Current Events > Noam Chomsky says US is worlds biggest terrorist

(+) Yeah! (+)

I love how nobody has actually disputed Chomsky's argument at all.
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I don't know how you can deny that... Unless you want to redefine terrorism
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Sativa_Rose posted...

He exaggerates, but the drone campaign and the way it has been conducted has made us look pretty bad. Still though, he ignores the atrocities committed by other regimes and terrorist groups by saying we are the worst in the world.

He always responds that the reason he doesnt focus on criticizing other regimes and is particularly tough on the US is because he himself is American, he rather criticize his own country and work to make that better than focus on other regions of the world. Additionally the US is also a global superpower, their actions have a far wider reach and influence than any other regime in history, so it sort makes sense they deserve a closer look and a tighter judgment.

Also, the drone campaign made us look bad because were in an age with fast access to media. A lot of the stuff Noam has written about took place before the internet, but believe me those other military campaigns wouldve made America look just as bad had the internet been around then.
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Garioshi posted...

I love how nobody has actually disputed Chomsky's argument at all.

I really don't have an issue with it. I'm real curious to see, if I live to be that long, how history is going to remember America from the end of WWII or at minimum the Cold War and fall of the Soviets, up to now and longer. I don't think history is going to look back fondly, unfortunately
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The problem with Chomsky is that he never follows his condemnations to their logical conclusions. If he's right, then the US deserves to be wiped off the map. Our crimes, taken in their totality, make Nazi Germany look amateurish (a comparison he's never shied from using).
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Kazi1212 posted...

Sativa_Rose posted...

He exaggerates, but the drone campaign and the way it has been conducted has made us look pretty bad. Still though, he ignores the atrocities committed by other regimes and terrorist groups by saying we are the worst in the world.

He always responds that the reason he doesnt focus on criticizing other regimes and is particularly tough on the US is because he himself is American, he rather criticize his own country and work to make that better than focus on other regions of the world. Additionally the US is also a global superpower, their actions have a far wider reach and influence than any other regime in history, so it sort makes sense they deserve a closer look and a tighter judgment.

Also, the drone campaign made us look bad because were in an age with fast access to media. A lot of the stuff Noam has written about took place before the internet, but believe me those other military campaigns wouldve made America look just as bad had the internet been around then.

I agree that Noam has been great for writing about Cold War era stuff, but I don't think it's right to try to castigate the US in the present day over Cold War era decisions that almost no one in power today had any part in making. One of my big criticisms of Chomsky is that he does precisely that, e.g. talking about how bad the US is today by bringing up coups in the 1950s and 1960s.

Secondly, as for his stance on being tough on the US because he is an American, I too have heard him give that answer, and yes that's fine, but the moment he decides to make comparisons to other countries by saying things like the US is the worst, that excuse no longer holds. He is the one who starts making the comparisons to other countries when he makes that statement. Then when questioned on it, he falls back to his stance about being more critical of the US than other countries. It's not consistent. If he only wants to focus on the US, he must resist the temptation to start making comparisons like that.
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The Great Muta 22 posted...

I don't hate Chomsky, mind you. After all, he did give us this quote back in 2010:

The United States is extremely lucky that no honest, charismatic figure has arisen. Every charismatic figure is such an obvious crook that he destroys himself, like McCarthy or Nixon or the evangelist preachers. If somebody comes along who is charismatic and honest this country is in real trouble because of the frustration, disillusionment, the justified anger and the absence of any coherent response. What are people supposed to think if someone says I have got an answer, we have an enemy? There it was the Jews. Here it will be the illegal immigrants and the blacks. We will be told that white males are a persecuted minority. We will be told we have to defend ourselves and the honor of the nation. Military force will be exalted. People will be beaten up. This could become an overwhelming force. And if it happens it will be more dangerous than Germany. The United States is the world power. Germany was powerful but had more powerful antagonists. I dont think all this is very far away. If the polls are accurate it is not the Republicans but the right-wing Republicans, the crazed Republicans, who will sweep the next election.

Lol this is brilliant
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Garioshi posted...

I love how nobody has actually disputed Chomsky's argument at all.

They know he's right, were literally training the fucking Saudis on us soil right now so they can bomb the shit out've the Yemenis or whoever.

Were 100% a terrorist state.

Kazi1212 posted...

The Great Muta 22 posted...

I don't hate Chomsky, mind you. After all, he did give us this quote back in 2010:

The United States is extremely lucky that no honest, charismatic figure has arisen. Every charismatic figure is such an obvious crook that he destroys himself, like McCarthy or Nixon or the evangelist preachers. If somebody comes along who is charismatic and honest this country is in real trouble because of the frustration, disillusionment, the justified anger and the absence of any coherent response. What are people supposed to think if someone says I have got an answer, we have an enemy? There it was the Jews. Here it will be the illegal immigrants and the blacks. We will be told that white males are a persecuted minority. We will be told we have to defend ourselves and the honor of the nation. Military force will be exalted. People will be beaten up. This could become an overwhelming force. And if it happens it will be more dangerous than Germany. The United States is the world power. Germany was powerful but had more powerful antagonists. I dont think all this is very far away. If the polls are accurate it is not the Republicans but the right-wing Republicans, the crazed Republicans, who will sweep the next election.

Lol this is brilliant

You realize he's comparing this "future US leader" to Hitler, right?
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idk why everyone gets so worked up about this

our military does tons of terrible inhuman shit that we have no reason to do. they are not the superheroes you want to praise so much. you also don't have to say "i hate america" either
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The Great Muta 22 posted...

