Issue 657

|  January 11, 2008

National

International

  • Benazir Bhutto was hailed by many as Pakistan's last hope for democracy. But even a brief look at her life and legacy yields a different story.

  • Hundreds have been killed in ethnic and police violence and some 250,000 displaced in the wake of Kenya's disputed presidential elections.

  • Cities across Pakistan erupted over the killing of Benazir Bhutto as a major crisis--not only for Pakistan but the U.S. "war on terror"--continues to unfold.

  • The last year has been a time of dramatically increased social polarization in Bolivia, setting the stage for decisive confrontations in 2008.

Opinion

  • When you look beyond his inspirational rhetoric and profile as a candidate of "change," what does Barack Obama actually stand for?

History and Traditions

Labor

Activist News

  • More than 500 people came out in New York to show their support for eight former Black Panthers who are being retried for a 1971 murder.

  • Justice for Kevin Cooper | Rochester, N.Y., antiwar forum | Palestinian rights protest in NYC | Ventura, Calif., antiwar carolers

  • Police and public officials in New Orleans responded with outrageous violence to protesters fighting for their right to public housing.

Readers' Views

Books and Entertainment

  • I have yet to meet anyone who has read Philip Pullman's trilogy of "children's books" that includes The Magic Compass, and doesn't love them.

  • One could be forgiven for assuming The Great Debaters is simply a formulaic, feel-good movie. But the movie is much more powerful.