Comrade_Squid

US imperialism, headed by Donald Trump, has launched a military build up in the Caribbean not seen for decades. The deployment of the USS Gerald R Ford strike group, including the largest US aircraft carrier, a nuclear submarine, and over 10,000 combat troops, is a clear warning that Trump and US imperialism mean business. Normally two US war ships are stationed in the Caribbean, now it is at least 10. Under the pretext of wanting to hit the narco-traffickers, over 20 boats have been bombed, killing over 80 occupants, even though most of the drugs smuggled into the US do not originate from or pass through Venezuela.

Now an oil tanker has been seized by the US in an act of imperial piracy. Asked what he would do with the seized tanker, Trump replied, “I guess we will keep it”. Yet it is not just one tanker, apparently destined for Cuba, that the US empire has its eye on. It is access to the vast Venezuelan crude oil reserves, the largest in the world, that Trump and the oil barons who backed him want.

Venezuela has 303 billion barrels of crude oil in reserve, 20% of the world’s total. Furthermore, most US oil refineries are designed to process ‘heavy crude oil,’ which the US only gets from Venezuela, Canada, and Russia. Securing such supplies along with an estimated US$1 trillion gain for US business is in the offing if they can get their hands on it.

Apart from the naval build up, in preparation for further action the military base on Puerto Rico, closed following mass protests in 2004, has been re-opened. Thousands of US troops, amphibious landing craft, tanks, and war planes are being flown into the base.

Puerto Rico, the last remaining US colony that was seized in 1898, has historically been a crucial base and training ground for the US military. It was on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques, where thousands of the indigenous population were driven off and slaughtered, that Napalm, ‘agent orange ‘and other deadly weapons of mass murder were tested before they were used in the Vietnam war.

Militarily, Puerto Rico historically has been strategically important for US imperialism – lying close to Cuba and less than 100 km from Venezuela, the closed military bases have now been reopened to the consternation of many on the island.

Trump’s claim that his motive is targeting narco-traffickers. In the order of narcotics trade, Venezuela is a relatively small player. Regime change for the lucrative black gold, which is the mainstay of the economy of the petrostate of Venezuela, is one of Trump’s real objectives. Geo-political factors are also a factor in Trump’s objective of regime change. He is also warning rival powers, China and Russia, not to challenge US influence in the Americas. Putin is supporting Maduro, and both regimes have trade relations, including oil.

US imperialism has long wanted the overthrow of the Venezuelan government, since the election of Hugo Chavez, in 1998. An attempted military coup to oust Chavez, a radical left populist in 2002, backfired as millions poured onto the streets defeating the coup and restoring Chavez to the Presidency. The mass social explosion which followed drove the radical, well intentioned, Chavez, even further to the left, undertaking partial nationalisations, speaking of “socialism in the 21st century” and, using revenue from oil, introduced sweeping social reforms.

In election after election, Chavez won sweeping victories. A revolutionary movement developed. Popular though Chavez’s reforms and his regime were, as the CWI analysed at the time (Socialism Today – Venezuela at the crossroads; Venezuela: Revolution and counter-revolution – Socialist Party; Socialism Today – Venezuela: the revolution in danger; Venezuela: A New Phase In The Revolution – Socialist Party) the government’s often top down bureaucratic methods, corruption, the absence of democratic workers’ control and management and, fundamentally, a failure to definitively break with capitalism, resulted in the revolution reaching an impasse. The fall in global oil prices had a devastating effect, resulting in stagnation and then economic decline. Chavez died in 2013 and was replaced by Nikolas Maduro.

With the revolutionary process in retreat, US imperialism imposed crippling sanctions, including under President Obama; an economic blockade, that was tightened under Trump 1 and 2, with the objective of strangling the economy and forcing regime change. At the same time, Maduro did not continue the radical steps of Chavez which encroached upon capitalism but moved in the other direction.

Of the 303 billion barrels of oil reserves, Venezuela has only managed to sell four billion barrels due to international sanctions. Venezuela has 161 tons of gold reserves – much of it locked away in the Bank of England as the country’s assets have been frozen by imperialist powers. Shortages due to lack of imports have a devastating effect. These have compounded the crisis which existed due to mismanagement, corruption, lack of investment, and other factors. Venezuela is not only rich in oil. It has 80% of the natural gas reserves in Latin America but only accounts for 18% of that used largely due to lack of infrastructure and corruption.

