Aug. 18, 2007

Lacking the drama of previous counterrevolutionary ventures against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez — examples include the failed U.S.-backed coup of April 11, 2002, and the subsequent sabotage campaign against the state-run oil company — new stratagems invoked by his opponents are more gradual and are taking place, by and large, backstage.

UNITED NATIONS — The Gaza Strip is in danger of a general economic collapse, said a high level UN official, unless Karni crossing, the main point of entry for commercial goods into the territory, is reopened soon.

Poland: Right-wing gov’t may be leaving
Venezuela: Indigenous peoples embrace Chavez
China: Anti-corruption campaign continues
Uganda: Conflict over resources flares in East Africa
Iraq: Oil minister bans union dissent

It is no secret that African Americans live shorter lives, fall ill earlier in life, have sicker children and are more susceptible to both chronic and acute diseases than others in our country. In fact, we as a society have to come to expect a greater burden of disease among Black Americans than among people of other races.

NEW YORK — Lin Xin Wei, a Chinese immigrant who came to the United States from his home province of Fujian, wants to work, support his family and achieve a better living. Instead, he has spent the past three years employed as a deliveryman, working long hours, receiving poor wages and being subjected to a grueling work environment.

CHICAGO — Thirty-two thousand members of the Chicago Teachers Union are prepared to go on strike, if they have to, before school starts here on Sept. 4.

Hog boss fires pro-union worker
National demonstration for Smithfield workers
Toyota workers pushing for union
Trumpet maker hits sour note
NLRB backs union-busters

Karl Rove claims he’s resigning to spend more time with his family. Others note that he has been a central figure in investigations swirling around the Bush administration, including scrutiny of the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame, illegal spying on Americans and the firing of U.S. attorneys.

It is hard to understand why, in the world’s richest country, it has taken the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers nearly three years since Hurricane Ivan hit to clean up one creek in the Pittsburgh area, where the delay nearly destroyed an entire town. Local volunteers, working by hand, could have cleaned up the creek in that time. Or is that the point?

Progress. This is the new watchword for determining whether U.S. military forces should remain bogged down in Iraq. Because the Bush administration has managed to shift the debate from how quickly to bring the troops home to “benchmarks” as the measure of “progress,” it is important to scrutinize just what “progress” really means.