Kazi1212 posted...

The Great Muta 22 posted...

I don't hate Chomsky, mind you. After all, he did give us this quote back in 2010:

The United States is extremely lucky that no honest, charismatic figure has arisen. Every charismatic figure is such an obvious crook that he destroys himself, like McCarthy or Nixon or the evangelist preachers. If somebody comes along who is charismatic and honest this country is in real trouble because of the frustration, disillusionment, the justified anger and the absence of any coherent response. What are people supposed to think if someone says I have got an answer, we have an enemy? There it was the Jews. Here it will be the illegal immigrants and the blacks. We will be told that white males are a persecuted minority. We will be told we have to defend ourselves and the honor of the nation. Military force will be exalted. People will be beaten up. This could become an overwhelming force. And if it happens it will be more dangerous than Germany. The United States is the world power. Germany was powerful but had more powerful antagonists. I dont think all this is very far away. If the polls are accurate it is not the Republicans but the right-wing Republicans, the crazed Republicans, who will sweep the next election.

Lol this is brilliant

You realize he's comparing this "future US leader" to Hitler, right?

Sure, I find him being hyperbolic of course but I find much of what he said has come to fruition in a smaller degree and scale.
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I'm not buying what he's selling on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine's internal political revolution and voluntary request to join NATO are in no way equivalent to Russia's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty. You can't pretend that NATO expansion is the same thing as one nation redrawing borders and stealing territory from another.
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Why is there more criticism of Cold War US than there is of the Soviets and their allies
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The Great Muta 22 posted...

I don't hate Chomsky, mind you. After all, he did give us this quote back in 2010:

The United States is extremely lucky that no honest, charismatic figure has arisen. Every charismatic figure is such an obvious crook that he destroys himself, like McCarthy or Nixon or the evangelist preachers. If somebody comes along who is charismatic and honest this country is in real trouble because of the frustration, disillusionment, the justified anger and the absence of any coherent response. What are people supposed to think if someone says I have got an answer, we have an enemy? There it was the Jews. Here it will be the illegal immigrants and the blacks. We will be told that white males are a persecuted minority. We will be told we have to defend ourselves and the honor of the nation. Military force will be exalted. People will be beaten up. This could become an overwhelming force. And if it happens it will be more dangerous than Germany. The United States is the world power. Germany was powerful but had more powerful antagonists. I dont think all this is very far away. If the polls are accurate it is not the Republicans but the right-wing Republicans, the crazed Republicans, who will sweep the next election.

Durr what a lunatic! Communism! Rurr...rurrDURRrr...
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The Great Muta 22 posted...

Kazi1212 posted...

The Great Muta 22 posted...

I don't hate Chomsky, mind you. After all, he did give us this quote back in 2010:

The United States is extremely lucky that no honest, charismatic figure has arisen. Every charismatic figure is such an obvious crook that he destroys himself, like McCarthy or Nixon or the evangelist preachers. If somebody comes along who is charismatic and honest this country is in real trouble because of the frustration, disillusionment, the justified anger and the absence of any coherent response. What are people supposed to think if someone says I have got an answer, we have an enemy? There it was the Jews. Here it will be the illegal immigrants and the blacks. We will be told that white males are a persecuted minority. We will be told we have to defend ourselves and the honor of the nation. Military force will be exalted. People will be beaten up. This could become an overwhelming force. And if it happens it will be more dangerous than Germany. The United States is the world power. Germany was powerful but had more powerful antagonists. I dont think all this is very far away. If the polls are accurate it is not the Republicans but the right-wing Republicans, the crazed Republicans, who will sweep the next election.

Lol this is brilliant

You realize he's comparing this "future US leader" to Hitler, right?

"Wow that Stalin guy sure is something else, I'm glad someone like that could never take power here" - Germans, ~1930
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MakoReizei posted...

Why is there more criticism of Cold War US than there is of the Soviets and their allies

There isn't.
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Maybe in raw gross numbers, but definitely not when you factor in the ratio of our power vs how much pointless destruction we cause.

We have the power to destroy the entire world anytime we want to, but the actual damage we're doing is pretty low.

Other countries/groups/etc are batting way above their average on a power to terror ratio than we are.
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andromedadude3 posted...

The problem with Chomsky is that he never follows his condemnations to their logical conclusions. If he's right, then the US deserves to be wiped off the map. Our crimes, taken in their totality, make Nazi Germany look amateurish (a comparison he's never shied from using).

But... He does think that the US government should cease to exist
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The Great Muta 22 posted...

I don't hate Chomsky, mind you. After all, he did give us this quote back in 2010:

The United States is extremely lucky that no honest, charismatic figure has arisen. Every charismatic figure is such an obvious crook that he destroys himself, like McCarthy or Nixon or the evangelist preachers. If somebody comes along who is charismatic and honest this country is in real trouble because of the frustration, disillusionment, the justified anger and the absence of any coherent response. What are people supposed to think if someone says I have got an answer, we have an enemy? There it was the Jews. Here it will be the illegal immigrants and the blacks. We will be told that white males are a persecuted minority. We will be told we have to defend ourselves and the honor of the nation. Military force will be exalted. People will be beaten up. This could become an overwhelming force. And if it happens it will be more dangerous than Germany. The United States is the world power. Germany was powerful but had more powerful antagonists. I dont think all this is very far away. If the polls are accurate it is not the Republicans but the right-wing Republicans, the crazed Republicans, who will sweep the next election.

That's insane. :O
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He got the part about them needing not to be obvious crooks wrong.
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Garioshi posted...

100% correct.

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