Articles
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Recent coups across west Africa have underlined the growing resistance in the global South to western domination. Each of these coups was led by military officers angered by the presence of French and US troops and by the permanent economic crises inflicted on their countries. Niger is a case in point with high levels of poverty in the country alongside the exploitation of its natural resources, especially uranium, vital to the French nuclear power industry. France is the historic colonial power and has used its control of the currency in west Africa, the CFA franc, and all the usual tactics of imperialism, to maintain its dominance in the region. However, France is being challenged by the US. Both have an extensive military presence in Niger.
Unsurprisingly sanctions have been imposed and, with the encouragement of France, the Economic Community of West Africa is threatening military intervention. The infamous Victoria Nuland, Acting US Deputy Secretary of State has been deployed in the region to promote US interests and gather forces to try to intervene.
Monday, September 25, 2023
As we remember the 50th anniversary of the coup in Chile it stands as a concrete example which exposes the myth that Britain and the US stand for democracy. Both actively subverted the democratically elected Popular Unity government and sponsored the brutal coup which lead to the torture, disappearance, imprisonment and murder of so many Chileans. Popular Unity instituted many reforms and had many great achievements, despite facing huge odds with the United States imposing sanctions and supporting the fascist right within the country. Eventually the US decided that it would sponsor the overthrow of the government to crush social progress as an example to others.
Sunday, September 24, 2023
BAE systems manufactures armaments, warships, tanks and war planes. It is raking in huge profits from the war in Ukraine – in 2022 it made £2.5 billion, up 12.5%. The company is critical to the projection of British power. As such it has strong links to politicians, universities and think tanks. These links help it promote its interests and paints a picture of the British military-industrial complex at work.
Saturday, September 23, 2023
During the Ukraine conflict Poland has taken a confrontational stance and has been at the forefront of pushing for more weapons for Ukraine. This has included pressurising Germany to fall into line. It has also become the centre of NATO operations in Europe and has 10,000 US soldiers based there. It is an essential ally for the United States in its proxy war.
Friday, September 22, 2023
It is 40 years since the united States invaded Grenada with overwhelming force to overthrow the socialist New Jewel movement government. The progressive policies of the NJM and the independent course being pursued by the Grenadian government made it a target as the US sought to extinguish another socialist threat in the Caribbean. It would not tolerate another Cuba.
Thursday, September 21, 2023
More cash is being earmarked for weapons, including for the war in Ukraine, but are the people’s interests best served by sacrificing their living standards to the military build-up or would they be better served by Britain taking a different path? The world is shifting, with new alliances emerging in the global South, resisting western diktats. So shouldn’t we consider abandoning the NATO alliance which only promotes imperialism and war, very different from the people’s interests, and join developments, such as BRICS, which emphasise collaboration and which challenge US dominance.
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
NATO's conventional war-fighting capabilities are very visible in the wars it has fought and its military build-up across the globe. Less visible but very important to NATO are activities such as its ideological efforts to win hearts and minds and it's development of cyber warfare capabilities.
Monday, September 18, 2023
50 years on from the coup against Salvador Allende's Popular Unity government new research has exposed the role of British governments in undermining Chilean democracy which started even before Allende came to power. Along with the United States it played its part in destablising the country, paving the way for the coup.