The West steps up its war against Russia

Trump meets with European leaders & Zelensky at the White House, August 18, 2025.

A Russophobic madness has gripped most of the European Union countries. Pressured by Washington, they have committed to dramatically ramping up their military spending. The rationale is that Europe needs to prepare to confront the supposed Russian threat.

On the level of facts this makes no sense at all. NATO military spending is way higher than Russia’s and NATO military strength, at least on paper, is far greater. And, most importantly, there is zero evidence that Russia wants to attack Western Europe — absolutely no evidence whatsoever! It doesn’t even seek to occupy all of Ukraine, merely to stop NATO from converting the country into a forward base for operations against Russia. But when a war drive is underway and the corporate media is on board, facts are just an inconvenience that can be ignored or explained away.

Iran war shows dramatic decline of US imperialism

 Underground Iranian missile base.

 Iran & allies respond to US-Israeli assault

Notwithstanding all the death and destruction meted out by the US-Israeli aggressors, they have failed to achieve any sort of victory over Iran. On the contrary, Iran actually seems to be in a stronger overall position.

Despite the unpopularity of the regime, public support for defending their country against the US has grown stronger within Iran. This is shown by the large and repeated public demonstrations within the country and the willingness of large numbers of people to turn out to protect vital infrastructure with their bodies.

Cuba: US moves in for the kill

 

[Havana, June 15, 2026: Funeral of 32 Cuban soldiers killed in US attack on Venezuela.]

[Educational to Socialist Alliance Melbourne branch, March 3, 2026.]

Washington’s fundamental hostility

67 years after the initial victory of the Cuban Revolution, it faces perhaps its greatest ever challenge as Washington moves in for the kill.

The January 1, 1959 triumph of the Revolution and its victory over the US-led counterrevolution at Playa Giron (Bay of Pigs) in April 1961 electrified progressive and popular forces in Latin America. The revolution and the bold, dynamic new leadership around Fidel and Che had a huge impact.

Can the Rojava Revolution survive?

[Educational talk given to Newcastle Socialist Alliance on February 11, 2026.]

Distribution of Kurds across the Middle East.

The wheels are falling off the system

 

Under intense pressure from the Trump administration, at its June 25 meeting NATO agreed to massively boost “defence” (I.e., military) spending. Along with the turn to war, an intense Russophobia has gripped the European political elite. To justify its existence NATO needs enemies and Russia fits the bill. Fear and loathing of Russia is both cause and consequence of the NATO countries’ plans to dramatically increase military budgets. The failure of the West’s proxy war in Ukraine has stoked anti-Russia sentiment to unprecedented levels.

Imperialism: A short introduction

[This the text of an educational given to Socialist Alliance Melbourne branch on April 4, 2023.]

We live in a world where capitalism is near universal. However, it’s not just capitalism but capitalism in its imperialist stage. If we don’t understand what this is (and what it is not), we can’t understand anything about the politics of Australia and the world today.

Say no to Abbott's new war

[Green Left Weekly, #1026, September 24, 2014]

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has committed Australia to join Washington's latest military intervention in the Middle East. Some 600 Australian military personnel and aircraft operating from a base in the United Arab Emirates will join US forces in bombing 'Islamic State' forces in Iraq and assisting the Kurdistan Regional Government with weapons and training.

On Eritrea's national day, little to celebrate

[Green Left Weekly, #879, May 18, 2011]

On May 24 Eritreans around the world will mark the country's national day. After an epic three-decades-long liberation struggle, in 1991 the liberation forces wrested control of their capital, Asmara, from the occupying Ethiopian army. Two years later a new, independent Eritrea was formally established.

Eritrea's national day

[Greetings given to May 22, 2010 meeting at the Melbourne Resistance Centre celebrating Eritrea's national day.]

Comrades, on behalf of Socialist Alliance I would like to extend warm solidarity greetings to this meeting celebrating Eritrea's national day.

Who is the main 'enemy of civilisation'?

[Green Left Weekly, #470, November 7, 2001]

It has become a familiar scenario. A former political tool of the United States has fallen from favour and become an obstacle. Washington decides to take drastic action to assert its interests. But first, the public must be ideologically conditioned. Through a strident campaign in the mass media, the recalcitrant regime is painted in the blackest colours. A decade ago, the Gulf War required Iraq’s Saddam Hussein to be portrayed as an Arab Hitler; today, the terrorist Osama bin Laden is an "enemy of civilisation", likewise Afghanistan's Taliban regime which shelters him.

UN at 50: Still dominated by the West

[Green Left Weekly, #213, November 28, 1995]

"The dominant impression of the massive international jamboree that marked the 50th anniversary of the United Nations", wrote Martin Walker in the November 5 Guardian Weekly, "was the extraordinary degree of resentment that the delegates of most countries now feel for the United States. The clearest display was the speech by Cuba's Fidel Castro, who was cheered to the echo in the longest and most fervent ovation of the three days, even though he did not attack the US by name."

Italian crisis and proportional representation

[Green Left Weekly, #97, April 28, 1993]

Perhaps other GLW readers have, like me, been fascinated by the recent stream of revelations about massive corruption in Italian public life. It seems that just about the entire ruling "political class" of Christian Democrat and Socialist leaders and MPs have been compromised — or soon will be — by the ever-spreading stain of corruption scandals.

Bosnia: Can there ever be peace?

[Green Left Weekly, #71, September 16, 1992]

For some months now, the nightly television news has been dominated by coverage of Somalia and Bosnia. The famine in the impoverished east African country and the fighting in the former Yugoslav republic have provided viewers with any number of haunting and deeply disturbing images.

Croatians rally for refugees

[Green Left Weekly, #50, April 1, 1992]

MELBOURNE — Some 5000 supporters of Croatian independence gathered here on March 22. Footscray Park on a wonderfully sunny Sunday afternoon was the scene for the very relaxed and successful picnic-rally.

Melbourne forum hears Croatian case

[Green Left Weekly, #37, November 27, 1991]

MELBOURNE — A well-attended meeting on November 21 heard a panel of speakers forcefully argue the case for supporting Croatia's struggle for independence. The forum at the Celtic Club registered a growing support in the progressive movement and the wider Australian community for the cause of Croatia.

Croatian nationalism & the fight for socialism

[Report adopted by the National Committee of the Socialist Workers Party, June 12, 1983. For more information see the booklet Croatian Nationalism & the Fight for Socialism.]

The general background to this report is the growing involvement of the party with a whole number of migrant communities. This involvement takes the form of general political relations — solidarity work, political discussions, etc. — and also of contact in the workplace, where comrades work alongside people from just about every migrant community.