55 W. 17 St., New York, NY 10011. Back issues Black and white, Latin@, P.O. Box 424, 27 N. Wacker Dr. #138 Houston, TX 77219 San Diego, Calif. and individual articles are available on microfilm and/ Asian, Arab and Native Atlanta, GA 30301 Chicago, IL 60606 (713) 861-5965 3930 Oregon St., or photocopy from University Microfilms International, peoples, women and (404) 627-0185 (773) 381-5839 [email protected] Suite 230 300 Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48106. 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Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., 5th Floor, branch nearest you. (617) 983-3835 Denver (610) 453-0490 P.O. Box 57300, New York, N.Y. 10011. Fax (617) 983-3836 [email protected] [email protected] Washington, DC 20037, [email protected] [email protected] www.workers.org March 1, 2007 Page  Al-Arian hospitalized on 23rd day of hunger strike By Dianne Mathiowetz ous charges of operating a “terrorist” cell of their case. Al-Arian and his legal team 22 to call attention to the U.S. govern- in the U.S.—just weeks before the U.S. reached a plea agreement that in exchange ment’s criminal violation of his civil and Palestinian professor and activist Dr. “shock and awe” attack on Iraq—was part for admitting to a minor charge, he would human rights and its blatant disregard Sami Al-Arian was taken from his Virginia of general assault on opposition to the be allowed to leave the country voluntarily for the conditions agreed to in the plea prison cell to a federal medical facility in Bush administration’s policies at home and would not be subpoenaed to testify in arrangement. Butner, N.C., following his collapse on and abroad, designed to intimidate people any other matters, thus allowing him to On Feb. 7 he was interviewed on Feb. 13, the 23rd day of his hunger strike from speaking out. reunite with his family. Democracy Now, which allowed millions protesting the U.S. government’s ongoing His trial, costing some $80 million, On May 1, 2006, the Florida judge reject- to learn first-hand about his case and persecution of him for his political beliefs came after he spent close to two-and-a- ed the agreement and sentenced Al-Arian to hear the conviction in his voice as he and activities. half years in solitary confinement under to the maximum time. This meant that he firmly stated: “Freedom is more precious Solidarity actions, including an interna­ the most brutal and harsh conditions. In was still in federal custody when Assistant to me than life itself and if I have to sacri- tional campaign of messages calling for his a stunning defeat in December 2005— U.S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg, in the fice, I will. But I will not give in.” release and a rolling hunger strike by sup- after a six-month trial where the defense Eastern District of Virginia, began grand Al-Arian concluded the interview by porters, are being coordinated by a coali- rested immediately after the conclusion of jury hearings into “terrorist” activities by thanking all those who have supported tion of Muslim and human rights groups. the government’s case—12 Florida jurors Islamic charities and think tanks. him and urged those listening to “con- Al-Arian, a respected academic, Muslim acquitted him of the most serious charges Al-Arian, citing his plea agreement, has tinue the struggle ... for civil rights in this leader and human and civil rights activist, and deadlocked 10-2 for acquittal on the refused to answer any questions before country. I think we are going to win.” has been the subject of government sur- minor ones. two consecutive grand juries. Held in con- For more information and the names veillance and right-wing propaganda for The federal prosecutors threatened tempt of court, his prison time has been and addresses to send messages of sup- over a decade. to retry him on the remaining charges extended indefinitely. port to, please go to www.freesamialarian. His arrest in February 2003 on numer- despite the jury’s thorough repudiation He began a hunger strike on Jan. com or www.masnet.org. n Federal judge trounces Ohio prison system By Sharon Danann Inmates cannot be considered for parole seriousness of his placement offense out- meaningful, rather than just boilerplate.” Cleveland until they are on Level 3. weighs his behavior.” Each time Mr. Landes tried to reply, Most of the prisoners with convic- The state’s attorney, Mark Landes, Judge Gwin interrupted him again. His “Incarceration at OSP [Ohio State tions related to the April 1993 rebellion raised that the prisoner had been able final shot was, “The country ought to be Penitentiary] is synonymous with in the prison at Lucasville, Ohio, have to file appeals and informal complaints. embarrassed.” extreme isolation. ... OSP cells have solid been on Level 5 for almost 14 years. This However, these appeals did not alter the At that, Mr. Landes raised his voice and metal doors with metal strips along their includes four of the five men known as prison’s decisions. fired back, “Someone else had a hand in sides and bottoms which prevent con- the Lucasville Five, who were given death However, Judge James Gwin engaged that and that was Slider and his hand was versation or communication with other sentences in sham trials following the in some questioning of his own. The judge on a ten-inch shank going in the back of inmates. ... It is fair to say OSP inmates uprising. Handcuffed and shackled but objected to a process in which decisions the neck of the corrections officer.” are deprived of almost any environmen- unbowed, Bomani Shakur (Keith Lamar) were being made by “some functionary, There it was for all to see, the true moti- tal or sensory stimuli and of almost all of the Lucasville Five was in court as one somebody who doesn’t really answer to vations of the prison system—clannish human contact.” of the prisoner plaintiffs. anybody.” In reference to keeping this revenge and vindictiveness: you hurt one Is this the slant of a muckraking journal- Representing the prisoners, attorneys prisoner with a good conduct record at of our own and we will never forget. The ist? No, these are the words of U.S. Supreme Staughton Lynd and Alice Lynd called a Level 5, he asked, “What evidence in the judge had cleverly gotten him to reveal Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, delivering witness, Lloyd Slider, who had injured a record supports that?” them, and the hearing was over. the opinion for a unanimous court in June guard 15 years ago in an incident unre- Landes replied, “The record of what he Even though it is exciting to hear the 2005 in a class action lawsuit, Austin et lated to the Lucasville uprising. Because has done previously is enough.” representatives of the prison system get al. v. Wilkinson et al., filed by courageous the guard’s subsequent death was ruled Judge Gwin commented that that was so thoroughly pummeled the state has OSP prisoners. That decision focused on to be medical malpractice, the inmate was “seemingly vindictive.” Addressing the shown its willingness to appeal all the way protecting inmates’ rights of due process charged with felonious assault but not fact that inmates kept at Level 5 never get to the U.S. Supreme Court, so this is far in decisions about transfers to OSP. murder, and he received a 12 to 15 year to go before a parole board, he went on: from over. But as the prison movement On Feb. 16 in Cleveland there was a sentence. “Prison officials are not the Parole Board. gathers momentum all across the country, U.S. District Court hearing on another In great detail, evidence was presented Doesn’t Ohio law give that authority to the prisoners will continue to organize within important aspect of this lawsuit. More of reviews of the prisoner’s conduct, which Parole Board? The Parole Board doesn’t the prisons and their supporters will con- than 50 prisoners at OSP are in a status had been “excellent” and even “model even get a say.” tinue to pack the courtrooms, march in called “Level 5,” as so clearly described inmate” with all programs completed. To the delight of a courtroom full of the streets and get the word out in any by Justice Kennedy. They are in solitary Repeatedly, there were recommendations prisoner supporters, Judge Gwin then way we can. confinement 23 hours a day, let out only to reduce his level, only to have those asked: “Aren’t you a bit embarrassed by “Lucasville: The Untold Story of a Prison to shower and have “recreation” alone. overruled. The reasoning given was, “The this? The inmates deserve a hearing that’s Uprising” is available at Leftbooks.com. NAACP People’s Assembly builds a working-class movement By Dante Strobino Raleigh, N.C. 3) Health care for all 4) Redress two ugly chapters in NC’s On Feb. 10, thousands of African racist history: the overthrow of the bi- Americans and other working people racial 1898 Wilmington government marched through the streets of down- and the sterilization of poor, mainly town Raleigh, N.C., in the NAACP’s Black, women from 1947-1977 Historic Thousands on Jones Street 5) Same-day registration and public (HKonJ) People’s Assembly. Under the financing of elections new progressive leadership of its presi- 6) Lift every historically black college North Carolina. dent, the Rev. William Barber, the North and university Carolina NAACP organized this event to 7) Document and redress 200 years of Photo: Ben Carroll put forward a powerful 14-point program state discrimination in hiring and funding for our civil-rights enforce- in the country, with less than 3 percent of demanding union jobs, health care, and contracting ment agencies and statutes now workers belonging to unions. education not war. This was the biggest 8) Provide affordable housing and stop 14) Bring our troops home from Iraq UE Local 150 and its Raleigh City demonstration in recent Raleigh his- consumer abuse now!” Workers Union chapter had a particu- tory, only surpassed in 2003 when 7,000 9) Abolish racially biased death penalty larly strong delegation. UE members marched demanding an end to the wars in Unions & anti-war groups unite and mandatory sentencing laws; carried emphasizing the fight for collec- Iraq and Afghanistan. Statewide, the only reform our prisons What was unique about this event was tive bargaining and living wages. Local demonstrations bigger than this in several 150 has been involved over the past two 10) Put young people to work to save the the presence of working-class and labor years were last year’s May Day immigrant years in the International Worker Justice environment and fight for environ- organizations. Union flags and banners worker manifestations. Campaign to repeal NC General Statute mental justice could be seen flying in the air everywhere. The HKonJ “People’s Agenda” Unions such as United Electrical Local 150, 95-98, a legacy of Jim Crow that denies 11) Collective bargaining for public included: the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, public-sector workers, mainly African employees 1) “All children need high quality, well- the Teamsters and UFCW made a visible American, the right to be represented by funded, diverse schools 12) Protect the rights of immigrants from impact on the march, which made this a a union contract. This struggle, strength- 2) Livable wages and support for low- Latin America and other nations rare occasion in North Carolina—the state ened by last September’s sanitation work- income people 13) Organize, strengthen and provide with the second lowest unionization rate Continued on page 5 Page  March 1, 2007 www.workers.org ‘The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre’ On the Picketline by Sue Davis Chrysler to cut 13,000 jobs Women’s class-action suit vs. Wal-Mart By Martha Grevatt pany that was always the smallest of strike. Both past history and current A federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled the Big Three. events—beginning October 2004 2 to 1 on Feb. 6 that the largest sex discrimina- February 14 is a day when many DCX is not losing money; profits with Delphi declaring bankruptcy tion lawsuit in this country’s history could pro- workers enjoy a special dinner with at the parent company have actu- and threatening to tear up its union ceed as a class-action suit. Plaintiffs’ lead lawyer their romantic partners, but not ally increased from $6.8 billion in contracts and close 21 plants—beg the Brad Seligman estimated that the class—all wom- everyone is celebrating. Chrysler 2005—when the Mercedes division question. What are the prospects for en who have worked at Wal-Mart since December workers and their loved ones are fac- lost money but the Chrysler group struggle? 