Hyperinflation and shortages have all resulted in a devastating social collapse. Between 2014 and 2021, the GDP plummeted by 75%. The devastating social situation led to a dramatic fall in support of the regime. Since 2013 over 8 million (out of an estimated population of 28 million) people have fled the country, in one of the largest global refugee and immigrant crises.

Such an impasse in the situation has resulted in big opposition to Maduro’s regime which is more corrupt and authoritarian than which existed under Chavez. The regime has also acted against leftist critics who do not support US imperialism. According to some reports, Maduro has had US$700 million worth of assets seized in the US. However, revulsion of the rich, right wing opposition, and the legacy of the revolutionary process (though it ended in stagnation and decline), means Maduro still maintains a significant base of support. This is likely to be solidified and may be strengthened in response to the threats of Trump and fear of US intervention.

Right-wing opposition in Venezuela

The right-wing opposition in Venezuela, a vicious Thatcherite ruling class, if it comes to power will be ruthless in seeking revenge and enacting repressive anti-working class measures. It offers no solution for the working class and poor. The right wing opposition has a programme of collaboration with imperialism and to further enrich the Venezuelan rich and powerful ruling class.

The stench of hypocrisy of western capitalism in awarding the Nobel peace prize to the leader of the opposition, Maria Corina Machado, has been smelt in Oslo and around the world. The same Machado urged a coup to overthrow the Maduro regime. The same Machado refuses to condemn US bombing of boats in the Caribbean or condemn Trump for his racist attacks on Latinos in the US, including the deporting of Venezuelans to prisons in El Salvador.

Trump clearly is aiming at regime change. The amassing of a military force threatening Venezuela is going to arouse the strong anti-imperialist sentiment that exists throughout Latin America. It will have a massive polarizing effect. It is note-worthy that the right-wing Presidents of Argentina, Ecuador, Panama and Paraguay went to Oslo. Others, like Lula in Brazil or Boric in Chile, did not, reflecting the pressure against US imperialism which exists among the masses of region.

At this stage, US imperialism has not amassed sufficient forces for a full ground invasion, which is unlikely, although not entirely excluded. This would risk triggering a massive movement throughout Latin America and a war with echoes of Vietnam. Trump may also be hoping that amassing a military threat will be sufficient to provoke a split and revolt by a section of the military in Venezuela. This depends on the situation within the Venezuelan military, which is unclear. A land invasion would provoke a big reaction amongst Trump’s support base in the US, which generally opposes further US military interventions. However, bombings, drone attacks, assassinations, kidnappings – including Maduro – are not excluded, indeed more likely. US imperialism has undertaken such interventions in the past in Panama. It kidnapped the ‘strongman’ Noriega. And members of Saddam Hussein’s government in Iraq were kidnapped.

The CWI condemns and opposes all US imperialist intervention in Venezuela or elsewhere. There can be no support given to the reactionary right-wing opposition in Venezuela. It is the challenge facing the Venezuelan working class to find a road to fight imperialist aggression, oppose the capitalist right wing and establish a genuine democratic socialist government of the workers and poor. Such a workers’ government can offer a solution to the catastrophe affecting Venezuelan society, including an appeal to the masses throughout Latin America and the US for support and solidarity.

On 2 December, a new anti-far right alliance was announced: Together. “Together we can reject narratives of division and racism. Together we can build solidarity across communities.”

Together has announced a ‘Love, Hope and Unity’ demonstration on 28 March 2026, followed by leafleting in the May elections, “urging people to use their vote to stop Reform”.

The need to combat racism and the far right is urgent. Although recent polls have shown a small dip, Nigel Farage’s racist right-populist Reform UK is at around 25%. In the summer, over 100,000 people marched with far-right activist Tommy Robinson on a ‘Unite the Kingdom’ demonstration. Protests have taken place at asylum hotels around the country. There is a widespread fear among Black, Asian and migrant communities, and among many workers and activists, at the likelihood of gains for Reform in the May elections and the possibility of a future Farage-led government.

But the Socialist Party is clear: the politics and methods of ‘Together’ are not what is needed. . This new alliance was simultaneously announced on the websites of Stand Up To Racism (SUTR), unions including the University and College Union and Fire Brigades Union, and various other organisations, including the Socialist Workers’ Party (SWP) and Morning Star, the paper of the Communist Party of Britain. 

