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The Right-Left Crossfire and the Post Neo-Liberal Left
James Petras
Introduction
The post neo-liberal regimes which flourished in five Latin American countries in the first decade of the 21st century were a product of three inter-related historical processes. The breakdown of the neo-liberal development model, which in turn ignited mass popular movements for radical political-economic transformations; the incapacity of the mass movements to produce a viable alternative worker-peasant based regime; the beginning of a decade long mega commodity boom which provided a huge influx of revenues which allowed the center-left regimes to finance a capitalist recovery, and secure support from the extractive capitalist sector and finance generous increases in wages, salaries and pensions.
Comparing and Contrasting the Class Struggle in Latin America: 2000-2015
James Petras
Introduction
Class conflict is always present, endemic, in Latin America. What changes, over time, is the character of the class struggle. By ‘character’ we mean, the principal classes and leaders, who direct in the struggle, set the political agenda and define the parameters of socio-economic changes.
What is striking about the class struggle in Latin America, over the past decade and a half, is its changing character. Although different forms of class struggle overlap in most periods, one of three forms of class struggle predominates. Though there is no uniform pattern of class struggle throughout Latin America, for analytical purposes, we can identify the predominance of one type or another in different time frames.
We will examine class struggle in four countries, which best illustrate the variety of class struggles, the changes in class struggle and the dominant tendencies in the current period.
Troika Tyranny!
by Stephen Lendman
Eurozone finance ministers continue meeting in Brussels on bailout terms Greece offered - practically everything asked for, what no responsible government would agree to.
Leaked word is it's not enough. Saturday talks ended inconclusively. They resumed Sunday.
A scheduled summit of all 28 EU leaders to follow was cancelled. European Council president Donald Tusk said 19 Eurozone leaders will meet instead until talks with Greece conclude. Greece's Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos was apparently told deeper "reforms" are wanted to consider a third bailout.
Reuters reported "(t)wo sources saying there was consensus among the other 18 ministers around the table that the leftist government in Athens must take further steps to convince them it would honour any new debts."
Tsipras Surrenders to Troika Bandits
by Stephen Lendman
Greece is being systematically raped and pillaged. It's painful to see how easily powerful monied interests can destroy a nation without firing a shot. Financial war is as cruel and ruthless as naked aggression.
Long-suffering Greeks understand better than establishment economists - paid to con people to believe destructive policies benefit them.
Harder than ever hard times awaits Greeks and ordinary people throughout Western societies. Regimes in Europe and America serve their privileged elites alone at the expense of most others, especially their most vulnerable and needy.
Their governments are their worst enemies - in bed with dark forces destroying their welfare and futures. SYRIZA was elected on a pledge of no more austerity. Betrayal followed. It's just a question of how bad things will be once the dust settles. What's happening isn't pretty.
Iran Nuclear Talks: Mixed Reports
by Stephen Lendman
Indications are sticking points remain, including Washington upping the bar multiple times to include new issues - violating the letter and spirit of Lausanne preliminary agreement terms, the way US negotiators and top officials do business.
At the same time, Iranian officials remain optimistic. Iran's nuclear chief believes a deal can be consummated.
Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) head Ali Akbar Salehi said there's "a high chance for agreement" despite Washington making unreasonable demands.
Tehran's parliamentary Second Vice Speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar thinks it can be in a few days - provided "the US-led powers (Britain, France and Germany) give up their excessive demands."
"We are still insisting on our (legitimate) stances, but if the other side means to block the talks through its excessive demands, then that would be a different story…We want a deal that stands the test of time."
Psychologists Aiding CIA Torture
by Stephen Lendman
Doctors were accused earlier of involvement in torture by:
● monitoring and participating directly in torture procedures;
● instructing interrogators to continue, adjust, or stop certain ones;
● informing detainees that medical treatment depended on their cooperation;
● performing medical checks before and after each transfer; and
● treating the effects of torture as well as ailments and injuries during incarceration
US Bullying Iran to Capitulate in Nuclear Talks
by Stephen Lendman
Iran nuclear talks continue without resolution - whether possible looks tenuous at best. US bullying bears full responsibility.
America doesn't negotiate. It demands - at the same time blaming others for its do what we say or else position.
"(W)e are not going to sit at the negotiating table forever," John Kerry blustered on Thursday. "If tough decisions don't get made, we are absolutely prepared to call an end to this process" - code language saying resolution depends on Iran's capitulation to outrageous, unacceptable US demands. On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif accused Western P5+1 countries (mainly America) of "shift(ing) positions and (making) excessive demands."
Entrapping Greece in Debt
by Stephen Lendman
My book "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity" discusses entrapping Greece in unrepayable debt.
It's a good time to review some of its content after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' public betrayal followed by overwhelming rubber-stamp parliamentary approval (250 - 32). Tsipras isn't Greece's only traitor. He has lots of co-conspirators from SYRIZA and other parties.
Eurozone finance ministers will consider his proposal on Saturday followed by leaders from all EU countries doing the same thing on Sunday. Reports indicate a positive response coming. Meanwhile, banks remain closed. Despite capital controls in effect, their reserves are nearly exhausted. Without emergency liquidity assistance (perhaps by Monday the latest), they'll be forced to cease operations and declare bankruptcy.
“Guerrilla Warfare Against a Hegemonic Power”: The Challenge and Promise of Greece
by Ellen Brown
Banks create money when they make loans. Greece could restore the liquidity desperately needed by its banks and its economy by nationalizing the banks and issuing digital loans backed by government guarantees to its ailing businesses. Greece could provide an inspiring model of sustainable prosperity for the world. But it is being strangled by a hegemonic power in a financial war that is being waged against us all.
On July 4, 2015, one day before the national vote on the austerity demands of Greece’s creditors, it was rumored in the Financial Times that Greek banks were preparing to “bail in” (or confiscate) depositor funds to replace the liquidity choked off by the European Central Bank.
Jordan must nip terror in the bud
By Khalid Amayreh in occupied Palestine
I am not particularly infatuated with the Jordanian regime. And interfering in the internal affairs of Jordan is none of my concerns. However, no Palestinian, or Jordanian or Arab for that matter can be indifferent to the stability and security of Jordan.
Last week, it was reported that the Jordanian security apparatus arrested an Iraqi citizen who had in his possession a large amount of explosives. The suspect reportedly confessed to have been working for the Iranian regime or one of its numerous external tentacles. I don’t have all the details pertaining to the arrest. However, the mere apprehension of the suspect and the discovery of the explosives hidden at a village north of Amman is more than sufficient to raise the sound alarm in every Jordanian home.
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