21, 1998—includes more than two million women. ing a bleak future; the company chose made almost $2 billion—to $7.3 bil- UAW President Ron Gettelfinger “Simple math, given the size of the class and the that day to announce that 13,000 jobs lion in 2006. called the cuts “devastating” and has types of disparities we’ve shown, indicates that the will be permanently wiped out. It’s no secret that Chrysler’s finan- pledged to uphold the contracts, which losses to women are in the billions,” Seligman told Workers in the plants have been cial wounds are self-inflicted. Its expire in September and contain a the New York Times. (Feb. 7) dreading the heartbreaking news and addiction to profits, specifically the moratorium on plant closings until After a review of extensive evidence, the two- are calling it the “St. Valentine’s Day $10,000 profit it was making per SUV, then. However, his stated intention to judge majority found “significant proof of a corpo- Massacre.” Rumors have been flying drove it to overproduce the Dodge negotiate buyout packages suggests rate policy of discrimination.” They also concluded since Feb. 4, when the media specu- Durango model. High gas prices and an outlook that Project X is inevitable that “female employees nationwide were subject to lated that plants would be closed and concern around global warning have and can’t be fought. Gettelfinger, who a common pattern and practice of discrimination.” 10,000 hourly jobs would be cut. made SUVs unattractive to consum- sits on the DCX Board of Supervisors, With so much at stake, Wal-Mart announced that it Later reports hinted that an addition- ers, yet when Durango sales plum- should be informing the membership would ask a full panel of 15 appeals court judges to al 1,000 salaried employees would meted DCX pinned its hopes on the of exactly what might be in store for consider the case. face the axe. Chrysler Aspen, a high-end version of them. In another case resolved on Jan. 25, Wal-Mart The morning of Feb. 14 the Durango. The mood in the plants is not yet agreed to settle a federal suit and pay $33.5 mil- DaimlerChrysler (DCX) executives Both models are built at the Newark one of fightback. Workers are waiting lion in back wages plus interest to 86,680 workers. announced the actual figure, which plant, which for many years has had to hear the specifics of buyout pack- However, more than 40 state lawsuits, which accuse includes 9,000 U.S. hourly work- a “Modern Operating Agreement.” ages designed to ease the pain. The the world’s largest, wealthiest retailer of not paying ers represented by the United Auto At its inception, both management corporate media are doing their best overtime and making employees work off the clock, Workers union, 2,000 Canadian and the UAW leadership heralded it to cultivate a culture of resignation. are still pending. hourly workers represented by the as a cooperative venture that would Their message is subtler than that of Canadian Auto Workers union, and empower hourly employees. It was 70 years ago—when the Flint Journal 2,000—not 1,000—salaried employ- supposed to safeguard jobs by making was under the complete control of Immigrants: captive labor ees. The Newark, Del., assembly plants “more competitive.” In fact, it General Motors—but in the end it How did 12 Guatemalans granted six-month legal plant, with 2,100 workers, and the reduced jobs by cutting the number still boils down to “you can’t fight city work visas to plant pine trees in North Carolina end Cleveland Parts Depot, with 100 of classifications while creating posi- hall.” up as captive laborers in Connecticut? After their workers, will be closed. Two other tions for “clipboard-toters,” a derisive Nevertheless, the sheer magnitude passports were confiscated, the immigrants were assembly plants, in St. Louis and in term coined by the rank-and-file for of the crisis and its global implications forced to work nearly 80-hour weeks for $3.75 an Warren, Mich., will see their work- union members who functioned as provide openings. DCX is a huge con- hour, denied emergency medical care and threat- forces reduced by an entire shift. “team leaders.” glomerate whose tentacles circle the ened with jail and deportation if they complained. The rest of the damage will be Now Newark is just the latest MOA globe. The knife wielded in Stuttgart A federal court in Hartford will hear the case spread across the other Chrysler plant to get the axe. So much for is cutting heads not only in North the men have brought against Imperial Nurseries, plants in North America. DCX, formed teamwork. America but in every continent—with a large plant wholesaler. Law students in Yale’s in 1998 by the buyout of Chrysler by From Detroit to Newark to Wall the possible exception of Antarctica. Workers and Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic Daimler-Benz of Germany, will not Street, the capitalist media paint a In a voice that could put one to sleep, helped the Guatemalans file the suit. (New York rule out dumping Chrysler altogether. fatalistic picture. They use words such Zetsche spoke unfeelingly about the Times, Feb. 8) “Our thinking does not exclude any as “nervous,” “solemn” and “somber,” success of the “head count reduction” options,” stated CEO Dieter Zetsche. to “upset and crying” to describe the program at Mercedes. The increased (Detroit News, Feb. 14) workers’ mood. Headlines already sharing of common components, Supermarket baggers To explore those strategic “options,” speak of “pinching pennies.” A Detroit which reduces jobs at both Chrysler DCX retained JPMorgan as a consul- paper even quoted a salaried engineer and Mercedes, creates links between fight for hourly wages tant. Word of the cuts and the pos- as saying that “everybody does under- workers around the world. Organizers representing the Retail, Wholesale and sible spinoff was met with glee on stand that these are essential steps.” The repercussions of the cuts are Department Store Union are scouting supermarkets Wall Street—by Feb. 16 DCX stocks (Detroit News, Feb. 15) immense. The Newark plant, for throughout New York’s five boroughs to unionize had climbed 14 percent to a seven- The papers aren’t telling the whole example, generates $800 million for unpaid baggers. These workers are forced to subsist year high. story. DCX workers and the concerned the economy of the state of Delaware. on tips that range from $4 to $30 an hour. Now the highly secretive DCX community have posted online some In Michigan, where 5,500 jobs are On Feb. 10, workers at Food Bazaar on Manhattan board has admitted that they have bitter yet astute comments below sto- slated to be lost, the average annual Avenue in Williamsburg held a picket line to publi- been in talks with General Motors ries in the Newark News Journal: income dropped $3,000 from 2001 to cize their legal suit demanding hourly wages. And for two months. That GM might buy “The reason Chrysler was acquired 2004, and this latest crisis will drive the Bushwick community group Make the Road by Chrysler begs the question: If GM is by Mercedes was the fact that Chrysler wages down further. All the industries Walking is demanding more than $1 million in back so poor that it had to cut 35,000 jobs was the most profitable of the big involved in making a car, from rubber wages for baggers at the Associated on Knickerbocker and get the remaining employees to three in 1998. They had 7 billion in a to steel to glass, are impacted. Avenue. (New York Times, Feb. 11) take a pay cut in 2006, where does it rainy day account. After the merger A global working class coalition, Though two large chains, Gristedes and Food get all its spending money? (Could it the money was released to build a drawing in every affected sector of the Emporium, each agreed several years ago to $3 mil- be JPMorgan?) Mercedes plant in Alabama.” economy and every hard-hit commu- lion settlements after they were accused of paying With this plan, codenamed “Project “The Newark Assembly Plant has nity, could re-raise the slogan “A job delivery workers $75 for a 60-hour week, progress X,” Chrysler joins Ford and GM- had the BEST production rates of is a right.” When the workers in Flint for these sub-minimum-wage workers is painfully Delphi in a restructuring that will any of the Chrysler group plants. The were accused of violating GM’s prop- slow. Legal suits are often fought store by store kill a total of 100,000 jobs. Project X Newark Assembly Plant has had the erty rights by taking over the plants, through the attorney general’s labor bureau. adds to the havoc already wreaked by BEST quality of those same plants. they argued that they had a property With $7.15 as the state’s new minimum wage as the 2001 decision to eliminate 26,000 So, the decision to shutdown the right to their jobs—a right that then of Jan. 1 and with union organizers on the case, Chrysler jobs. This “turnaround” and plant came down to money and not Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins there’s a ray of hope for these below-poverty-level subsequent cuts have actually taken performance.” felt compelled to acknowledge. workers. out 46,000 jobs—one third of the “Maybe [Chrysler Group CEO This right is enshrined in the United Chrysler workforce. When is enough Tom] LaSorda should give up some Nations Charter on Human Rights. enough? of his paycheck, too.” The Job Is a Right Campaign revived Paid sick leave mandated The company is crying over a 7 per- “Chrysler stock (DCX) is up $5.25, the slogan in 1987 during a massive As of Feb. 5, San Francisco became the first U.S. cent drop in U.S. sales from 2005 to over 8 percent. Laying off work- wave of plant shutdowns. Since then city requiring employers to give workers paid sick 2006. Yet if sales have dropped only ers is like printing money for the a moratorium on closings has been a leave. Workers will also be able to miss work to 7 percent (really only 5 percent when stockholders.” part of UAW contracts with the Big help a sick family member or a domestic partner. its sales abroad are factored in), how “They literally sucked us dry. Sad. Three. Workers will accrue one hour of paid leave for every do the bosses justify eliminating 16 Very sad.” The urgency of the situation calls 30 hours of work. percent of the workforce? In fact, And one boldly asked, “WHERE IS for making job security clauses The new policy, passed by a ballot vote in sales are creeping back up. January THE UNION NOW—WHY DOESN’T watertight, and expanding them to November, was promoted by a coalition of mostly 2007 showed a 1 percent increase THE UAW STRIKE?” the growing number of underpaid, young restaurant workers, who make up many of compared to January 2006. Last A fitting question indeed, coin- temporary workers in the auto indus- the more than 100,000 workers without sick leave. month Chrysler sold more vehicles ciding with the 70th anniversary try. Enough is enough; it’s time to put The city should also be applauded for having the than Ford, a major feat for the com- of the victory of the Flint sitdown people before profits.n highest local minimum wage in the country: $9.14 an hour. n www.workers.org March 1, 2007 Page  Immigrant Rights & International Women’s Rights:

By Minnie Bruce Pratt strated for a shorter work week in New York City. Two historic struggles intertwine this On March 8, 1908, tens of thousands Two struggles year in the month of March: for immi- of needle-trade women workers poured grant rights and for international wom- through the streets of New York “to pro- en’s rights. test child labor, sweatshop working con- March 8 is International Women’s Day ditions and demand votes for women.” intertwined (IWD). It began as a day to bring work- (www.holtlaborlibrary.org) Elvira Arellano worker organizing. ing-class and poor women and women These women workers came from many tance and struggle from their home coun- And last November in North Carolina, of oppressed nationalities into the class countries. In the 1911 Lowell, Mass., “Bread tries, infusing the class struggle here with two Latina workers led more than 1,000 struggle. And it provided a day for women and Roses” strike, the women workers had new vitality and experience, tactics and Latin@ and African American co-workers to affirm their liberation as well as that come from 24 different nations and spoke strategy. in a walkout from the world’s biggest hog- of their male loved ones, co-workers and more than 40 languages. (www.oah.org) Last March 28, another “uprising processing plant. They were protesting the community members. Seventy-five percent of all women of 20,000” took place when that same crackdown on documented and undocu- The seeds for a formal celebration of factory workers in 1920 were recent or number of students walked out of classes mented workers by the U.S. Immigration IWD began in 1907 at an International first-generation immigrants. (“American in at least 70 high schools in Southern and Custom Enforcement Agency (ICE)— Conference of Socialist Women. It was Women in the Progressive Era”: 1993) California to protest anti-immigrant laws actions meant to intimidate workers from organized by German socialist Clara The dangers they faced were extreme. proposed in the U.S. Senate. organizing. (www.fistyouth.blogspot.com) Zetkin. Participants included Russian In 1911 when a fire started in the Triangle One of them was Rosalina García, a 15- Elvira Arellano, 31-year-old founder Bolshevik Alexandra Kollontai. The Shirtwaist sweatshop in Manhattan, 146 year-old high school student from Santa of La Familia Unida Latina, continues call for an international women’s day young women workers perished inside. Ana, Calif., who faced police with guns, her more than 6-month struggle against came from Zetkin in 1910 at the Second Most were between the ages of 13 and 25. tasers and masks. The cops, she noted, deportation from her place of sanctuary in International Conference of Socialist Most were recent emigrants to the U.S. were being particularly hostile towards the a Chicago church. Mother of a U.S.