An accurate narrative of the current state of affairs in the United States Inc. reveals a disturbing reality.

Democracy in America seems to be on sale to the highest bidder. The idea that in order for us to be safe and secure at home, we need to extinguish any trace of opposition both abroad and at home is a grand illusion.

This mindset has led to actions that may undermine the very principles on which the nation was founded.

The pursuit of power and control has overshadowed the values of fairness, equality, and the rule of law.

As a result, the democratic process is being eroded, and the voices of the people are being drowned out.

It is essential that we wake up to this reality and take steps to protect and restore true democracy in America.

We must question the motives behind the actions of those in power and demand transparency and accountability.

Only then can we hope to build a more just and democratic society for ourselves and future generations.

I am positively drawn to the words of Chomsky for several compelling reasons. Firstly, he is unflinchingly honest, which is a rare and admirable quality. He presents his ideas with a dispassionate demeaner that seems completely disinterested, allowing the facts to speak for themselves.

Secondly, he is never episodic in his writing. Instead, he presents a comprehensive and连贯的 argument that is both thought-provoking and engaging.

The implications of what he writes are often startling and desperately important. He challenges our assumptions and forces us to think critically about the world around us.

Chomsky writes in a very matter-of-fact style, using occasional sarcasm to make his point. However, he never resorts to overblown rhetoric or hyperbole. His prose is straightforward and undeniable, making it easy for readers to understand his ideas.

Finally, this man is an encyclopedia of historical knowledge. His research is thorough and his conclusions are based on solid evidence. The legitimacy of his work cannot be denied, and it has had a profound impact on many fields, including linguistics, philosophy, and politics.

The importance and the danger of the subject matter of this book cannot be ignored. It is about the American administration's attempt to control the world and what America has done in South and Central American countries, as well as in Iraq and the Middle East, including its acts of aggression, crimes, and conspiracies.

However, the book is difficult to read. Firstly, because of the repetition of information in several chapters. Secondly, because the author is unable to focus on a specific point or topic in his narrative and rambles between multiple countries and regions.

This made me stop reading after 200 pages, especially since most of the information presented in the book I had read before in other books.

It is a pity that such an important topic is not presented in a more engaging and organized way. The author could have done a better job of presenting the facts and analyzing the situation without overwhelming the reader with excessive details and repetitions.

Perhaps with some revisions and improvements, this book could have been a more valuable contribution to the discussion of American foreign policy and its impact on the world.

Finally finished this one.

Noam made a great point on how the political world works. (This book was written in 2004, but so many points are still valid hitherto.)

Few things that I want to note before I leave this book behind:

- If your country is weak, it is really hard to win the voice of the world. Even if you are right, you still can't persuade the world to believe you. It happened in many cases like the one in the Vietnam war. It took a good 20 years before the world could hear our voice and reckon if American was right on what they were doing or not.

- The arm race is a serious stuff to talk about here as the level of the race is at the WMD level (weapon of mass destruction) and now it has reached the far space level, not just between western countries but also everywhere from America to the far North Korea. If World War 3 ever happens, I don't think anyone could imagine how crazy big the damage could be for this planet.

- Public vote is playing an increasingly important role in the world situation. In many cases, the government won't listen to their people 100%, but it does affect their decision a lot. No one can be a lonely wolf nowadays.

- However, making people scared and letting them follow you is easier than pleasing them and listening to them. The war is sometimes too convenient to avoid.

- Natural resource like oil is still one of the main reasons for so many wars and invasions.

- There are no forever friends and enemies when it comes to benefits.

- Finally, the American government looks a bit like a POS in this book in 2004 - greedy and the one that caused most of the conflicts and problems in the world right now so they can earn good money from it. It is actually still the case now, but at least there are some countries like China or Japan that could be on the other side of the scale and make them think before the US wants to fire another bullet.

This is my first encounter with the political Chomsky's full book. It presents the standard view from a "leftist" perspective. The arguments and information are quite familiar to those who paid attention to the foreign policy during the Bush-Cheney era. While that period is his main focus, Chomsky doesn't confine himself to it. Bush-Cheney is just a manifestation of what preceded it - a history of US foreign policy that disguises itself with talk of freedom but is actually based on domination. This foreign policy dates back to WWII and even WWI and Wilson. In turn, it reflects a domestic political scene where elites have dominated the non-elites through manipulation.

Surprisingly, there is very little political theory in this book. It simply states that elites are bad, non-elites are good, and the non-elites need to rise up and take control to promote true freedom, goodness, and justice.

Chomsky is correct in pointing out that the US has never managed to be a fair and wise world power. It has been extremely self-centered, ethnocentric, self-righteous, and moralistic, leading to various ill-conceived foreign interventions. The Iraq invasion is a prime example. Didn't the US learn anything from Vietnam? It wasn't just our ineptitude in the follow-up. Rather, it was the invasion itself. (Ms. Condoleezza Rice's moralistic and infamous statement, "Mr. President, Iraq is free," and the fact that Iraq derailed a quick in and out in Afghanistan.) Although Chomsky might disagree, WWII is an exception, or even WWI, despite some real problems with the Wilson presidency.

Chomsky seems to go to great lengths to condemn the US (as all bad) and assume that other countries don't have bad motives regarding our interests. Instead, his argument seems to be that our pursuit of dominance elicits the worst counter-reactions from others. However, a healthy dose of realism is beneficial here - respecting the line between our interests and those of others and defending our interests when necessary. Defense, not offense, is good. The National Guard's mantra at the local armory, "operation Iraqi freedom: extend to defend," is the kind of BS that Chomsky is right to condemn.

