As the fifth anniversary of the fateful decision to launch the invasion of Iraq passes, the claims by the US administration that the 2007 troop surge has succeeded in quelling the insurgency and checking the slide to sectarian break up - claims that were being made loudly at the start of this year - are becoming fainter by the day.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) has announced a one-day strike against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, calling for a “No Peace No Work Holiday” to take place May 1. They are calling on the AFL-CIO, the Change to Win Coalition, and other unions to do the same. This is a major development for both the labor movement and antiwar movement in the U.S.

Five long, bloody years of war and occupation, led by US imperialism, has left Iraq as a dangerous, violent and divided society, despite promises of stability and democracy. Niall Mulholland looks at the gruesome results of Western 'intervention'.

Because nearly 4,000 U.S. soldiers have been killed and, according to some estimates, over 1 million Iraqis, in a war for control of oil supplies opposed by the vast majority of Iraqis and Americans...Because if we don’t hit the streets, the media and politicians can just ignore us...

Following a walkout by over 125 students in Tukwila, WA, school administrators threatened to fire 6 teachers and suspend students. Outraged, students, community activists, and Socialist Alternative began organizing to resist these attacks on their rights, and after a major pressure campaign, won an important victory for free speech rights.

In his recently published memoirs, Alan Greenspan, a major figure in the U.S. establishment who headed the Federal Reserve for 19 years under Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II, stated what we knew all along: "the Iraq War is largely about oil."

Thousands of students in Minneapolis, Seattle, and other cities walked out of classes on November 16 to demand an end to the Iraq War, military recruiters out of schools, and money for education, not war.

School authorities at Foster High School in Tukwila, WA threatened to fire teachers after a student walkout against the war and military recruitment. A massive solidarity effort by teachers, students, and community members won an important victory and forced school officials to back down from their threats.

The Tukwila School District administrators finally announced the results of their disciplinary investigations against the Tukwila six teachers who allowed or supported the Nov. 16th walkout of 125 students against the Iraq war and military recruitment at Foster High School.

Because of public pressure, our solidarity campaign has won a partial victory — popular teacher Brett Rogers was TEMPORARILY REINSTATED Tuesday at Foster High School in Tukwila, Washington! However, administrators sent in 8 police to break up a peaceful student meeting and have repeatedly violated students' and teachers' right to free speech. Please call and e-mail today!

On November 16, 150 students at Foster High School in Tukwila, Washington organized a walkout against the war in Iraq. In response, the administration has suspended one teacher and threatened administrative action against five others as well as students exercising their First Amendment rights. Please call the administration NOW and tell them to stop their threats and reinstate the suspended teacher!

The Twin Cities area antiwar student walkout on Friday, November 16 was an inspiring moment, with 700-900 students at the main rally in downtown Minneapolis and others students holding protests on their own campuses. See the report, as well as photos and videos, here.

In Tukwila, WA, the principal and school district superintendent have begun a witch-hunt against students and at least six teachers after 200 students took part in a walkout against the war in Iraq and military recruitment on Friday, November 16. Students are being threatened with suspension, while the teachers face potentially being fired, all for standing up for their students.

"I've been angry for many, many years about our administration and so have lots of youth. I'm really frustrated, for one, because I can't vote for President or legislators, but I can make a stand for what I believe in." - Amy Englesberg, 17 year-old high school senior (Bellingham Herald)