-born Women in Copenhagen, and European women. But, she said, “I’m never going to son, she has brought forward the spe- socialists began to celebrate IWD in 1911. Women leaders give up.” (www.uprisingradio.org) cial oppression and resistance of women (www.marxists.org) in immigration struggle The outpouring of millions of immi- immigrant workers, saying, “I fight so the In 1917, on International Women’s Day, Today, undocumented immigrant grant and undocumented workers called undocumented people will be respected.” thousands of women needle-trade work- women, and men, face extremely danger- forth by the organizing of the March 25 ers walked off their jobs in Petrograd, ous work, brutally long hours, exploit- Coalition took to the streets across the ‘A woman’s place joined by working-class men, swelling atively low wages and lack of child care U.S. for months, with women providing is in the struggle!’ the crowd to tens of thousands and pro- and health benefits. key leadership. Teresa Cervas, Southern California coor- viding the spark that ignited the Russian Undocumented women workers also Last May, Evelina Molina helped bring dinator for the progressive Filipino orga- Revolution. (www.cwluherstory.com) face threats of rape and sexual or domes- 40,000 people into the streets of Santa nization BAYAN-USA, notes, “Filipinos In the U.S., an early militant strike by tic violence, especially if they could face Rosa in northern California, using her are the number one export of our country, immigrant women in the New York City deportation if they reported the abuse. skills as a radio broadcaster and producer forced to leave our homeland and move garment industries on March 8, 1857 may Like the immigrant women workers in at KBBF Spanish-language public radio, to other countries for work and economic have inspired communist women to later New York City who resisted in such famous and her knowledge of the history of farm Continued on page 11 choose the date for the official IWD. actions as the “Uprising of 20,000” in 1910, women today are providing leadership in ‘Bread and roses’ the developing immigrant rights struggle New York City. On that date in 1857, soldiers fired on that sprang to life last year in the U.S. women textile workers as they demon- These women bring traditions of resis- Court rules in favor NAACP People’s Assembly of protesters Continued from page 3 was coordinated by a number of progres- By Dustin Langley progressive political activity. In 1985, rath- ers’ strike, has really pushed the issue of sive allies of the NAACP that have created New York er than have the unit disbanded, the NYPD collective bargaining into the conscious- a new coalition consisting of the AFL-CIO, agreed to guidelines that forbade the sur- ness of most working and progressive UE Local 150, Black Workers for Justice, In a victory in the struggle against police veillance of lawful political activity. people in North Carolina. North Carolina Justice Center, El Pueblo, misconduct, on Feb. 15, Federal Judge In 2002, the NYPD Commissioner of FLOC recently won the first labor con- United Food and Commercial Workers, Charles Haight ordered the New York Intelligence David Cohen, formerly of the tract for migrant workers. And, with the North Carolina Black Leadership Caucus, Police Department to immediately stop the CIA, won a relaxation of the Handschu Food and Commercial Workers, FLOC has North Carolina Council of Churches, routine videotaping of protesters engaged guidelines under Interim Order 47. waged a 15-year fight to win union repre- General Baptist State Convention, Triangle in lawful political activity. Haight ruled Working with the Joint Terrorism Task sentation for workers in the Smithfield Urban League, People of Faith Against the that the NYPD has routinely violated what Force of the FBI and with other federal hog plant. This struggle has played an Death Penalty and others. is known as the Handschu agreement. agencies, the NYPD once again began important role in the broader battle for United under the 14-point program, In the ruling, the judge cited two events widespread surveillance of individuals immigrants’ rights, and has also helped these organizations are fighting against that the NYPD illegally videotaped. One and organizations involved in progressive advance an alliance between Black and the cutbacks that working people face as was the March 19, 2005, march called political activity. Brown workers, a necessary weapon to a resulted of heightened U.S. imperialism. by the Troops Out Now Coalition, when According to the New York Times, “In strengthen working-class power. Organizing continues in the state’s rural activists marched from Harlem’s historic recent years, police officers have disguised Toward the back of the Feb. 10 march and urban counties, and intersections Marcus Garvey Park to Central Park and themselves as protesters, shouted feigned was a sizable contingent of anti-war between these struggles are now becoming then to Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s man- objections when uniformed officers were organizations and local peace coalitions. institutionalized. Under the leadership of sion. The other was a march organized making arrests, and pretended to be Between this anti-war contingent and the most oppressed, North Carolina work- by the Coalition for the Homeless in mourners at a memorial event for bicycle the labor crowd marched a vibrant youth ing people are in a position to build the December 2005. riders killed in traffic accidents.” (Feb. 16) and student contingent from Raleigh necessary power to throw off their chains. The NYPD used hidden cameras, The ruling by Judge Haight affirmed FIST—Fight Imperialism Stand Together. Saladin Muhammad, chair of Black undercover police and a blimp belonging the Handschu guidelines, which state Their banner read: “Collective bargaining Workers for Justice and organizer with to the Fuji Corporation to film protest- that the police may conduct investiga- rights now—justice for immigrant work- UE Local 150, said: “If we can identify ers. The judge called the police behavior tions—including videotaping—of political ers—feed the cities, not the war.” FIST some of the key social movements that the “egregious”—stating that there was no activity only if they have reason to believe marched alongside students from Chapel platform represents and speak to and get reason to suspect that the participants that unlawful activity may take place and Hill Students for a Democratic Society, these key movements to take off in a real were involved in unlawful behavior. only after they have received written per- who have been fighting to shut down a fight around that; and make connections to Lawyers involved in the case said the mission from the deputy commissioner in newly built military recruiting center. struggles centered inside the work place, on ruling will provide a precedent to chal- charge of the Intelligence Division. This unity between anti-war and labor environmental justice or around the war, it lenge other surveillance activities, includ- “The NYPD had transformed the atmo- organizations is a strong sign that the will have the possibility of leading flanks of ing the use of undercover officers at politi- sphere for political dissent in New York movement to end the multiple oppres- this assembly movement. It will be impor- cal gatherings. City with its omnipresent videotaping of sions caused by racist, capitalist society is tant to establish an assembly movement The Handschu Agreement is named for every demonstration, regardless of the developing a mass character. towards people’s popular power. In this attorney Barbara Handschu, who brought likelihood or suspicion of criminal activ- time it is becoming clearer that either two a class action suit against the NYPD’s infa- ity,” said Donna Lieberman, New York A movement, not a moment parties or the institutions to address social mous “Red Squad,” officially known as Civil Liberties Union executive director. Organizers emphasized that this march needs are not going to do anything. Just the Special Services Division, on behalf of “This decision should restore the expec- was not just a one-day event. Rather, it was like in Mexico where there is sense of dual members of the Black Panther Party. The tation that New Yorkers can participate an initial step in forging a mass movement power or popular power by peoples, this Red Squad was the city’s political police in lawful demonstrations without fear of to fight for the people’s agenda. The event mobilization can allow deeper education force, which gathered files on thousands of being placed in political dossiers.” (www. about building people’s power.” n individuals and organizations involved in nyclu.org) n Page  March 1, 2007 www.workers.org Struggle heats up vs. Iraq war funding

Continued from page 1 garnered support from youth and stu- dents, community members and veterans, as several dozen demonstrated outside while the sit-in was taking place. During the demonstration, youth unfurled a ban- ner from the roof of the building which read “Closed for Business.” The six youth inside the office pre- sented Price’s aides with three principal demands: that Price speak with them and pledge to vote against the upcoming sup- plemental funding bill and all war fund- ing; that Price use his influence to compel other representatives to vote against war funding; and that he oppose all aggression against Iran, whether through sanctions or overt military action. When the aides in the office refused to get Price on the phone, the youth decided to sit-in at the Photo: Roberto Mercado office until their demands were met. Debbie Johnson from the Detroit Action Alisan Fathalizadeh, a 20-year-old stu- Network for Reproductive Rights said the dent who was taken from the office by billions for the war are taking food from the Chapel Hill police as she was reading tables and resulting in cuts in Medicaid the group’s statement, explained what Photo: PaTricia Lay-Dorsey and Medicare that tens of millions rely on. spurred her to participate in this action: Ignacio Meneses introducing María Sánchez at Feb. 17 Detroit speak-out. State Sen. Martha Scott called for an “We’ve tried our best to work within the end to the war in Iraq and the war against system, but when the system is flawed, Out University ... and the U.C.’s links to for—cut the war funds—stop the war” and the people of her district who do not have little can realistically be accomplished. ... nuclear weapons labs like Los Alamos and “Not another nickel, not another dime for the fundamental services necessary to live As an Iranian-American, this war is per- other topics.” Bush’s war crimes.” in dignity. Scott said: “The $2.9 trillion sonal. It is directly aimed at people just Video excerpts of this protest The International Action Center, along federal budget will cut Medicaid, home like me and with the way things are pro- are posted at: www.youtube.com/ with anti-war students, held a picket line heating assistance, HIV/AIDS and mental gressing, it will target my family directly. watch?v=dU7Av-PKqhU. in downtown Buffalo on Feb. 16 despite health funding and eradicate homeless- I feel so helpless and distant being here, below-zero, blizzard conditions. ness assistance. It will eliminate before- that taking action against the issue is the New York state and after-school programs.” very least that I can do to show support for Hundreds of activists braved the cold Detroit Rep. John Conyers called for educa- all of my family in Iran.” for a march and rally that began at Times The cost of the war and the urgently felt tional programs that let everyone go to This action demonstrates a larger tac- Square in New York City on Feb. 17. need to cut off funding to end it now was school without cost. He agreed that suf- tical change taking place within the anti- Thousands of passersby also stopped to not a matter of statistics at the “Not One fering in Michigan is caused by the war; war movement, moving from symbolic hear the passionate speeches of activists More Penny for War” Town Hall Meeting that $2 trillion in direct and indirect costs protest to resistance. demanding that the troops be brought at Central United Methodist Church on and climbing are going to endless war. The six youth were charged with first- home now from Iraq, Afghanistan and Feb. 17. Hundreds of hungry Detroiters This is the only war where taxes for the degree trespass and released on an unse- elsewhere and that the hundreds of bil- line up daily to eat a meal in that very wealthy decreased. He said, “Close down cured bond. They plan to pack the court- lions of dollars being spent for war go room while over $9 billion was looted the war!” house with supporters at their first court instead to fund health care, housing, edu- from Michigan taxpayers alone to fund Maureen Taylor, chair of the Michigan appearance March 26. cation and all human needs. the war. Andrea Hackett, whose daughter Welfare Rights Organization, stressed that There was a lot of general enthusiasm served two tours of duty in Iraq, called the water service is shut off to 45,000 Detroit C alifornia expressed for going to D.C. the week before war genocidal, both for the Iraqi people residences each year. Children in house- Students shut down highway the march on the Pentagon, in