Signatories start with a long list of celebrities (34 at latest count). Then comes a list of over 40 politicians, including Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana of Your Party, Zack Polanski of the Green Party, and left Labour MPs such as John McDonnell and Richard Burgon. It also includes Starmer-supporter Stella Creasy.

Next the ‘organisations’ – the TUC (Trades Union Congress) and 24 trade unions are randomly mixed in with charities and campaigns such as Friends of the Earth.

Clearly a lot of discussion went on before this was launched. But it seems not among the over five million trade unionists represented by the union signatories – at least in some cases their lay elected leaderships were not even informed it was happening.

The Executive of the National Education Union (NEU), for example, was presented with a paper just the night before its meeting on 29 November. This paper informed the exec that “SUTR approached the NEU with the idea of trying to build a broader anti-far right organisation”; that a “series of meetings were convened from late October with a variety of unions, NGOs, campaign groups, political parties and politicians”; then a “planning day was held in mid-November where a draft campaign plan, including a set of aims and strategies, was drawn up, as was a founding statement.”

All behind the scenes, without the necessary discussion in the unions themselves about what aims and strategies are needed to combat the far right. The organised working class in the trade unions, the biggest organised force in society with the potential power to unite and mobilise millions of people, is sidelined behind celebrities and charities.

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The Labour government intends to create a new criminal offence targeting protesters who demonstrate outside the homes of public officials. This includes MPs, councillors, and others in positions of power. Under changes to the Crime and Policing Bill, anyone protesting outside a politician’s home with the aim of influencing policy could face up to six months in prison.

Labour’s leadership claims this is about ‘protecting democracy’ and making politicians feel safe. This is a calculated attempt to shield those in power from the anger of working people while continuing to push through austerity, war, and policies that harm our most vulnerable.

The Labour Party knows the consequences of its actions. It has maintained the two-child benefit cap. It backs and defends the Israeli state’s genocide in Gaza. It is preparing a budget under Rachel Reeves that will inflict deeper cuts to public services and living standards. They intend to make the working class foot the bill for capitalism’s failures.

People have taken their anger to the doorsteps of those responsible. Last year, Just Stop Oil placed children’s shoes outside Keir Starmer’s home and sang carols against the continuing polluting of the planet. It was peaceful and symbolic. The response from the political establishment is to criminalise it.

Threat?

Security Minister Dan Jarvis claims that protests outside MPs’ homes are “a threat to democracy.” What he calls a threat is the public holding power to account. Democracy is not politicians acting without scrutiny behind police lines. Democracy is the people making their voices heard in the places where decisions are made.

This law will not make politicians safer but it will make them less accountable. There are already laws against harassment. Labour is protecting itself from the consequences of its own betrayals.

Labour knows that anger is on the rise. It knows its policies will cause further backlash from the working class. So it is turning to repression. These are not the actions of a confident government. They are the actions of politicians who know they are governing against the interests of the majority of the country.

Labour is not a party of the working class. It’s not even pretending! If we want a party that fights for us, we must build it. Such a party would remove the undemocratic anti-protest laws from the books – including all the anti-trade union laws that are used to hinder workers fighting back.

How can you tell when a Blairite is lying? Their lips are moving… It’s an oldie, but Rachel Reeves has shown why it’s still a goodie. In the days before the Budget on 26 November, she pledged not to “return Britain back to austerity”.

But austerity is very much alive. It stalks our public services, in the NHS embodied in stressed-out, underpaid staff treating patients in corridors, with draughty windows, crumbling ceilings, and queuing ambulances.

Labour’s Budget changed none of this. Far from killing austerity, it contains cuts “equivalent to 88% of the average annual cuts made during the peak austerity years”, according to the Resolution Foundation.

By 2030-31, the £6 billion in cuts to non-protected government departments set out in the Budget will leave real per-person spending 22% below where it was in 2009-10.

Starmer and Reeves are forced to deny their austerity plans because of the huge anger among workers and young people. How can we turn that anger into action that can stop the austerity juggernaut destroying more lives?

Collective action is needed. In 2022-23 we saw how strike action pushed the Tory austerity plans back.

Trade union members should again demand action from their leaders. They need to demand that the vote at the Trades Union Congress in September for a national trade union-led demo against austerity is not left on a piece of paper. Set the date and launch the campaign to mobilise the over six million trade unionists and their families.

