 |
9-11| Media: | Paperback | | Author: | Noam Chomsky | | Publisher: | Open Media | | Release date: | October, 2001 | | Our price: | $9.95 |
|
|
|
Average rating:  |  |
Chomsky insightfully places 9/11 in historical context |
Chomsky concedes that the events on 9/11 were horrendous but drives home the point that the United States has committed even worse attrocities throughout the world. To demonstrate his thesis that the U.S. is the most vile terrorist state in the world (superceding even the Taliban), Chomsky focuses on the bombing of the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical plant in the Sudan that destroyed half of the country's medicine production and silently killed thousands while halting the trend of moderation in the country and plunging back into fanatical warring which has now culminated in genocide. In addition, Chomsky hones in on our decimation of Nicaragua in the 80's near the peak of communist hysteria when the leftist Sandinista's were rapidly accruing public support. As Chomsky repeatively emphasizes, the United States is the only country to ever be condemned for international terrorist by the world court (1986).
Not only does Chomsky expose the hypocracy that lies beneith the interminable "war on terror," he also mentions that it was the U.S. (among other capitalist nations) who organized, trained, financed, and armed the most extreme Islamic fundamentalists to slaughter the Russians who were lured into the "Afghan Trap." The "blowback" from our actions have been felt all over the world--after expelling the Soviets this new fundamentalist organization directed its attention towards oppresive regimes more influenced by capitalism than Islam. This same group relates the U.S. occupation of Saudi Arabia (country of Mecca) to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and their primary goal has been to drive the oil coveting interest protectors from the holy land. Hence the reason Bin Laden's networks brought jihad to the country that created them.
The only problem I have with this book is that is was released way too soon after the attacks. Instead of predicting America's reaction, Chomsky should have waited to criticize it.. (for example, he suggested that a dazed and confused america would be open to questioning and freedoms would actually increase--this of course, before the announcement of the "patriot act")
I highly recommend this book... |
| 9-11 - Noam Chomsky |  |
Self-citations- YEHHHH! |
A booklet filled with typical Chomsky. Nothing is factual but there seem to be lots of citations that refer the reader back to some other Chomsky title which contains even more self-citing.
How deep is the rabbit hole? Only Chomsky knows. I guess this is the trick of a learned linguist.
"The Anti-Chomsky Reader" is a must have accompaniment.
PenetratingArmenian
A Self Certified Blogspot Blogger
PS-1 Star because it's dead cheap and brief. |
| Noam Chomsky - 9-11 | |
Chomsky |
I find it humorous that one "patriotic, America loving" reviewer wanted to charge Chomsky with treason under the Patriot Act, even though the Constitution clearly spells out the criteria for treason, the only crime it explicitly defines. You would figure that someone who loves America so much would find it abhorrent to circumvent the Constitution like that.
It is completely illogical to equate questioning America with hating America. If you had a family member you thought was making a grave mistake, you most certainly would speak up. I see no difference in this case. In fact, I think it would be treacherous if someone who thought a loved one was making a grave mistake stayed silent, instead of trying to help. America is great because everyone is free to express their opinions, and remains viable because Americans can sort out valid opinions from trash. There is no need to censor them, bad opinions will simply marginalize themselves. If Chomsky's words are those of a loony radical, then people will disregard them. However, if there is validity to them, which many seem to feel, then they are a constructive part of American political discourse.
Chomsky doesn't defend terrorists, he just points out that it isnt the hatred of freedom that spawns them. Our foriegn policy (especially post WWII) has alienated and aggravated a large number of people around the world. That doesnt justify the actions of terrorists, it just helps explain why these people are so determined to destroy us.
Overall, I think this is a solid book, although I am not a huge fan of Chomsky's writing style. |
| Best Buys Bookstore |
| | Similar products | |
|
|