order to put and here. holds without water are put in foster care because not having water is called neglect. An estimated 3,000 students from the pressure on Congress to vote NO against Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of Pan The state or county government has taken U. of California-Santa Barbara marched putting one more penny towards fund- African News Wire and co-founder of the title to 40,000 abandoned houses. There against the Iraq war on Feb. 15. Hundreds ing the criminal war in Iraq. Following Michigan Emergency Committee Against are 14,000 to 15,000 homeless people in of them shut down Highway 217 in a sit- the Times Square rally, the protestors War and Injustice (MECAWI), moderated this area. down protest near the school. Students marched to the offices of Sen. Hillary the speak-out. Michael Merriweather, a Stop the War chanted, “Whose streets? Our streets!” Clinton, a 2008 presidential candidate, Azikiwe said: “We’re calling for a total Slate Candidate on the 2006 Green Party and carried signs such as “Make levees, who voted for the Iraq War in 2002. cut off of funding for the war in Iraq. It is ticket and member of SDS and MECAWI, not war!” Speakers included Berna Ellorin, obvious the war is a failure. We think the suggested that possibilities not be limited According to an eyewitness account BAYAN-USA; Mary Lou, Al-Awda, funds that are being used—that are being to returning to the way things were in the posted on dailykos.com, “A crowd of Palestine Right of Return Coalition; wasted—every day in Iraq to carry out this past, but to look to the future and make 2,000-3,000 students blocked the bike Mary Klopart, Grannies for Peace; Ellie war that the U.S. government knows it the kind of life and world we want and tunnel. After about an hour of speeches, Ommani, American-Iranian Friendship cannot win should be used to fund human need and take this in our own hands. including one by a U.S. Marine who initial- Committee; Comrade Shahid, Pakistani needs right here in the City of Detroit, Ignacio Meneses from Latinos Unidos ly supported but has now turned against USA Freedom Forum; Mia Cruz, FIST; right here in the state of Michigan, right de Michigan introduced María Sánchez, the war, the organizers decided we should Fallou Gueye, Union of African Workers- here in the United States. It has to stop and whose spouse was deported in 2003— go walk across campus to give the people Senegalese; Jesse Heiwa, Rainbow the only way it is going to stop is that the separating her family, severely destabiliz- who didn’t ditch a chance to change their Solidarity for the Cuban Five; WayQuay, masses of people have to get involved.” ing her life and that of her three children minds and join us ... on the middle of our Leonard Peltier Defense Committee; Detroit City Councilmember JoAnn and forcing her onto public assistance. campus, in the middle of the day, disrupt- Jonathan Brown, World Can’t Wait; Watson said not one damn dime should be Meneses called on everyone to help stop ing everything, loud, angry, and passion- TONC representatives Larry Holmes, spent on the war, “That’s why we don’t have the raids and deportations on May Day by ate. I’ve been to protests before, but I’ve Brenda Stokely, Sara Flounders, Sharon money for health care, for education.” not going to work or school, not shopping never felt so empowered as I did today. ... Black and Dustin Langley. and not selling. “We then paused and regrouped and Other speakers included Jeff Montgomery from the Triangle considered our options before deciding to Councilperson Charles Barron, who Foundation, Michigan’s statewide walk down the freeway. I must have driven recently introduced a local resolu- civil rights, advocacy and anti-vio- down that freeway a thousand times, but tion against the war funding, Chris lence organization for gay, lesbian, here I was walking on the double yellow Silvera, chair of the Teamsters bisexual and transgender people, lines! In the middle of the day! I watched National Black Caucus and repre- expressed the full solidarity of the as cars made u-turns up ahead to avoid sentatives from Millions for Mumia organization’s leadership. He said if being enveloped by the crowd, still around and Fanmi Lavalas. there is any emergency funding, it a thousand strong. At Columbia University in West should be for Detroit and Flint, for “We walked down for about half a mile Harlem, 300 to 400 students rallied the poor and homeless. before we were halted by a hastily assem- against the Iraq War on Feb. 15. The David Sole, president of UAW Local bled police line in front of a Caltrans road- event was sponsored by a coalition 2334, likened conditions in Michigan block redirecting traffic. ... Students were of student groups. Following the to an economic Katrina. He explained giving speeches about why we oppose the rally the students marched around the Michigan governor has emer- war and why we need to withdraw and the the perimeter of the campus “to take gency powers to declare an economic parallels between Iraq and Vietnam and their message to the community” disaster and stop utility shutoffs, why we need to stay out of Iran and Peace chanting “What the hell is Congress Cleveland, Feb. 17. www.workers.org March 1, 2007 Page  Struggle heats up vs. Iraq war funding

NYC march Feb. 17. Larry Holmes, Brenda Stokely, Charles Barron at rally, above. Photo: Roberto Mercado Bernadette Ellorin, right.

foreclosures, evictions and plant closings. out against the war. It was an open mike This emergency measure was used during session where passersby could talk freely the 1930s by Gov. Frank Murphy and was about their opposition to the war. upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court and is A young African-American man who still on the books. Sole called on everyone holds a low wage job with no benefits in a to become an organizer. fast food chain criticized Bush for waging Two representatives from the Windsor war in Iraq while ignoring the victims of Peace Coalition in Canada brought the Katrina. message that they are holding a March 17 A middle-aged owner of a vending cart demonstration at the Canadian entrance stated that “A lot of people get killed for to the Detroit Windsor Tunnel. Like nothing. ... We have to stop the war by Detroit, Windsor, dependant on the auto working together.” Nick, a high school industry, has lost thousands of jobs. student, spoke about recruiters going after Sandra Hines is a leader in the fight the youth, particularly poor kids. against police brutality and to save her Julia López, director of Centro Pedro neighborhood school, Courtis Elementary, Clavel, a service-oriented agency in the one of the 51 schools tagged for closing due Latin@ community, remarked, “Our to Detroit public school budget deficits. youth are living without resources, being Hines stressed that action was needed now. brainwashed through the media. They are She said, “This is a war on the people here, not getting the facts to make an informed not just Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq.” decision, instead are being indoctrinated Photo: Roberto Mercado Among those who spoke were Demo­ The message of the heightening strug- by the media, sent to kill and die. There is cratic state representative and chair of the gle to end the war was reported in the no budget for education but suddenly bil- Massachusetts Black Legislative Caucus, Detroit Free Press on Sunday and on lions of dollars appear to fight a war and Benjamin Swan, who personally endorsed Channel 2 TV. kill innocent people.” the Troops Out Now Coalition’s national A young African-American man, refer- “No More $$ For War” campaign. Cleveland ring to Bush, said, “When is he going to Representatives of Arise for Social Despite cold and snow, Cleveland have enough, man, how many bodies have to Justice, a Springfield poor people’s rights TONC held a lively demonstration across be laid down before he gets the message?” organization, and Out Now, a Western from the West Side Market, a popular Tili Ayala, a young mother of two, stat- Mass. lesbian/gay/bi/trans youth organi- indoor/outdoor food market—symbol- ed, “You have to speak out or else the gov- zation, also urged opposition to continued izing the food that many are forced to ernment will speak out for you. We have funding for the war. go without in this, the most impover- to be the voice.” The Rev. Louis Alvarenga of Actión ished city in the U.S. The demonstra- Latino, a Springfield-based immigrant Police arrest FIST organizer Ben Carroll tion was joined by the Northeast Ohio Massachuset ts at Chapel Hill protest. rights organization, stated, “Many of the Antiwar Coalition, Cleveland Lucasville In Springfield, an economically dis- soldiers dying in Iraq are Latin@. The Five Defense Committee, Cleveland tressed city largely run by a control board immigrant community is suffering from Georgia Nonviolence Network and the Baldwin- established by former Gov. Mitt Romney, this war by losing our young men and Kennesaw State University students Wallace College chapter of FIST. the message of “money for jobs, not war” women in Iraq and by the money being led a successful street vigil/rally on busy was the central theme of a noon news con- taken away from healthcare, housing and Barrett Parkway in Cobb County Feb. 17, Philadelphia ference held at the Federal Building. All jobs in our communities here at home. with students and supporters receiving A group of activists from SEIU, Vietnam local media outlets, print, TV and radio We’re here to stop this war.” much positive response from drivers— Veterans for Peace, community organiza- covered the news conference. A multi- Greg Speeter of the Northampton- many hundreds of encouraging shouts tions and the International Action Center national group of area activists picketed based National Priorities Project provided and horn honks. gathered Feb. 17 in Center City for a speak- the Federal building. a sobering assessment of the war’s finan- The Columbus Peace and Justice cial impact on Springfield and surround- Coalition held their opening event Feb. 17 ing communities. The Priorities Project in Columbus—a Peace in the Park rally. provides information about the effects of They attracted 30-40 people, made new military spending on the national budget contacts and got media coverage. and on cities across the country. (www. “I think the time has come for the fence- nationalpriorities.org) sitters and the people who have otherwise Nick Camerota of the Western Mass. just sort of stood on the sidelines to get out IAC/Troops Out Now Organizing and have their voices heard as well,” stated Committee urged people to support the Brett Johnson. (WRBL News, Feb. 18) online petition drive to stop war funding The group is organizing a caravan to and called attention to U.S. threats of war leave Columbus on March 16 to attend against Iran. the March on the Pentagon March 17. For In Boston a squad of volunteers for more information, contact the Columbus TONC distributed 1,000 flyers at a busy Peace and Justice Coalition at cpjc.ga@ downtown intersection. The Boston gmail.com. City Council had just a few days earlier Sharon Black, Ben Carroll, Catherine passed a resolution condemning the Iraq Donaghy, Ellie Dorritte, Martha Grevatt, War which also urged people to go to Cheryl LaBash, Berta Joubert-Ceci, Washington on March 17 to protest the Dianne Mathiowetz, Bob McCubbin war. The resolution was introduced by and Gerry Scoppettuolo contributed Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner and to this article. passed 8-3. WW photos: Berta Joubert-Ceci, Susan Schnur, Signing petitions against war funding, Philadelphia, Feb. 17. Monica Moorehead Page  March 1, 2007 www.workers.org International women’s campaign for the Cuban Five By Cheryl LaBash in Florida with the aim of protecting their On average, the Cuban Five receive Olga Salanueva was a resident in the beloved homeland, socialist Cuba, from the family visits once a year. This is a violation United States for two years after the Five A special appeal to women around the kind of attacks that have killed more than of the prisoners’ rights. But it is even more were arrested. In July 2002, the Miami world is coming from the International 3,000 Cubans and others. These innocent severe for two of the Five: René González prosecutors attempted to use René Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban men, who are in fact heroes against U.S. and Gerardo Hernández. González’ family to force him to plead Five. terror, were railroaded to prison in June The U.S. government has blocked vis- guilty. In retaliation for his courageous This year—from International Women’s 2001. They are serving total sentences of its by spouse Olga Salanueva to René refusal to lie about his innocence, Olga Day on March 8 through Mother’s Day four life terms plus 74 years. González for six years. Adriana Pérez Salanueva was arrested for three months on May 14—women are called to rise up For the families of the more than 2 has not been allowed to visit her spouse, and then deported to Cuba. against the injustice being done to the million people imprisoned in the United Gerardo Hernández, since he was arrest- This treatment of the Cuban Five and Cuban Five and their families, demon- States, visiting is often extremely difficult. ed in 