U.S. Mounts Further Military Build-Up in Persian Gulf

Global Research by Ben Schreiner With the drums of war beating ever louder against Iran, the U.S. military has quickly moved to reestablish a war footing in the Persian Gulf.  The preparations for a looming military confrontation thus continue apace.

Showdown Averted: ILWU and EGT Reach Agreement

Dissident Voice/Intrepid Report
by Ben Schreiner

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the international conglomerate EGT Development came to a tentative agreement on Monday to resolve their long simmering labor dispute.  The agreement was announced in a statement released by Washington Governor Chris Gregoire, who convened the discussions that ultimately lead to the settlement.

Obama Set to Use Military Intervention Against Longshoremen: Which Side is Trumka On?

Dissident Voice/Intrepid Report
by Ben Schreiner

A decisive struggle promising to shape the fate of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), West Coast dockworkers, and all organized labor is swiftly nearing a climax in Longview, Washington. 

Within weeks, if not days, the international conglomerate EGT Development will seek to commence operations at its new $200 million export grain terminal at the Port of Longview.  In refusing to use ILWU labor, EGT is breaking the precedent in place since the 1930s, which holds that all public port docks up and down the West Coast are to be worked by the ILWU.

The Bogus Tales of Iran's Nukes

Global Research by Ben Schreiner With seemingly each passing day, the tensions between the US and Iran over the latter’s nascent nuclear program mount.  And with the voices clamoring for conflict growing ever louder, the clouds of war darken.

Afghanistan: What Is Truly Deplorable

Read my article, "Afghanistan: What is truly deplorable," in Asia Times Online.

The Looming Showdown in Longview: 'The ILWU Cannot Lose This Fight'

CounterPunch/Dissident Voice
by Ben Schreiner 

The long-simmering dispute between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the international consortium EGT Development transpiring in Longview, Washington looks to be coming to a head.

The Press Coverage of the War in Afghanistan

Read my article, "Afghanistan: US Press Withdraws," in Asia Times Online.

Panetta, Iran and Known Knowns

Dissident Voice
by Ben Schreiner

I.F. Stone once quipped, “All governments are run by liars, nothing they say should be believed.”  The Secretary of Defense, then, is certainly a rather poor source to consult if one is in pursuit of the truth.  The blatant diffusion of propaganda is merely part of the gig. 

American Withdrawal Coverage in the US Press

al-Akhbar English
by Ben Schreiner

On December 19, the last remaining US military convoy in Iraq crossed the border into Kuwait, effectively ending America’s nine-year long war and occupation. (Of course, the US will continue to maintain a heavy presence in the country via its massive embassy).

Class Struggle on the Waterfront: Portland Shuts It Down

CounterPunch/Dissident Voice
by Ben Schreiner

With less than a month’s time with which to plan, Occupy Portland set out early Monday morning to shutdown the Port of Portland.  Braving the morning’s freezing fog, protesters began arriving at Kelly Point Park around 6 a.m. for a final staging before breaking into two groups to march on the port.  A group of 300 or so protesters were directed to head to Terminal 6, the port’s busiest terminal, while another 200 or so headed to Terminal 5.

Shut Down the Port!

Read my article, "Answer the Call! Shut Down the Port!," in the Portland Occupier, the newspaper of Occupy Portland.

Occupy Portland's Street Smarts: A Tale of Re-Occupation

Dissident Voice/Intrepid Report
by Ben Schreiner

After being evicted from the two city parks held for nearly six weeks back in early November, Occupy Portland set out this Saturday with a goal of re-occupying another city park.  And in the process, Portland showcased once again why it remains one of the more dynamic Occupy sites in the country.

Washington's Propaganda Against Iran

Read my article, "Washington's Propaganda Against Iran: Why the U.S. Readies for War," in al-Akhbar English.

The American Way of Life

Dissident Voice
by Ben Schreiner

“The American way of life is not negotiable.”

President George H.W. Bush speaking in 1992.

All the splendors of the American way of life will be on full display this Thanksgiving weekend.  For nothing seems to make the American way of life shine quite like a holiday celebrating the nation’s genocidal conquest of the continent’s native inhabitants.

The Fix to Bleed Social Security

My article, "The Fix: Peddling Jobs and Tax Cuts in Order to Bleed Social Security," is in the Nov/Dec issue of Socialist Viewpoint magazine.  The article originally appeared on this blog in September.  For those interested, the Nov/Dec issue of Socialist Viewpoint can be found here.