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Interventions: Foreign Policy Since 9-11 »

Posted by: populist 2 years, 4 months ago

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A review of Noam Chomsky's new book, "Interventions," which is a collection of essays on American policy since 9-11. Chomsky's first essay is titled "9/11: Lessons Unlearned" in which he addresses the question: "Why do they hate us?"

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populist

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Comments: 103

Avg rating: (+10/-0 10)
jovial
June 13, 2007, 10:16 p.m.
Noam has been consistently right about with his views about the world. A scholarly gentleman and a credit to the human race. Thanks pop for bringing this story in view.
Avg rating: (+6/-0 6)
Aurinkohirvi
June 14, 2007, 2:36 a.m.
The public image of the USA and it's true foreign policy are in a serious conflict. It's nothing new though: this has been the case since the Cold War. The people who get their image of the USA from Hollywood and pop-culture have quite different image than those who READ about news and their backgrounds.
A lot of people thinks USA is the Evil Greed Empire, and has been that decades before wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As long as US foreign policy's leading idea is to secure the mega corporations' profits from foreign countries, it will continue on this dirty, bloody path.
USA was about to start a war against Afghanistan already before 9/11, and the reason? The oil pipe that now has been built from Central Asia to Pakistan through Afghanistan.
USA was interfering Iraq before Saddam, helped Saddam to gain power, helped him to finance and wage the war against Iran, and later supported Iraqi rebellions against Saddam's regime.
The more you know, the more you hate US foreign policy.
Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)
jdhatl
June 14, 2007, 7:20 a.m.
Chomsky is not leftist. He accepts the findings of the warren commission. That means that conservatives need to start listening to him because he can explain why everything is so f***ed up without histrionics or emotional arm waving
Avg rating: (+7/-1 6)
quackpot
June 14, 2007, 9:42 a.m.
Th U.S. foreign policy has always been dictated by buisness interests. For example, the Mexican American war was nothing less than a land-grab by prominent land speculators.
The current situation differs in that the Iraq oil grab got bogged down by poor planning of how to handle post-invasion Iraq. From a big buisness view, the Iraq conflict still makes a lot of sense (in terms of profit, that is. Throughout U.S. history, lives have never been a factor in considering large buisness deals).
Avg rating: (+3/-0 3)
quackpot
June 14, 2007, 12:02 p.m.
Without having read "his trash" how can you have such a strong opinion about his knowledge of foreign policy?
Avg rating: (+6/-1 5)
ryan601
June 14, 2007, 12:51 p.m.
"He knows about as much about foreign policy as a pig, which is what he happens to be."
And you're a foreign policy expert? Exactly what qualifications do you have? How about experience?
quackpot is right. The only thing you, or any of us, can do is read his book and then comment on whether or not you think his conclusions make logical sense. Without even reading his book, you don't what the hell you're talking about.
Avg rating: (+4/-0 4)
djn3nunez3
June 14, 2007, 12:49 p.m.
I suspect that truly a lying pig has given you (sheeple?) your opinion.
Avg rating: (+7/-0 7)
Calebe
June 14, 2007, 1:01 p.m.
thanks, its ignorant azzholes like you (typical bushies) that actually help to make folks WANT to read / learn more about great educators like Chomsky, especially since 9-11!
Avg rating: (+4/-0 4)
UnusualSuspect
June 14, 2007, 2:36 p.m.
Oh...so, viamie..."Chomsky knows about as much about foreign policy as a pig". Does that mean you know more? If so, please enlighten us with your expertise as to why the Arab and Muslim worlds hate us so much. I'd love to hear your opinion...
Avg rating: (+5/-5 0)
skyking2p
June 14, 2007, 3:19 p.m.
vieamie you sound like a very intellectual person. Thanks for adding your special insight to the conversation.
Avg rating: (+3/-4 -1)
Natureboy
June 16, 2007, 10:05 a.m.
"I wouldn't read his trash with a 100 foot pole."
How can you read trash with a pole? Think before you say such things.
Avg rating: (+4/-0 4)
CatholicRedneck
June 14, 2007, 1:34 p.m.
I like the quote by Israeli military intelligence chief, Yesoshaphat Harkabi: To offer an honorable solution to the Palestinians, respecting their right to self-determination. That is the solution of the problem of terrorism. When the swamp disappears, there will be no more mosquitoes.
Avg rating: (+9/-0 9)
djrevelky
June 14, 2007, 3:14 p.m.
I enjoy how Chomsky always writes about a subject that he isn't trained in. I'll let you guys in on a little secret...Chomsky doesn't have any form of a degree in History, Political Science, or International studys.
While SOME of Chomsky's arguements do raise interesting points to consider his liberalism and hatred of varying points of view is evident. Chomsky rarely attempts to refute the other point of view or use citations so from a strictly academic background his writings are not authoratative in the least.
Chomsky is exactly what he accuses his opposition of being. He is wraped around a single point of view and that encompasses all of his thoughts and feelings. Chomsky is, above all, an isolationist and a historical revionist who is not capable of understanding geopolitical reality.
Avg rating: (+6/-1 5)