1998. Both women have requested their families violates the United Nations strate solidarity by all means possible and Prisons are built in rural areas far from visas on seven occasions and have been Declaration of Human Rights, the U.S. demand that the U.S. government imme- concentrated population centers. Travel denied every single time. René González’ Constitution and is widely condemned diately grant visas to spouses of the Five is expensive and difficult to arrange. The daughters—Irma, now 18, and Yvette, around the world as pressure demanding who are denied visitation. separation from spouses, children, par- now 8 years old—were only recently able their freedom grows. These five Cuban men had monitored ents and other loved ones is a cruel pun- to visit their father for the first time since The International Committee has pro- the CIA-backed paramilitary organizations ishment beyond any court sentence. his imprisonment. posed a number of initiatives: to incor- The injustice is intentional psycho- porate the demand for visas to Adriana logical torture. According to an article in Pérez and Olga Salanueva into all actions Dynamic grass-roots mobilization ZNET by Salim Lamrani, “Adriana Pérez organized on International Women’s Day; was granted a U.S. visa to visit Gerardo in to ask women journalists and other writ- Lompoc Federal Penitentiary after wait- ers to mention the violations these two Rainbow Solidarity for the Cuban ing for five years. But upon her arrival in women are suffering; to send messages to the United States, she was detained by the Condoleezza Rice demanding visas; and FBI, interrogated for 11 hours and then to publicize the struggle of the Cuban Five Five extends around the world expelled to Cuba without seeing him.” and their families. n By Leslie Feinberg The solidarity initiative has inspired self-motivated grass-roots organizing by An extraordinary mobilization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans (LGBT) and Sex-changes in Cuba will be Rainbow Solidarity for the Cuban Five is other activists who fight oppression based extending around the world. on sexuality, gender expression and sex. To read and sign on to the no-cost, like all health care call, visit www.freethefiveny. Circling the globe org and look for the rainbow. Individuals and organizations Cuba’s National Assembly of Popular places Cuba at the vanguard of the legisla- Individuals and organizations from more than 32 countries and 43 Power has agreed to discuss making sex- tions that acknowledge the rights of trans- are urged to help circulate the states in the U.S. have signed on. reassignment surgery free of cost to all vestites, transsexuals and transgender in call far and wide. Volunteers have translated the introduc- “transexuales” on the island who request Latin America.” The five political prisoners—Gerardo tion to the initiative and the call itself, so it. It places Cuba at the vanguard of leg- Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Ramón that it is now available in Spanish, English, The entire public health care system in islations in North America, as well. Sex- Labañino, Fernando González, and René simplified and traditional Chinese, Farsi, Cuba is free of charge. reassignment is priced out of reach for González—are serving long sentences Turkish, Greek, Portuguese, Japanese, Mariela Castro Espín, director of the many transsexual men and women in the in U.S. penitentiaries for the “crime” of Italian, French and German. National Center of Sexual Education U.S. And health care in general is a pricey infiltrating CIA-backed fascist comman- ASWAT—the Palestinian lesbian, (CENESEX), has led the move to make privilege denied tens of millions in the do groups in order to halt terror attacks bisexual, transgender and intersexual sex-reassignment available to Cubans heartland of imperialism. against Cuba from U.S. soil. organization—is translating the introduc- free to all who seek it. Mariela Castro, a The publication reported that Cuba’s The Rainbow Solidarity for the Cuban tion and call into Arabic. leader in her own right, is the daughter parliament will also discuss legislative Five call demands a new trial and free- LGBT and feminist activists in Croatia of renowned revolutionary leader Vilma recognition of same-sex unions. dom for these political prisoners, defense are translating and circulating the call. Espín and acting Cuban President Raúl For an in-depth historical material- of Cuban sovereignty and self-determi- Translations and downloadable leaflets Castro. ist look at the trajectory of the Cuban nation and a halt to the illegal U.S. acts and petitions are constantly being updated The newsletter Diversidad (Diversity) Revolution since 1959 on same-sex love of war against Cuba—including the eco- on the www.freethefiveny.org Web site. reported: “The measure would comple- and gender variance, read the Lavender & nomic blockade and CIA-trained, funded More information about the Cuban Five ment the present Identity Law that Red series at: www.workers.org. Look for and armed attacks by mercenary “contra” is available on that Web site or at www. already acknowledges the right of citizens the lavender and red logo. armies operating from this country. freethefive.org.n to change name and sexual identity. This —Leslie Feinberg

91 lavender & Early Cuban Revolution paved road to sexual liberation tred Just as colonialism and imperialism All performed to the sexual whims of the in the fabled ‘avant la guerre’ period.” HBy Leslie Feinberg left the island’s fertile soil cultivated as a fathers and scions of the U.S. and Cuban single-crop plantation, class enslavement ruling classes. Reactionaries prey on dislocation The first revolutionary step toward the tilled the fields of culture. Cuban citizen, translator and inter- For male homosexuals in Havana, par- liberation of sexuality, gender expres- When the revolutionary process began, preter Leonardo Hechavarría, and Cuban ticularly those who were feminine and/or sion and oppressed sexes in Cuba was the it had to start from there. defender, typographer and gay rights cross-dressing, social outlets for congre- dismantling of the sex-for-profit indus- Before the 1959 Revolution, the bur- activist Marcel Hatch, sum up that era: gating were limited once this large-scale try and interconnected gambling dens geoning sector of the Cuban economy was “Before the 1959 Revolution, life for lesbi- illegal economy was shut down. and drug-distribution networks. This Havana’s prostitution industry, booming ans and gays was one of extreme isolation As a result, Arguelles and Rich concrete, material first act by the Cuban with Cold War consumption—the largest and repression, enforced by civil law, aug- explained, this “prolonged the relation- Revolution unshackled human bodies, in the Caribbean—and the gambling, drugs mented by Catholic dogma. Patriarchal ship between the declining underworld desire and gender expression from capi- and tourism connected to it. U.S. crime attitudes made lesbians invisible. If dis- and more progressive homosexuals, lock- talist commodification, commercializa- syndicate bosses and wealthy Cubans with covered, they’d often suffer sexual abuse, ing the two groups together for sheer com- tion and exploitation. connections to Batista’s regime owned the disgrace in the community, and job loss. panionship and sexual pleasure.” For almost half a millennium the island profitable operations. “Havana’s gay male underground— That was truer for Cuban males than had been manacled by colonialism, capi- Researchers Lourdes Arguelles and some 200,000—was a purgatory of pros- females. talism and imperialism. The holds of B. Ruby Rich note that this illegal econ- titution to American tourists, domestic The two researchers noted, “Homosexual their ships brought enslaved peoples from omy “employed more than two hundred servitude, and constant threats of violence perspectives on the revolution could shift Africa. Their advanced weaponry was thousand workers as petty traders, casi- and blackmail.” (“Gays in Cuba, from the according to class interests.” cocked and trained on the enslaved labor- no operators, entertainers, servants and Hollywood School of Falsification,” wal- Middle-class homosexuals whose privi- ers. The ideological lash of the Roman prostitutes.” (“Hidden From History”) terlippmann.com) leges were threatened by agrarian and Catholic Church sliced to the bone. White Many were homosexual—male and Arguelles and Rich explained: “It was urban reforms banded, they said, with supremacist, racist ideology, patriarchal female—and many male homosexuals just a profitable commodification of sex- “the remaining veterans of the under- oppression of women and state-enforced were feminine. Crime bosses also exploit- ual fantasy. For the vast majority, homo- world” to oppose the revolution. repression against same-sex love ruled ed tens of thousands of heterosexual wom- sexuality made life a shameful and guilt- “Some veterans of the old underworld the economic and social order. en and men in the prostitution industry. ridden experience. Such was gay Havana enclave joined counter-revolutionary activ- www.workers.org March 1, 2007 Page  Activists around the world urged to help stop execution of Iraqi women By Brenda Ryan organizers of the two groups said in a statement. “We celebrate the numberless acts of resistance of People are asked to send faxes and e-mails with the subject People around the world are being called on to help Iraqi women, whether their resilience in the face of a line: “Re: The Imminent execution of Wassan Talib, Zainab stop the execution of three Iraqi women who have culture of rape, torture and murder by U.S. and Iraqi Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad” to: been sentenced to hang March 3. forces, their fortitude in continuing to give life amid Minister of Justice Hashim Al-Shilbi Wassan Talib, age 31, Zainab Fadhil, age 25, and state-sponsored genocide, their dignity as they try to [email protected] Liqa Omar Muhammad, age 26, were accused of par- maintain a semblance of normality for their children Prime Minster Nouri Al-Maliki: [email protected] ticipating in the resistance against the U.S. occupa- and families, their courage in burying their husbands, President Jalal Talabani: www.iraqipresidency.net/ tion of Iraq and sentenced to death by the Supreme sons, daughter or brothers, or in direct action against greetings-send.php?language=arabic an illegal and failed military occupation.” Iraqi Criminal Court. The three women, who denied Int’l Committee of the Red Cross: 011-41-22-733-2057 The groups call for protests in front of every Iraqi the charges against them, were prevented from see- [email protected] ing a lawyer and tried in violation of the Geneva embassy in the world. And they ask that individuals UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Convention. call and write to local and national newspapers to pres- 011-41-22-917-9008/ [email protected] The three women are being held at Baghdad’s Al- sure human rights groups to intervene and to write to Kadhimiya Prison. Talib has a 3-year-old daughter the Iraqi authorities to demand that the immoral and UN Representant in Iraq Said Arikat: 212-963-2800 imprisoned with her, and Liqa has a 1-year-old daugh- illegal execution be halted and the women released. [email protected] ter she gave birth to in prison. The Iraqi government can’t charge anyone with IRIN News Agency: 011-971-4-368-1024 The World Tribunal on Iraq and the BRussels taking part in the resistance, the groups say. Citing [email protected] Tribunal Executive Committee launched an interna- a 1982 resolution of the U.N. General Assembly, Amnesty International: 011-44-20-7956-1157 tional campaign to demand the release of the women. they say international law affirms “the legitimacy of [email protected] “The United States and its local conspirators, in cre- the struggle of peoples for independence, territorial Al-Jazeera: 011-974-442-6865/ [email protected] integrity, national unity and liberation from colonial ating hundreds of thousands of widows and reducing Reuters: 011-44-20-7542-4064/ [email protected] life in Iraq to a struggle for bare survival have placed and foreign domination and foreign occupation by all BBC: 011-44-20-7557-1254/ [email protected] n women in the crosshairs and now on the gallows,” available means, including armed struggle.” Congress could stop the war—but won’t By Robert Dobrow Congress could stop the war by choking Test”: “The latest version of the ‘hide the bogus “original intent” legal argument off funding.” The Globe quoted John Yoo, behind the troops’ mode of argument is that the Constitution should be followed “The mountain labored and brought one of the chief legal architects of the jus- to claim that Congress lacks the ability to to the letter of the law and not “inter- forth a mouse.” tifications for the Bush administration’s end the war. The story goes that President preted” by “activist” judges—never seem Surely, the tens of millions of voters torture policies: “Congress has complete Bush is commander in chief of the armed to quote this patently clear passage from who went to the polls last November in a control over the power of the purse, and it forces, and that if he does not want to end the Constitution: wave of deep anti-war