Written by Socialist Appeal Tuesday, 24 March 2009 08:57
On March 21, members of the Workers International League participated in the anti-war demonstrations in Washington, DC, San Francisco, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Columbia, Missouri. Although this year's protests were smaller than in the past, sales of Socialist Appeal and other political books and booklets indicate increasing interest in the ideas of revolutionary Marxism. Contact us to find out how you can get involved in the struggle against war and for socialism!
On Friday, February 27th, after a round of congratulations for the imperialist war leaders, Barack Obama explained the course that the Iraq War would take under his administration. Far from an honest depiction of the war, Obama's speech glorified the war, painting it in the language of poetic nationalism and with heroic lingo.
In 2008, the number of suicides in the U.S. armed forces increased yet again, to 128 confirmed and 15 pending further investigation, having risen every year since 2004. All indications are that things will only continue to get worse in 2009. What is perhaps most disturbing is that Lt. Col. Mike Moose, who is a spokesperson for Army personnel issues, claims that, “we have not identified any particular problem.”
The Minneapolis branch of the Workers International League participated today in an anti-war demonstration organized by the Iraq Peace Action Coalition, as part of a national weekend of anti-war and immigrant rights actions. There were only 150 to 200 people present, but it was a lively and energetic crowd, chanting slogans, listening to speakers and music, and discussing the war, the economy, and the elections.
The antiwar movement, like the war itself, has had quite an intricate history of development. The U.S. is currently involved in two wars in the Middle East: Afghanistan, which started back in October of 2001, and Iraq, which began in March of 2003. U.S. involvement in these two wars has now gone on longer than its direct involvement in World War I, World War II and Korea combined.
A majority of Americans now oppose the Iraq war and occupation, and growing numbers want the troops in Iraq brought home now. However, as the war drags into its sixth year, those in power in Washington present no perspective for an immediate or even timely end. Instead, they speak of “time horizons” for withdrawal while both corporate parties continue to debate “how best” to secure their grip on the Middle East in the interests of U.S. imperialism.
Unite the Movement: End the War Now! A new half-sheet 
On June 6th, a panel discussion was held in St. Louis to discuss the death of LaVena Johnson. She was the first Missouri woman killed in Iraq, just eight days shy of her 20th birthday. Today, three years after her death, questions still surround the circumstances of this tragedy. Her father, Dr. John Johnson, and other family members, have dedicated countless hours researching and traveling the country looking for an answer.