dibdib
June 14, 2007, 4 p.m.
TO :skyking2p
kindly ELABORATE.YOu accuse the man of something but you do not cite any eveidence.
What is the sh.. are u talking about?
by the way .Did you see how george bush is and was welcomed everywhere abroad mainly in his last tour in Europe?
Avg rating: (+5/-8 -3)
hsaleem
June 14, 2007, 4:23 p.m.
That's just it. The statements are based on facts and figures that each of us know very well. It's just that we have to accept them.
Avg rating: (+3/-5 -2)
crotalus
June 14, 2007, 4:32 p.m.
The main problem I have with this article (and therefore, this book) is not laying ANY of the blame for world conflict on anyone but westerners, mainly the U.S. and British. It even compares the U.S. to Nazi Germany. Yes, we've screwed up big time on issues of foreign policy, but our actions do not deserve that comparison. The book brings up South Africa as an example of "a just peace" although things aren't great there now, in fact they're worse, because....Thatcher and the westerners. Could it have anything to do with total lack of good direction or leadership from their own people. I'm no neocon and not particularly religious (in fact I consider myself a very skeptical independent), but I am an American and I think we bring alot of light to this world. In the form of scientific discovery and human aid around the world. Yes, we screw things up like every society that has ever been on the planet, but we're not the pile of crap this books makes us out to be.
Avg rating: (+7/-3 4)
crotalus
June 14, 2007, 4:38 p.m.
And what happened to the new Democratic revolution? I'm not surprised in the slightest at how inneffective they've been. It's not that they're repubs or dems, they're career politicians. Maybe they'll be able to straighten some of this mess out when they have one of their own as president and don't have to worry about a veto. But, I wonder. Will we be any better off really? Will anything significant be done?
Avg rating: (+8/-2 6)
crotalus
June 14, 2007, 4:58 p.m.
Personally, I think we should've left Iraq alone. Or at least not have been the lead nation on the invasion. If Sadaam's Iraq would've and Iran does develop any type of WMD, where are they going to use it if they choose? Most likely not in the U.S. because they have no means to get it here. They have no ICBM's. They'll use it on Isreal or part of Europe. Or perhaps an Islamic neighbor. That's great, leave them alone. It will not be our problem...not at first anyway. Am I remembering it correctly? Wasn't Sadaam thumbing his nose at and bascially crapping all over the U.N. and world by not allowing an inspection? I don't think he had WMD's, at least not anything that was close to functional. He could've avoided it all by letting in inspectors. But, no let's not lay any of the blame for conflict on them.
Avg rating: (+2/-0 2)
entropy
June 14, 2007, 5:16 p.m.
"Why do they (Arabs/Muslims) hate us?" Fifty years ago Dwight Eisenhower's National Security Council explained it's because we support Middle East despots and "oppos(e) political or economic progress" wanting only control of the region's vast oil reserves. It's no different today with people everywhere respecting our freedoms but hating our policies, especially toward them. With good reason, they view the US as a "terrorist regime," which it is.
Thank you!!
MichaelRhodenteComment has been removed: User banned.
Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)
ryan601
June 14, 2007, 6:06 p.m.
"Yeah, I am a foreign policy expert. I do not need to read his book to know that he is a liar and a communist and knows zip about foreign policy."
If that's true, then why don't you answer my questions? What qualifications do you have? What is your job title, and what exactly do you do with regard to foreign policy? How many years have you been at this job? And who do you work for?
I mean, let's face it, anyone can come on this board and claim to be anything they want. Hell, I could claim to be British royalty and you wouldn't be able to tell if I'm lying.
Avg rating: (+5/-0 5)
Wizardcotx
June 14, 2007, 6:16 p.m.
isn't it funny that chomsky never has found anything wrong with a single democrat or leftist yet if you are not a one world chicken you are EVIL
Chomsky worships at the shrine of the boslivics and the commie socialists and always has..
OH WELL
Avg rating: (+7/-0 7)
spikecwc
June 14, 2007, 6:18 p.m.
Chomsky is a G*d D*mn Communist. He hates the USA.
Avg rating: (+5/-3 2)
tlakegrk
June 14, 2007, 7:33 p.m.
Chomsky a self hating Jew who believes that the DPRK and Khmer Rouge are (were) relevant forms of gov't. So what to do ? Ditch Israel and these issues / maniacs go away ? Leave Sadaam in place and he is to be considered the paragon of stability? Trust the UN and its, ahem, decsiveness ? ( Bosnia, Rwanda, Darfur et al) Bush lost the peace, no doubt. Chomsky and the radical left are bankrupt. Prof of semantics hhhmmmm does that mean Chomsky has a golden shovel ? If the world can survive the radical left and the radical religious muslims maybe there wont be armaggedon.
Avg rating: (+8/-0 8)
bigG
June 14, 2007, 8:43 p.m.
crotalus - good post. I agree to a certain extent, but unfortunately we are the big dog in the world so we get more scrutiny. Also, our government has the notoriety of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries far more than the opposite. Although many out there might say that we mere citizens don't understand the intricacies involved or see the "big picture", I am one who believes that it is actually they who have a problem with their eyesight.