Noam Chomsky in Failed States, by Noam Chomsky

On Homeland Security: Doctrine of anticipatory self-defense is hypocritical

The world's hegemonic power accords itself the right to wage war at will, under a doctrine of "anticipatory self-defense" with unstated bounds. International law, treaties, and rules of world order are sternly imposed on others with much self-righteous posturing, but dismissed as irrelevant for the US--a long-standing practice, driven to new depths by the Reagan and Bush II administrations.

Among the most elementary of moral truisms is the principle of universality: we must apply to ourselves the same standards we do to others, if not more stringent ones. It is a remarkable comment on Western intellectual culture that this principle is so often ignored and, if occasionally mentioned, condemned as outrageous. This is particularly shameful on the part of those who flaunt their Christian piety, and therefore have presumably at least heard of the definition of the hypocrite in the Gospels.

Source: Failed States, by Noam Chomsky, p. 3-4 Apr 3, 2007

On Homeland Security: THEIR terror is evil; OUR terror against them does not exist

Reigning doctrines are often called a "double standard." The term is misleading. It is more accurate to describe them as a single standard, so deeply entrenched that it is beyond awareness. Take "terror," the leading topic of the day. There is a straightforward standard: OUR terror against them does not exist--or, if it does, is entirely appropriate.

One clear illustration is Washington's terrorist war against Nicaragua in the 1980s. The State Department confirmed that the US-run forces attacking Nicaragua from US bases in Honduras had been authorized to attack "soft targets," that is, undefended civilian targets. The International Court of Justice and the UN Security Council condemned the US. [The US] response [describing] terrorist attacks on civilian targets: a "sensible policy [should] meet the test of cost-benefit analysis" of "the amount of blood & misery that will be poured in, and the likelihood that democracy will emerge at the other end"--"democracy" as defined by US elites

Source: Failed States, by Noam Chomsky, p. 4-5 Apr 3, 2007

On Homeland Security: US companies account for 60% of all of world's arms sales

US military expenditures approximate those of the rest of the world combined, while arms sales by 38 North American companies (one of which is based in Canada) account for more than 60% of the world total. Furthermore, for the world dominant power, the means of destruction have few limits.

When asked why "should the US spend massively on arms and China refrain?" senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations provided a simple answer: "we guarantee the security of the world, protect our allies, keep critical sea-lanes open and lead the war of terror," while China threatens others and "could ignore an arms race" --actions inconceivable for the US. Surely no one but a crazed "conspiracy theorist" might mention that the US controls sea-lanes in pursuit of US foreign policy objectives, hardly for the benefit of all, or that much of the world regards Washington (particularly since the beginning of the Bush II presidency) as the leading threat to world security.

Source: Failed States, by Noam Chomsky, p. 7 Apr 3, 2007

On War & Peace: We want an obedient Iraq, but democracy might do otherwise

Bush administration planners want Iraqis "to act independently, EXCEPT when doing so would affect US interests adversely." Iraq must therefore be sovereign and democratic, but within limits: an obedient client state. The pattern is familiar. The Kremlin was able to maintain satellites that were run by domestic political and military forces, with the iron fist poised. Traditional imperial and neocolonial systems illustrate many variations on similar themes.

In Iraq, the dilemma of combining a measure of independence with firm control arose in a stark form not long after the invasion, as mass nonviolent resistance compelled the invaders to accept far more Iraqi initiative than they had anticipated. The outcome evoked the nightmarish prospect of a more or less democratic and sovereign Iraq taking its place in a loose Shiite alliance comprising Iran, Shiite Iraq, and possibly the nearby Shiite-dominated regions of Saudi Arabia, controlling most of the world's oil and independent of Washington.

Source: Failed States, by Noam Chomsky, p.252 Apr 3, 2007

On Foreign Policy: China gets oil from Iran in exchange for weapons

Unlike Europe, China refuses to be intimidated by Washington, a primary reason for the growing fear of China on the part of US planners. Much of Iran's oil already goes to China, and China is providing Iran with weapons, presumably considered a deterrent to US threats.

Still more uncomfortable for Washington is the fact that "the Sino-Saudi relationship has developed dramatically," including Chinese military aid to Saudi Arabia and gas exploration rights for China. By 2005, Saudi Arabia provided about 17% of China's oil imports. Chinese and Saudi companies have signed deals for drilling and construction of a huge refinery (with Exxon Mobil as a partner).

Iran could "emerge, over the next decade or so, as the linchpin of what China and Russia regard as an indispensable Asian Energy Security Grid, for breaking Western control of the world's energy supplies and securing the great industrial revolution of Asia." South Korea and Southeast Asian countries are likely to join, possibly Japan as well.

Source: Failed States, by Noam Chomsky, p.253-254 Apr 3, 2007

On Energy & Oil: Sign the Kyoto Protocol and rely on UN diplomacy

One commonly hears that critics complain about what is wrong, but do not present solutions. There is an accurate translation for that charge: "They present solutions, but I don't like them." A few simple suggestions for the US have already been mentioned

accept the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and the World Court
sign and carry forward the Kyoto protocols
let the UN take the lead in international crises
rely on diplomatic and economic measures farther than military ones in confronting terror
keep to the traditional interpretations of the UN Charter
give up the Security Council veto and have "a decent respect for the opinion of mankind," as the Declaration of Independence advises
cut back sharply on military spending and sharply increase social spending.

For people who believe in democracy, these are very conservative suggestions: they appear to be the opinions of the majority of the US population. They are in radical opposition to public policy Source: Failed States, by Noam Chomsky, p.262 Apr 3, 2007

The above quotations are from Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy by Noam Chomsky. Click here for other excerpts from Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy by Noam Chomsky. Click here for other excerpts by Noam Chomsky. Click here for a profile of Noam Chomsky.
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