Product Description: In this first collection of interviews since the bestselling 9-11, our foremost intellectual activist examines crucial new questions of U.S. foreign policy
Timely, urgent, and powerfully elucidating, this important volume of previously unpublished interviews conducted by award-winning radio journalist David Barsamian features Noam Chomsky discussing America’s policies in an increasingly unstable world. With his famous insight, lucidity, and redoubtable grasp of history, Chomsky offers his views on the invasion and occupation of Iraq, the doctrine of “preemptive” strikes against so-called rogue states, and the prospects of the second Bush administration, warning of the growing threat to international peace posed by the U.S. drive for domination. In his inimitable style, Chomsky also dissects the propaganda system that fabricates a mythic past and airbrushes inconvenient facts out of history.
Barsamian, recipient of the ACLU’s Upton Sinclair Award for independent journalism, has conducted more interviews and radio broadcasts with Chomsky than has any other journalist. Enriched by their unique rapport, Imperial Ambitions explores topics Chomsky has never before discussed, among them the 2004 presidential campaign and election, the future of Social Security, and the increasing threat, including devastating weather patterns, of global warming. The result is an illuminating dialogue with one of the leading thinkers of our time—and a startling picture of the turbulent times in which we live.
Good intro This book is a series of interviews on various topics and developments that have affected the world. I know to a lot of people Chomsky may be a little too far to the left, i myself personally don't agree with everything he says. I have disagreements with him when it comes to economic issues and political philosophy in general. But Chomsky is an expert on foreign policy and his version of history is generally accurate. For example he talks about how our actions are guided by imperial interests rather than an effort to promote freedom across the world. He cites our support for repressive regimes in the middle east and for Israel despite having dismal humans rights records as contrary to the rhetoric we usually preach. Many people disagree with Chomsky on the way the world should be. There is a legitimate debate about whether the US should try and make teh world a better place through using its awesome power. Chosmky is a pacifist isolaionist which means he is opposed to ou interventions. Even if you do disagree with his pacifist isolationist ideology there is still a lot you can learn from this book. You will learn that the history of the US interventions does not mirror its usual rhetoric, and that important for people on all ends of the political spectrum to understand. One can read Resurrecting empire by rashid khalidi if you want to learn more on this topic, or Overthrow by stephen kinzer to learn the history of US interventions
Good intro for new readers of Chomsky The book is short, with bite-sized pieces, making it easy for the first-timer or non-poly sci major to absorb. I know, I was both. I've been called so right wing I can't make a left turn, but lately, like many, I've been disillusioned. I'm also not a goose-steppin' follower - I have my own thoughts. While being 'conservative' in this country is becoming difficult, especially as the definition changes, I still consider myself conservative. I'm not a neo-con, however. The point of this is how I came to read Chomsky. I feel that there's much we 'conservatives' have had to swallow in the past few years. Thinly vieled lies - and outright ones! - make it hard to just go along with our leaders. I started to read some of the material that the other side puts out - and a lot made sense. This book became my first foray into Chomsky's stuff. I now have a half dozen of his books. I don't always agree with him and sometimes I wonder if he says/writes things just to prove he can be as ridiculous as the right, but I can't deny his intellect. As well, linguistics is a field that fascinates me. (If you don't know, that's what Chomsky is at MIT, a linguist.) Look, whether you're left or right, he's good reading. And if you're able look at both sides - this is a good start.
the hobo philosopher I hate reading this guy but I feel that it is my obligation. Mr. Chomsky has to be about as far left as left can go. But he is so well informed and so persuasive. He has got all the political arguments that most of us don't even want to consider. But you can't read Mr. Chomsky without opening up your mind. If you have a closed mind you won't be able to read him at all. In a debate Alan Dersherwitz accused Mr. Chomsky of being from outer space where he resided on the planet "Chomsky". And Dersherwitz who lives himself outside the Milky Way on the planet "Dersherwitz" should know an alien when he sees one.
Delighted to get an update from one of the most articulate and perspicacious political writers of our time. A most circumspect, articulate and historically (non-revisionist) accurate evaluaton of our political, environmental and practical lives in the US of A today. Important and enlightening info in an age of increasing civil rights suppression and heightened fear in this country. \\
To be sold with a valium It's all very refreshing and feels enticingly rebellious to enter into Chomsky's world, but one must keep reminding oneself that 1) the material presented here can be approached from a wide spectrum of angles, and 2) righteous indignation has its place, but it also has a dangerously seductive drug-like appeal for egomaniacs and know-it-alls.
Criticism of Chomsky's factual errors usually seems to distort the truth itself, and it misses a bigger point. We can accept that all Chomsky's facts are correct and still have a big problem with this book: his presentation and interpretation pours gas on a fire that's burning the structure of whole civilizations. While emotional extremes are great for getting our blood pumping, the current polarized political environment would benefit from a more balanced and restrained perspective.
I understand the desire to energize people in reaction to the carefully-engineered apathy that paralyzed the left for so long, but surely the answer is to diminish the pendulum's wild swinging - not to push it to even greater extremes. If you seek only to convince your natural allies you risk alienating potential allies and energizing them against you.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
