The General Strike exposed the power of the working class — and the limits of its leadership, writes Dr DYLAN MURPHY
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Six things you need to know about Afghanistan and the Taliban
When it comes to Afghanistan, the mainstream media hides the most inconvenient facts for the West, argues MARC VANDEPITTE
History repeats itself: A tank manned by Taliban fighters outside the presidential palace in Kabul in 1996, when it first seized the Afghan capital
HENRY FOWLER, General Strike 100 national co-ordinator, continued his nationwide tour of partner organisations, joining the National Day of Celebration in Barnsley. The event was organised by Unite for a Workers Economy (Unite the Union), the Durham Miners Association, and the National Union of Mineworkers
ADRIAN WEIR charts the intercontinental trade union solidarity with Cuba and its desperate predicament
DIANE ABBOTT looks at the perilous political cul-de-sac Labour finds itself in
DAVE WARD says the Employment Rights Act can be a platform to build back union power — but only if we can agree a common agenda
A new strategy from the Together Alliance links the fight against racism to the wider struggle over austerity and inequality, says BILL GREENSHIELDS
1. Monstrous covenant with jihadis
THE story starts in 1979. Afghanistan had a left-wing government, which of course was not to the liking of the US. Zbigniew Brzezinski, President Carter’s adviser, devised the plan to arm and train jihadists – then still called mojahedin – in Afghanistan. The aim was to provoke a Soviet invasion, in order to saddle Moscow with a Vietnam-like scenario.
Carter followed his advice and provided the mojhedin the necessary help. The plan worked. The government in Kabul ran into difficulties and asked the Kremlin for help. The Afghan quagmire forced the Soviet Union to remain in the Central Asian country for 10 years.
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