Pathfinder editorial director Steve Clark spoke about the lessons contained in the new book at a September 13 meeting in New York’s Garment District. He encouraged those present to use the book on the missile crisis to explain the facts about Washington’s wars, and how Cuban workers and farmers stood up fearlessly to U.S. imperialism’s threats and invasion plans.

The connection between the 1962 missile crisis and today’s U.S. war moves against Iraq was drawn by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, Clark pointed out. In a September 16 column entitled "The Guns of September," Kristof wrote that while Kennedy considered a military invasion, he changed his mind "after considering the innocent civilians who would be killed, considering the international law that would be broken."

In fact, "it was the determination of the workers and farmers of Cuba to defend their revolution, to defend their sovereignty arms in hand that stood down U.S. imperialism," Clark explained.

Kennedy was prepared to launch the invasion, Clark said. "At that point the Kennedy administration asked the Pentagon what kind of casualties the American forces would suffer. The answer was 18,000 in the first 10 days, and 4,000 in the first day alone. So they made the decision not to invade."

A collection taken after Clark spoke brought in $765, and two people made new pledges totaling $650.  
 
Weekly payments crucial
With all cities reporting, the international total of Pathfinder Fund goals now stands at $106,850, more than the $105,000 goal. Two weeks into the drive, however, $8,304, or 8 percent, has been collected, but we should be at 18 percent.

The challenge for Pathfinder Fund campaigners is to begin to organize, not only pledges, but regular weekly payments from contributors, while at the same time seeking out new financial supporters for Pathfinder’s revolutionary publishing program.

The new edition of Malcolm X Talks to Young People, being produced for the first time in Spanish as well as English, will be ready soon. It contains a new preface, a new cover, the full text--available for the first time--of Malcolm’s Oxford Union talk, and the article "Two Interviews" by Jack Barnes.

Issue no. 12 of the Marxist magazine New International, containing materials from this year’s Socialist Workers Party convention on perspectives for building the world communist movement, will be available this fall.

Along with these books, Pathfinder will prepare six other books and a steady stream of newly digitized titles and other reprints. For example, Maurice Bishop Speaks is now back in stock.

Substantial funds are needed now to maintain this ambitious level of book production. Supporters in cities and towns around the world need to map out a plan to call everyone who has made a pledge and encourage them to make regular payments on their commitments. This need not wait for fund-raising meetings, but rather is an important part of building these meetings beforehand. An average of $9,500 must be paid and sent in every week--both to meet Pathfinder’s expenses and to reach the fund goal.

Contributions to the fund can be sent to the Militant, 410 West Street, New York, NY 10014, with checks made out to Pathfinder.  
 
 
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