sentiment, return- can simply say that no funds can be spent the war, then Congress cannot force his “The Congress shall have the power ... ing the Democratic Party to its leadership in Iraq if it wants to.” (Jan. 9) hand. According to this argu- to declare war, grant letters of marque position in the House of Representatives, But the Democratic leader- ment, if Congress were to use and reprisal, and make rules concerning had more in mind than a two-paragraph, ship doesn’t really want to WW its control of the budget to captures on land and water; ... to make non-binding paper resolution. show independence from the Commmentary restrict funding, it would rules for the government and regulation The House vote opposing sending more Pentagon or the military-industrial com- jeopardize our troops stationed in Iraq by of the land and naval forces; ... to provide troops to Iraq was certainly a rebuke to plex. Their opposition to the war in Iraq is denying them the supplies and ammuni- for organizing, arming, and disciplining, Bush and a rare show of opposition by the based on tactics, not on principle. Most of tion needed to defend themselves. the militia, and for governing such part of legislative wing of the capitalist govern- those who want to withdraw from Iraq are “This argument is garbage. Congress them as may be employed in the service of ment to the executive. But the resolution eager to beef up the war machine for new has the authority to require the top mili- the United States.” lacks teeth or will. If the legislators meant adventures against Iran, or Afghanistan, tary commanders in Iraq to produce a For the past 60 years, Congress—and what they said, they could stop the war or South America. So fearful are they of plan for safely withdrawing our troops that includes both branches and both capi- now. The House of Representatives has being labeled “anti-military,” their resolu- from the country. It can also require these talist parties—has steadily handed over its the constitutionally designated “power of tion made sure to state loud and clear that commanders to give their best estimate of constitutionally designated war powers to the purse’’ and could stop the bloodshed, they “support the troops,” by which they the cost of this plan. It can then appropri- the executive and the military-industrial the torture, the aggression in an instant by really mean that they support the mili- ate this money, specifying that the funds complex. At this time of Congressional dis- voting down spending on the war. tary leadership, the bosses in uniform, the be used for the withdrawal plan designed cussion over the Iraq war, much attention “Legal scholars normally sympathet- Pentagon war machine. by the military.” (www.truthout.org) from the anti-war movement is focused ic to the executive branch,” writes the Writes Dean Baker, co-director of the Those far right, neocon pundits and on whether Congress will resist this trend Boston Globe in a recent commentary Center for Economic and Policy Research, legal scholars—who always oppose every or expose itself as a submissive servant of on the congressional vote, “agreed that in a recent piece “Iraq War Lie Detector single progressive piece of legislation with the same war machine. n Early Cuban Revolution paved road to sexual liberation

ities or were pushed into them by the CIA,” Under the triple weight of the patri- that it is precisely this—the revolution Revolutionizing the sexes Arguelles and Rich reported. “Not a few of archies of colonialism, capitalism and that is occurring among the women of our Cuban men, as well as women, had the progressive homosexuals became impli- imperialism, a dynamic women’s move- country.” been treated as the property of other cated by default in counter-revolutionary ment emerged in Cuba as early as the Hechavarría and Hatch stressed, men—the patriarchs of property. activities and were even jailed. 1920s and Cuban women won the right “Following the Revolution, women won Revolutionary Cuban men have carried “Young homosexuals seeking contact to vote and be elected to public office in near full equality under the law, including out their own work to consciously build with ‘the community’ in the bars and 1934. (thegully.com) pay equity, the right to child care, abor- the consciousness of a “new man” on the famous cruising areas of La Rampa were After the 1959 seizure of state power, tion, and military service, among other basis of new social principles. thus introduced to counter-revolution- it was Cuban women as a whole who historic gains, laying the basis for their Ché Guevara, Fidel Castro and the ary ideology and practice. One example became the driving force to break the higher social and political status. Cuban Revolution as a whole challenged of such a dynamic is the case of Rolando chokehold of centuries-old patriarchal “This foundation, a first in the Americas, all Cuban men to examine male con- Cubela, a homosexual student leader who economic and social organization, and played an important role in women’s sciousness, attitudes and behaviors. fought in the revolutionary army but was the attitudes about women and feminin- greater independence and sexual freedom, This revolutionary effort, which contin- later enlisted by the CIA to assassinate ity it engendered. a prerequisite for homosexual liberation. ues today, aimed to change old ways that Fidel Castro.” The Cuban Women’s Federation The Revolution also destroyed the Mafia- men were taught to interact with women. The two researchers concluded, formed quickly after the Revolution in controlled U.S. tourist driven prostitution Like the Revolution itself, this work is “Homosexual bars and La Rampa cruising 1960. It exerted immeasurably more pow- trade that held many Cuban women and most profoundly meaningful because it areas were perceived, in some cases cor- er because it was a part of the Revolution, gay men in bondage.” is a process, not a single act. rectly, as centers of counter-revolutionary not apart from it. Hechavarría and Hatch added, “The The Revolution challenged the biol- activities and began to be systematically At a 1966 leadership meeting of the Revolution undertook to provide ample ogy-is-destiny “natural order” ideologies treated as such.” Federation of Cuban Women, President education and employment opportunities of colonialism, capitalism and imperial- Fidel Castro observed, “Women’s partici- for female prostitutes. ism that elevated patriarchs to rule. Cuban women organize for gains pation in the Revolution was a revolution “Advances for women in general were The Revolution challenged the reac- The overall situation for Cuban in the revolution, and if we were asked naturally extended to lesbians, and many tionary biological determinist concept women who loved women had its own what the most revolutionary thing that became among the most ardent defenders that men are innately superior and wom- characteristics. the revolution is doing, we would answer of the Revolution.” Continued on page 11 Page 10 March 1, 2007 www.workers.org

Part II The prisons Black editor in Detroit are the crime on: Somalia & Sudan new report released by The Pew Charitable Trusts warns that unless From a talk entitled “A review of develop- concerted campaign was launched to bring policies change in states across the U.S., taxpayers could be pay- ments in Somalia, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Somalia back into the Western sphere of influ- Aing as much as $27.5 billion for the prison industrial complex over the role of the African Union and the Pan- ence. The government of Siad Barre was armed the next five years. This number consists of $12.5 billion to construct new African Parliament: Aspects of the politics by the Carter administration and encouraged prison beds, as well as an additional $15 billion for prison operations them- of contemporary Africa in the era of con- to attack Ethiopia in the Ogaden region, pur- selves. (www.pewtrusts.org) tinuing imperialism” delivered at a Detroit portedly in support of ethnic Somalis suffering What is more alarming, however, is the number of lives that these poli- Workers World public meeting on Feb. 10 national oppression inside Ethiopia. cies will damage. The report estimates that by 2011, one in every 178 U.S. by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of Pan-African In the early months of 1978, the Ethiopian residents—1.7 million men and women—will be incarcerated. The number News Wire. military, along with Cuban internationalist of prisoners will outnumber the residents of Atlanta, Baltimore and Denver Azikiwe is a co-founder of the Michigan forces, entered the Ogaden region and put combined. Emergency Committee Against War and down the rebellion as well as defeating the Given the continued racist criminalization in the media, schools and in Injustice (MECAWI). He can be heard on Somalian military troops who had crossed over the streets, this population will undoubtedly be disproportionately people radio weekly on WDTW, 1310 AM, on Sun­ into Ethiopian territory. Despite promises by of color. Given the continuing drop in jobs and social services across the days from 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. in Detroit. the U.S. to intervene on behalf of Somalia, they country, the majority of this population will undoubtedly be poor. In Toronto, he can be heard on Thursdays did not dare do so, remembering the tremen- on CKLN, 88.1 FM, from 9:30 p.m.-10:00 dous defeats during 1975 in Vietnam, Laos As the world gears up to celebrate International Working Women’s Day, p.m. This broadcast can be heard online at and Cambodia as well as Angola. By the early the report announces that women are expected to be the fastest growing www.ckln.fm. 1980s, famine had swept through large sec- population of prisoners, with a 16 percent increase in their incarceration The talk was dedicated to the memory of tions of Somalia. In 1991, the government of over five years. The population of men in prison is expected to also increase the late Mama Adelaide Tambo, the African Siad Barre fled, leaving the country stateless. by 12 percent. National Congress Women’s League leader When the administration of George H.W. A media release for the report states, “A significant driver of the expected and widow of the late Oliver R. Tambo, Bush invaded Somalia in December of 1992, increase in the prison population is the cumulative impact of state policy longtime acting president of the ANC while this appeared to many as an effort to exert decisions. These include mandatory minimum prison sentences, reduced Nelson Mandela was imprisoned in South American imperialist influence in the Horn of parole grant rates and high recidivism [re-arrest] rates.” Africa. Go to www.workers.org/2007/ Africa. When Bill Clinton inherited this occu- “It’s a tempting leap of logic to assume the more people behind bars, the world/colonialism-0222/ to read the first pation under the guise of providing humani- less crime there will be,” the report stated. But, it admitted, “there is no installment of this talk. tarian assistance from United Nations coordi- clear cause and effect.” Prior to the advent of European colonialism nated sources, the stakes became greater due The prison industrial complex is a system where working-class people the center of world economic activity heavily to efforts aimed at disarming political factions are warehoused, forced to work for slave wages, and subject to racism, centered on the so-called Indian Ocean basin. hostile to America’s desire to establish perma- sexism, anti-LGBT bigotry, rape, torture, harassment and abuse at the It was the necessity of Europe to break out of nent bases in this region of the continent. hands of prison officials. this isolation that provided incentives for the After the United States military massacred expeditions and the slave trade. Mogadishu, over 50 Somali elders holding a meeting in Just as the repression of immigrants serves the bosses who can super- the capital of Somalia, was a major link in the Mogadishu on July of 1993, the Americans exploit immigrant labor with the threat of deportation, the prison system Indian Ocean basin. This area was connected were on a collision course with large sections serves bosses who can pay below-minimum wages for services ranging through trade, culture and transport with of the population. A clash on Oct. 3, 1993, in from telemarketing to building furniture—used in public schools in some Mombasa, Beira and Aden, leading into Asia Mogadishu resulting in the deaths of many states—to data entry. Minor, China, Malaysia and Japan. U.S. soldiers sent shockwaves through the People are often incarcerated for crimes of survival, or for crimes related During the colonial era in Somalia, the peo- country and led eventually to an American to drug offenses in a world where many turn to drugs as an escape from the ple resisted the onslaught of several western withdrawal from Somalia in 1994. oppression they face in their daily lives. If and when prisoners are released, European powers. The people of Somalia were Today the Americans have intervened once they generally face the same conditions upon return to the outside world, eventually divided among five different nations: again in Somalia. They are using the pretext of with the added stigma of a criminal record. Italian Somaliland, British Somaliland, French the involvement of al-Qaeda or other Islamic It doesn’t take rocket science to figure out what is needed to create Somaliland, Kenya—which was colonized by so-called “terrorists” as the cause of their healthy communities and healthy individuals: Jobs at a decent wage, and the British—and Ethiopia, as a result of the involvement. As anti-imperialists and orga- training. Universal education. Social services, including health care, child expansion of the Abyssinian monarchy. nizers within the anti-war movement, we real- care, after-school and drug-rehabilitation programs. Cultural enrichment. When the country gained its independence ize that any statement of cause for American An environment that promotes growth and potential. Why doesn’t the gov- in 1960, it resulted in the unification of the military involvement must be held to strict ernment take the money used for the prisons—and the war, for that mat- sections that had been controlled by Britain scrutiny on the basis of the many falsehoods ter—and put it towards these solutions? and Italy. However, the areas controlled by utilized to justify invasions and occupations. The answer is that the government isn’t interested in any of this. Its the French eventually became Djibouti as This is why the Michigan Emergency focus is on one thing, and one thing only—profits for the capitalist class. an independent nation. Somalis living in Committee Against War & Injustice has And as long as the prison industrial complex is profitable they say: Let the Ethiopia and Kenya remained under the con- raised the question of American involvement taxpayers subsidize it. trol of these states despite a longing for total in Somalia right alongside the occupation of reunification. Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the role of the But as always, repression breeds resistance. The marches demanding In 1969, a group of military officers respond- U.S. in the overthrow of the Aristide govern- justice for victims of police killings—like Sean Bell in New York, Kathryn ing to popular pressure seized control of the ment in Haiti in February of 2004. Johnston in Atlanta and others—are a reflection of this. The demand of government in Mogadishu. Their politics “not one more penny for war” at the Feb. 17 marches included the war at were left-leaning in an effort to break with the Sudan: legacy of British colonialism home against people of color and the poor. And the horrors of the prisons legacy of colonialism that was imposed by the and U.S. interference themselves will inevitably bring more into the movement for justice and British and the Italians. By 1974, a Mogadishu Sudan was also colonized by Britain during liberation—just look at revolutionaries Malcolm X and George Jackson. n Declaration was issued pledging to pursue a the late 19th century. The imperialists’ meth- non-capitalist path and expressing solidarity odology of divide and conquer was employed with the overall struggle against imperialism where the peoples of the south, north and west Subscribe to and neo-colonialism in Africa and the world. were taught that they were separate entities. Meanwhile in neighboring Ethiopia a gen- Some of the earliest nationalist movements Workers World newspaper eral strike beginning in early 1974 led to the on the continent took place in Sudan, with eventual collapse of the monarchy under His rebellions after the conclusion of World War 4 weeks trial subscription $1 One year subscription: $25 Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie. A group of I extending through the early 1920s. young military officers called the “Dergue” Some of the elements within the nationalist Name______seized power in the absence of a well-devel- movement pushed for a unification plan with oped nationalist or socialist political party that Egypt. Others sought a solution to the colo- was capable of taking control of the state. nial problem through the breaking down of Address______By 1977, the Dergue had declared itself the barriers erected by British colonialism. On socialist and moved towards an alliance with the eve of independence, which took place in City ______State ______Zip ______the Soviet Union and Cuba. The government 1956, the people in the south mutinied within sent students into the countryside to engage the paramilitary colonial forces, hampering in a literacy and development program. A the potential for a national identity in the Phone ______E-mail ______military base controlled by the United States country. The conflict with the southern region Workers World Newspaper in Ethiopia was abandoned as the country of the country lasted from 1955 through 1972, 55 W. 17 St. 5 Fl.,NY, NY 10011 212-627-2994 www.workers.org brought in advisers from Cuba to help build when a negotiated settlement was reached. up its security. However, a decade later, the conflict reemerged fREE mUMIA aBU-jAMAL • lEoNARD pELTIER Unfortunately, when Jimmy Carter became in 1983 and lasted for 20 years until a peace THE CUBAN FIVE & ALL u.s. POLITiCAL PRISONERS president of the United States in 1977, a Continued on page 11 www.workers.org March 1, 2007 Page 11

International briefs agreement was reached in 2003. —John Catalinotto ([email protected]) The Sudan Peoples Liberation ITALY: ties had not broken with the government RWANDA, CENTRAL AfrICA: Movement/Army led the southern rebel- over its decisions to keep Italian troops in lion under John Garang. A government Afghanistan and send troops to Lebanon. of national unity was established with 200,000 say ‘no U.S. base French judge exposes the understanding that the people in PHILIPPINES: southern Sudan would eventually vote expansion’ U.S. role in 1994 events whether the people would remain in Some 200,000 people, far more than In a report to French prosecutors late the unity government or establish an organizers expected, marched in Vicenza, Health workers demand last year that broke into the news in mid- autonomous region in the south. It was Italy, on Feb. 17 to protest plans to nearly February, French Magistrate Jean-Louis after the agreement between Khartoum double the size of the U.S. military base national budget funds Bruguiere accused Paul Kagame, who is and the SPLA was reached that the con- in that city, from 2,750 to 4,500 troops. Doctors, nurses and other healthcare now president of Rwanda, of ordering the flict in the Darfur region erupted. Two The Pentagon plans to keep in Vicenza the workers from dozens of hospitals, clin- 1994 assassinations of the presidents of rebel groups surfaced. The Justice and entire 173rd Airborne, a rapid deployment ics and health offices marched to the Burundi and Rwanda. The deaths of the Equality Movement (JEM) had links with force now split between Vicenza’s Camp Department of Budget and Management presidents, who were attempting to nego- the National Islamic Front (NIF) that Ederle and Ramstein in Germany. The in Manila to protest the refusal of the tiate a peace agreement, sparked a civil became an opposition force in northern 173rd answers to the European Command, government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo war and led to the killing of hundreds of politics. The NIF initially played a pivotal which can send U.S. forces into an area of to release the funds approved by the thousands of Rwanda’s people, who now role in the Omar al-Bashir government almost 22 million square miles, including Philippine Congress for 2006. The number 9 million. inside the country. 90 countries. health care group joined other govern- Kagame is a U.S. client who in 1994 However, a split occurred, placing the Vicenza’s citizens had been protesting ment employees in demanding a 3,000 was leading an army called the Rwandan NIF in opposition to the president and plans to build the larger base for months, Philippine peso across-the-board salary Patriotic Front, made up of Rwandan also the Sudan Liberation Movement/ as it threatens their environment and the increase instead of the promised 10-per- exiled Tutsis who had invaded their home Army (SLM/A) that appeared to be inde- tranquility of the city. But people came cent increase. “This is not even enough to country from Uganda. He was treated at pendent of northern influences. Since from all over Italy to join the national cover the recent increase in prices of basic the time as a hero in the U.S. media and 2003, the Darfur rebel movement has protest because the new base also threat- commodities,” said Emma Manuel, presi- by U.S. government figures. Kagame had further fragmented with splits inside the ens to make Italy a source of U.S.-NATO dent of the Alliance of Health Workers. been trained at the U.S. Army Command SLM/A largely over a peace agreement aggression throughout the African conti- The AHW says that the government is and General Staff College in Leavenworth, with Khartoum. nent and nearby Asian countries as well continuing to decrease the health bud- Kan., before returning to Uganda to lead The imperialist nations and their allied as Eastern Europe. Many Italians dem- get, privatize government hospitals and the RPF. press agencies have sought to portray the onstrating have said this also makes Italy increase hospital fees, while not allocat- Bruguiere’s report calls attention to conflict in Darfur as an African/Arab and especially Vicenza a target, since it ing benefits. the competition between French colonial conflagration with fundamental racial will house the aggressors. interests on one side and U.S.-British dimensions. Nonetheless, Darfur is pre- In the weeks before the demonstration, GUINEA, WEST AFRICA: support for the RPF as contributing to the dominately Islamic, like the population the Italian government and its right-wing ensuing massacre in the former Belgian in the north. There is no pronounced opposition violence-baited the protesters, colony. The ruling RPF made English an racial difference between the peoples recalling the anti-globalization protest State of siege official language in Rwanda in 1996 along of the country. It is the legacy of British in Genoa in the summer of 2001—when called against strike with French and the local language. imperialism and U.S. interference that is demonstrators clashed with police, who The 67-page French report includes at the root cause of the current conflict. brutally attacked the protest and even shot Faced with a resumed general strike charges that U.S. and U.N. officials, to These divisions are politicized in an effort one youth to death. These slanders were that was taking shape as a political upris- protect Kagame, helped cover up ear- to provide a rationale for possible mili- repeated in the Italian corporate media. ing, Guinean President Lansana Conté lier inquiries. It presents testimony from tary intervention. Consequently, anti- The U.S. Embassy also butted in with a called a state of siege. The strike resumed exiled Kagame bodyguards, spies and imperialists should look at the struggle letter “warning” U.S. citizens to stay away because Conté had appointed a close ally commanders. They identified a com- in Darfur in light of American and British from Vicenza as the demonstrators were as prime minister instead of sticking to mando team that allegedly shot down imperialists’ aims in the region. “anti-American.” the agreement to share power with oppo- the plane that killed the two presidents. China has stepped up its economic A group of U.S. expatriates organized sition parties, which had ended an earlier “Kagame deliberately chose a modus ope- investments in Sudan. The country is from Florence exposed these slanders strike. Hundreds of civilians have been randi that, in the particularly tense envi- rich in oil and consequently provides the with an open letter to the ambassador, killed by the military since early January, ronment … between the Hutu and Tutsi American government with an incentive saying the contents of his letter “dissemi- when the strike struggles first broke out. communities, could only cause bloody to seek dominance over the resources. nate fear and ignorance and are offen- (See WW, Feb. 15) retaliation against the Tutsi community,” The only true and lasting solution to the sive to the intelligence of U.S. citizens in During the state of siege, the military says Bruguiere’s report. The implication Darfur crisis lies within the Sudanese Italy.” The group, U.S. Citizens Against has carried out raids and arrested 278 is that Kagame accepted a probable mas- people themselves and does not require a War (Florence), also participated in the people as of Feb. 16, according to a gov- sacre of Rwandans and even of his own military occupation by the West. Vicenza march. ernment source, including leaders of all Tutsi ethnic group as a price for seizing Distributed by: The Pan-African The authorities had a 1,300-person the opposition parties and some trade- power in the country. Research and Documentation Center, force of local police and carabinieri (fed- union leaders. A spokesperson for one of Since 1994, imperialist apologists have 50 SCB Box 47, Wayne State University, eral police) on hand to repress the march- those opposition parties, the Union of the used the Rwandan massacre as a propa- Detroit, MI 48202; e-mail: ac6123@ ers, if necessary. This time, despite all the People of Guinea (RPG), told the French ganda