Enter your email address and sign up for our announcement and updates list, Solidarity News. Get articles and upcoming events delivered every month.
Solidarity depends on the generous contributions of its friends and allies to continue its work. Please consider giving!

International Viewpoint is the monthly English-language magazine of the Fourth International. IV is a window to radical alternatives world-wide, carrying reports, analysis and debates from all corners of the globe. Correspondents in over 50 countries report on popular struggles, and the debates that are shaping the left of tomorrow.

Order these eye-catching buttons to spread the demand for social and economic justice. If you don't have paypal, email us!

Reads Bail out People, not Wall Street!. Around the edge, these 2 1/8" buttons read "Free Health Care," "Defend Public Services," "Living Wage Jobs," "Free Higher Education," "Troops Home Now," "Rebuild the Gulf Coast," and "Affordable Housing."

Brown and black buttons demand: "Bring all the Troops Home Now!" Wear one everywhere to start a conversation about why US occupation can never be a force for liberation, and people's needs should come before the massive military budget.

These 2 1/8" buttons read, in Spanish and English: ¡Alto a las deporaciones - Legalización para todos! Stop the deportations - Legalization for all!
Obama in Irag and Afghanistan
Thanks for the remarks Dianne.
The main point I think is #3. Removing "combat troops";. but maintaining 30,000-50,000 US troops in Iraq! What do we call that? At least, it's an occupation, a permanent siege and continued assault on the Iraqi people.
That's the really amazing coup Obama has pulled of - "ending the war", merely by saying so, all the while committing his administration to the quagmires, death, and full support of US-control-of-the-Middle-East-no-matter-the-cost. Good 'ol imperialism.
A smarter-than-usual commentator pointed out that the 19-month-thing is NOT an Obama policy - in fact, it's in line with the 'status of forces' agreement negotiated between Bush and the Iraqi government! It was in place before he was inaugurated. Obama's blatantly trying to bullshit us.
It's flexible anyhow. Robert Gates, Bush's - or, excuse me, Obama's - Secretary of Defense, was asked if this remnant "counter-terrorism" force (at least 30,000!) will be allowed the "rules of engagement" of current US soldiers. In other words, can they shoot to kill Iraqi's with full direction and cover by US military command. Gates' answer - "Yes, of course". Under Obama's plan, on it's own terms, Iraq is not being turned over to Iraqi's in 19 months. It should be free now.
Should we be surprised if, say, in 2011, Obama says we need an additional 20,000 troops added to the "counter-terrrorism efforts" in Iraq, supplementing the bombing and murder being committed in Afghanistan and Pakistan? Should we be surprised if this "war" is deemed over, while US troops slaughter and are themselves killed and maimed in Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan...Iran? Then shame on us and our "peace" movement.