Members can move motions in their branches for discussion on how their unions can develop a political alternative to Labour that actually reflects the union’s interests. (See https://tinyurl.com/TUMotions for model motions in ten different unions.)

Students must also get organised on campus to fight the fee hike promised by Reeves.

And if you want to fight for this strategy, join the Socialist Party.

Kick out the profiteers

Many people will be relieved that chancellor Rachel Reeves promised in the Budget a reduction of £150 on average from our energy bills. But to pay for it, she is scrapping an energy efficiency levy which funds things including home insulation – which would bring down our bills!

Due to the sky-high cost of bills, in the sixth-richest country people are forced to ration heat. Families living hand to mouth are pushed further into destitution due to our current crisis, compounded by political betrayal: the Labour leadership chose to uphold the Tory two-child benefit cap for their first year in power. Not only did Labour maintain and defend the policy, they punished MPs who opposed it.

Labour also looked to pick the pockets of pensioners, removing universal Winter Fuel Allowance rather than taking the money from the super-rich. Only after the campaign led by unions and campaigners did Labour reverse its decision. Had the cut stayed, Age UK estimated that 12,000 people would have died prematurely this year.

GB Energy: public con, not public ownership

And now we are being sold ‘GB Energy’, a government-owned investment vehicle backed by £6 billion, thrown into a private sector worth over £250 billion. It won’t even touch the sides. It’s not a nationalised energy company, there’s no democratic control, no workers’ representation, and no structural power to lower bills as it will operate in a huge capitalist market.

To bring down our bills and protect the environment we need real nationalisation, with compensation paid only on the basis of proven need. This means seizing the energy giants, and placing them under the democratic control of the working class. It means wrenching the vast profits from the hands of the super-rich shareholders and reinvesting every penny into our grid, for cheaper bills, a greener future, and warmer homes.

Keir Starmer’s Labour serves the bosses, we need a party that will fight for this in the interests of the working class. No more bailouts to private profiteers.

Been wearing this for about a week, when I first bought it (charity shop for a fast flip) I thought it looked like a wheeler dealer watch, something del boy would have on his wrist. But over the week, its grown on me.

With 17 jewels, the Swiss AS ST 1950/51 is a beautiful movement and a reliable time keeper.

As mentioned, this watch had been picked up at a charity shop, the movement would not wind, so I took it apart and gave the Royce a full service. I was surprised to find the movement was immaculate, the jewels with dried on oil, I'd assume this watch spent its life in a draw.

Look forward to selling this piece on to someone to enjoy.

Fake Omega 007. My mother went to Turkey, brought this watch back for a friend, the minute hand detached so I fixed it back in place. Long story short, I now own this lol.

As seen from the photos and the AliExpress listing, its far from an Omega.

Its also massive!

Movement AliExpress

While digging through an old drive I found this, I believe I drew it 5 or so years back. whats your thoughts?

It showed up in 1337x [Popular Movie Torrents] and less then 10 minutes in i turned it off. i dont think i have watched a film that leads by the hand as much as this, camera shots, audio, even expressions are over the top. no respect for audience intelligence or lack of faith in ones own ability. either way, at 10 minutes in i feel safe to say, fuck this film.

I'm wearing my beloved Rodina automatic, the first automatic wristwatch out of the USSR with 22 jewels and a bolt on automatic works using a ratchet mechanism allowing the weight to spin in both directions while charging the mainspring.

It isn't the best time keeper as is with many mid range watches of the 1950s but it has character with its odd crab style case and military style dial. Mine has a cracked crystal which will be repaired in the coming months.

Look forward to seeing what the community has.

As people in Gaza starve to death, and thousands are massacred just queuing for food, Donald Trump is visiting the UK, invited by Keir Starmer, to feast on a luxury banquet with the King.

Socialist Students is helping to organise walkouts at schools, colleges and universities. Socialist Students is sending a message to Trump and Starmer: We won’t stand for your capitalist system which awards privileges to the warmongers and profits to the super-rich while creating wars, climate catastrophe, racism and poverty for the rest of us.

This is our chance to fight back. Let’s get organised for a real future. For a socialist world free from war, poverty and oppression

Figured this summer I will meet someone for real, at a demo, a get together or some other IRL event. It is now the end of summer and sadly no romantic relationship. So comrades, I am back to the comodification of my romantic life 😭