weapon to justify intervention from wayne.edu baiting and provocations from the gov- Press Agency on Feb. 18 that “more than Western countries in Africa, most recently ernment, there were no confrontations. a half of our federal and regional leader- in Somalia and Sudan, and other parts of The massive protest has also caused ship have been arrested or found it nec- the world—for example, the Balkans from problems for the “center-left” government essary to take exile in other cities.” The 1995 to 1999—as alleged peacekeepers. Immigration & led by Romano Prodi, because parties that state of siege originally had a curfew that Bruguiere’s report exposes the Western make up his ruling coalition—including allowed movement only six hours during imperialist role as oppressor in Africa and Int’l Women’s the Refoundation Communist Party and the day, though it has subsequently been competition among the imperialists as a the Greens—joined the protest. These par- slightly relaxed. key factor in the deaths. Day Continued from page 5 of basics like food, water and shelter dur- ing and after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Lavender and red stability.” The Philippines sends more They are naming themselves as Internally Continued from page 9 Everyone—of all sexes, genders and nurses to the U.S. than any other country. Displaced Person (IDP’s). (www. en are naturally submissive. sexualities, from children to elders—was Of the several thousand a year, the over- peopleshurricane.org) But genuine economic and social equal- called up for these two life-and-death whelming majority are female. There are estimates that up to 80 per- ity for women, and profound change of the tasks. Affiliated with BAYAN, the group cent of Katrina survivors were women of attitudes of men, could only be generated Inside Cuba, trying to fit many thou- “Babae” (Woman) organizes for “the rights color. (Chicago Tribune, Sept. 14, 2006) by economic and social reorganization sands of urban homosexual and/or and welfare of multi-generational Filipino Central to the struggle against the gov- that could lift the standard of living for transgender males into agricultural work women in the United States.” Their chant ernment-made catastrophes of the hur- all. Imperialism was determined to thwart sharpened a social contradiction. is: “We are people! We are not illegal! A ricanes are the African-American women and sabotage that work at every moment. Outside Cuba, propagandistic exploi- woman’s place is in the struggle!” of the Gulf Coast, like Dyan French Cole, U.S. finance capital cinched the island tation of this contradiction led to the In the U.S. South, organizers are mak- also known as Mama D, a long-time com- in an economic noose, and the Pentagon single greatest slander against the Cuban ing the connection between the rights munity leader. cordoned the island, attacking overtly and Revolution in the history of the workers’ of immigrants to stay and the right of Out of her home in the Seventh Ward, covertly. state. Katrina survivors—who are primar- she and the “Soul Patrol” provide free As Washington and the Pentagon ratch- Next: Vilification of the Cuban ily African-American—to return to their food to her neighbors, help clean up their eted up the pressure on Cuba, and the CIA Revolution. homes. (Mississippi Immigrant Rights houses, fight to keep housing from being having spearheaded the commando inva- Parts 1-90 can be read at workers. Association) demolished and fight for the right of sion at Playa Girón, the entire island’s pop- org. Look for the lavender and red logo. Both those born in the Gulf Coast region human beings to have a home from which ulation had to be organized and mobilized Parts 86-90 also explore sexuality, gen- and those who have immigrated there they will not be torn away by the forces of to meet two huge tasks in 1965—military der and sex on the island before and refer to the U.N. principles on internal money and power. (www.aas.duke.edu/ defense of the Revolution and harvest of after the 1959 Cuban Revolution. displacement to indict the U.S. for denial katrina) n the crop that sustained economic life. E-mail: [email protected] ¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los países, uníos! Bush aumenta las amenazas de guerra contra Irán Por LeiLani Dowell Si la administración de Bush ya ha siva: “Sabemos que están. Sabemos que No se puede descartar la agresión optado por lanzar una nueva guerra en están suministrados por la Fuerza Quds. estadounidense Usando un aluvión de “evidencias” contra de Irán en un futuro cercano o no, Sabemos que la Fuerza Quds es parte del Aunque la posibilidad de una nueva anónimas y no confirmadas, Washington decididamente ha aumentado la campaña gobierno de Irán. … Mi trabajo es prote- guerra parece arriesgada para la admin- ha intentado forjar la opinión pública en a favor de una guerra. ger a nuestras tropas”. (New York Times, istración de Bush y posiblemente podría contra del gobierno de Irán a través de un 14 del febrero) resultar en una situación peor para ellos Prensa corporativa anuncio similar a los anuncios que produ- que la actual, no quiere decir que los mili- ayuda campaña bélica Intensificación es jeron la invasión de Irak en el 2003. taristas en Washington no corran el riesgo distracción de Irak El Presidente Bush dijo que el anuncio Como de costumbre, los medios de de una guerra desastrosa en un esfuerzo no fue hecho con la intención de ser amen- comunicación corporativos han apoyado El 7 de noviembre pasado, una mayoría imprudente para invertir su derrota. aza de guerra contra Irán. Sin embargo, esta campaña publicando en primera de votantes votó para proteger a las tro- El periódico “The Los Angeles Times” dado el incremento en las hostilidades de plana y con la más alta prioridad esta pas trayéndolas a casa, en lo que fue con- reporta que Israel, el aliado más leal de los la administración hacia ese país—incluy- reciente ola de acusaciones contra Irán. siderado un referendo a favor de la reti- Estados Unidos en la región, “ha empe- endo la imposición de sanciones, la A pesar de que la “evidencia” presentada rada de las tropas de Irak. Esos mismos zado una campaña insólitamente abierta instalación de portaaviones cerca de las es a lo sumo dudosa, la han presentado de millones de personas están prestando para incitar presiones internacionales costas de Irán con el intento de provocar forma para que se establezca un caso en la mucha atención a los votos pendientes en tanto políticas como económicas contra un altercado, y el reciente alegato de que conciencia pública. el Congreso sobre el aumento de fondos Irán. Ellos advierten que el tiempo se está hay armas iraníes en Irak—una movida Sin embargo, hasta los medios de para la guerra, y a pesar de las voces de acabando e insinúan que recurrirán a la agresiva por parte de Washington no está comunicación monopolistas han sido las masas expresadas en las urnas elec- fuerza militar si fallan esas presiones.” (7 fuera de lo posible. forzados, en forma limitada, a reconocer torales, tal parece que el Congreso sólo de febrero) Es necesario que el movimiento anti- que esta campaña propagandística está está dispuesto a proponer resoluciones Además, algunos demócratas destaca- guerra y antiimperialista tome estas siguiendo el mismo patrón que el truco no vinculantes contra la prolongada ocu- dos se han sumado a la postura de amen- amenazas de guerra por los Estados de “las armas de destrucción masiva” uti- pación de Irak. azas contra Irán. En una entrevista en Unidos contra Irán muy en serio, y exija lizado contra Irak. Dada las consecuencias Considerando el voto en el Congreso, “Democracy Now”, la directora del grupo del Congreso, del Pentágono y de la Casa de la cobertura de las mentiras utilizadas la nueva campaña de propaganda contra Acción para la Paz de Nueva Hampshire Blanca “!no más guerras!” para vender la guerra de Irak, algunos de Irán parece como si fuera otra distrac- (New Hamshire Peace Action), Anne los periódicos intentaron protegerse pub- ción con la intención de moderar los sen- Miller, describió una conversación que Una nueva campaña publicitaria licando editoriales al día siguiente cues- timientos contra la guerra de una mayoría había tenido con la candidata presiden- Durante una rueda de prensa el 10 tionando la falta de evidencia concreta, abrumadora de la clase trabajadora en los cial demócrata Hillary Clinton: “Me de febrero en la Zona Verde en Bagdad, y hasta los motivos de la conferencia de Estados Unidos. El momento escogido acerqué a la senadora y . . . le pregunté aún los oficiales que presentaron la evi- prensa donde la noticia fue divulgada. para divulgar la “noticia”, apenas un mes si ella de veras dejaría todas opciones en dencia—un alto oficial de la defensa, un El día después de la presentación, el ofi- antes del cuarto aniversario de la guerra la mesa [en cuanto a Irán] y cómo podría analista de la defensa y un experto en cial de alto rango militar, el general Peter el 17 de marzo, cuando masivas protestas ella amenazar, en efecto, a los niños de explosivos, rehusaron identificarse públi- Pace, del Estado Mayor Conjunto de los antiguerra están programadas para ese otros países con genocidio nuclear. Ella camente—a la vez que presentaban lo EEUU, admitió a la radiodifusora, Voz de día en Washington y alrededor del país, me clavó los ojos, y dijo ‘No hay opciones que ellos llamaron fragmentos de las más América, “Yo no diría según lo que yo sé, no es una coincidencia. quitadas de la mesa.’” (13 de febrero) mortíferas municiones y armas en Irak. que el gobierno de Irán sepa claramente En una entrevista del 12 de febrero Durante el debate sobre Irak en el Alegaron que los “niveles más altos” del o sea cómplice”. (Prensa Asociada, 13 de en el programa de televisión “Good Congreso el 13 de febrero, el represent- gobierno iraní han estado supliendo estas febrero) Morning America”, el presidente de Irán, ante. Anthony Weiner, D-NY, sugirió que armas—conocidas como Penetradores Intentando minimizar la importan- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad puntualizó: “Yo si bien Irak era el blanco equivocado, Irán Explosivamente Formados—a las fuerzas cia de la crítica que siguió a la declara- creo que los americanos han cometido es el correcto: “Nuestra acción en Irak nos de resistencia en Irak y que esas armas ción de Pace, el Presidente George Bush un error en Irak … y es por eso que está ha estirado hasta el límite. han sido responsable por la muerte aseveró en una conferencia de prensa el intentando acusar a otros pueblos, y acu- ¿Saben qué mandaría el mensaje cor- de 170 de las 3.000 y pico de bajas 14 de febrero que él estaba convencido sar a otros no va a resolver el problema”. recto? Retirar algunas de esas tropas de estadounidenses. de que el gobierno de Irán está propor- Ahmadinejad señaló además que Bagdad y mandarlas a la frontera con A l@s corresponsales de prensa no se cionando armas a combatientes en Irak. hay evidencia clara y abierta de que los Irán.” les permitió grabar o fotografiar ningún Un periodista le preguntó, “¿Cuáles son Estados Unidos es el mayor ejecutor de la Mientras que hay indicios que señalan aspecto de la reunión. (Washington Post, las garantías que le puede dar al pueblo violencia en Irak: “Yo les puedo dar cifras el deseo de la administración de un ataque 12 de febrero) En su lugar, fueron provis- estadounidense de que los reportes de y números que se saben: más de 160.000 aéreo contra Irán para tratar de reducir tas a la prensa las fotografías de las muni- inteligencia están correctos esta vez?” tropas estadounidenses están en Irak. las bajas estadounidenses — y asegurar la ciones. El periódico “The Los Angeles Bush dio una respuesta simplista y eva- ¿Qué están haciendo en Irak?” muerte y la destrucción del pueblo iraní Times” reporta que, “Los oficiales dije- — otro indicio alarmante es el deseo de ron que siguiendo el rastro de cada pieza Bush de añadir 92.000 tropas al ejército mostrada conduce a Irán, aunque para en los próximos cinco años, como expresó los ojos no entrenados no habían marcas en su discurso sobre el Estado de la Unión iraníes fuera de las encontradas en la din- el 23 de enero. amita. Algunas de las municiones tenían El teniente general jubilado del ejér- escritura occidental”. cito William Odom, quien fue director No se dio ninguna explicación sobre del programa de la Guerra de Estrellas qué era lo que identificaba a estas armas (Star-Wars) de Ronald Reagan, advirtió, como de fabricación iraní. No se dio nin- “El miedo a que el Congreso le haga frente guna evidencia concreta que ligara al [a la guerra en Irak] ayuda a explicar la gobierno iraní y la manufactura o trans- prisa de la administración y los neo-con- ferencia de estas armas a Irak. servadores de expandir la guerra a Irán. El vocero de la Cancillería de Irán, Aquí vemos semejanzas con la estrategia Mohammad Ali Hosseini, lo puso en de Nixon y Kissinger en Vietnam: ampli- claro: “No se puede confiar en tales acusa- ar la guerra hasta Camboya y Laos. Solo ciones ni ser presentadas como eviden- que esta vez, las consecuencias adversas cias. Estados Unidos tiene una larga his- serían mucho peor.” (Washington Post, 11 toria de fabricación de evidencias. Tales de febrero) acusaciones son inaceptables. (AP, 13 de Correo electrónico: ldowell@workers. febrero) org