But even this line of thinking quickly becomes very gray. President Polk's lies and manipulation led to a fabricated war with Mexico, allowing territory nearly the size of the Louisiana Purchase to be incorporated into the US, making the country largely what it is today (after subduing the native Indians). At the time, about four other countries were vying for control of this territory, and Polk wasn't going to let any of them have it in our backyard. So he took it instead. What would the US be today without this territory? But, given the pure logic of Chomsky's position, I suppose the US should return the territory to Mexico.

The bigger issue with Chomsky, though, is his presumption that the elites are bad and the masses are good. This doesn't account for the variability of human nature, where many of the latter (the "masses") are vulnerable to manipulation by "bad" elites precisely because they are overly tribal and fearful by nature. A strong tribe, our strong tribe, is the best antidote to fear, so it's "our way or the highway" or a "might is right" kind of thing. Leaders prey on and orchestrate that fear. They whip up the frenzy, and in a democracy, even our sane leaders, always mindful of their electoral success, have to cave to the intense heat of the masses. That's what happened in Iraq, that's what happened with Vietnam, and that's what is happening now with Trump.

Chomsky criticizes the American government's policies regarding the global war on terror. He believes that these terrorists are actually the product of the intelligence agencies in the United States.

A large part of the hatred of the Arab and Islamic peoples around the world towards the United States comes from the support of the US government for the dictatorial and repressive systems that rule most of the Arab and Islamic countries.

In addition, the unrestricted support of the United States for the Zionist state of Israel, which was created to be a thorn in the side of the Arab and Islamic world, with all that it represents of aggression and tyranny against the Palestinian people who are defending their rights and land against the occupying usurper.

Chomsky's views challenge the mainstream narrative and call for a more critical examination of American foreign policy.

An eerily prescient book to read as the situation in Afghanistan deteriorates.

It is truly astonishing how this book seems to have predicted the current state of affairs in Afghanistan.

We were never there for benevolent reasons. The claim of'spreading democracy' was perhaps the most laughable of our supposed motivations for our misadventures in the Middle East.

In reality, there were likely other hidden agendas at play.

As the situation in Afghanistan continues to worsen, it becomes increasingly clear that our actions may not have had the positive impact we initially hoped for.

This book serves as a reminder that we should carefully consider our motives and the consequences of our actions before engaging in such complex and far-reaching endeavors.

Perhaps we can learn from our mistakes and approach future situations with greater wisdom and understanding.

An absolutely eye-opening account of US policies that is an essential read if you aim to understand what is transpiring and the reasons behind it.

The book unfailingly exposes the US government's pursuit of global domination. Chomsky elaborates on how US foreign policy has been crafted to predominantly serve the economic interests of the elite since the conclusion of World War II. He also delves into how the US has supported dictators who have brutally suppressed their citizens and organized labor.

Moreover, as military technology has become increasingly lethal, Chomsky contends that humanity has entered a perilous era. This is because this technology tempts those in power to utilize it for advantage, as seen in the Iraq War. He opines that if and when the impoverished and marginalized masses decide to exact retribution against the US, the consequences could be disastrous, with the 9/11 attacks being just one instance. His response to the post-9/11 query of "Why do they hate us?" is far more satisfactory, clearly stating that tensions in the Middle East are directly attributable to the US's imperialistic desire to control the world's oil supply. He is also highly critical of Israel, including its close ties with the US and its mishandling of the Palestinian homeland issue.

Interestingly, Chomsky flips the US official definition of "terrorism" to charge that the US has regularly engaged in terrorism itself, citing examples such as the contra wars in Central America in the 1980s. On the other hand, he reveals sources that testify that the Iraq war has led to an increase in al-Qaeda recruitment.

Needless to say, the book contains some harsh historical accounts of the US imperialist mechanisms that run throughout it and is definitely not for the faint of heart. However, like most of Chomsky's books, if you are not very open-minded, you might feel uncomfortable with some of his premises and conclusions. I rate this book an A+. It is an easy read and a page-turner. If you read it carefully, you will find that you want to take the time to stop and reflect, and even jot down notes for yourself. Outstanding.

An excellent book, meticulously documented and precisely supported with references and footnotes. I highly recommend this book.

In reading this book, I came to the realization that many of the things I was taught about American imperialism were indeed correct.

To put it simply, throughout the history of this country, we have asserted our will, forced other nations to comply, and ignored the consequences. We have compelled many countries on earth to act as we desire, opening themselves up to massive pillaging, virtual enslavement, and a transfer of wealth from them to our corporations.

The points made in the book are well-founded, with numerous examples provided to expose our very warped and myopic view of the world. I would highly recommend reading this book not only to gain a better understanding of world history and some of the reasons why many have issues with America, but also to have a deeper appreciation of our own history and the origins of some of the divisiveness within our society.

By the way, this is the same book that Chavez mentioned when he decided to criticize the sitting president of the U.S.

What truly astonished me regarding this book was the extensive amount of simple reporting it contained.

I had anticipated a greater deal of commentary and a certain slant. However, for the most part, it consists of an assemblage of newspaper clippings and reports of events worldwide since World War II.

Many of these are somewhat familiar, while numerous others, such as the voting record of the US in the UN Security Council, are in principle public but remain unknown in America, especially to news-averse readers like myself.

The composite image that Chomsky constructs is both enlightening and deeply disturbing.

If we accept the truism that "we apply to ourselves the same standards we apply to others," then our foreign policy (or more precisely, our foreign practice) requires a significant change.

This book serves as a wake-up call, urging us to reevaluate our actions and attitudes on the global stage and consider the implications of our behavior for the world at large.

It challenges us to look beyond the surface and question the motives and consequences of our foreign policies, and to strive for a more just and equitable international order.

Overall, it is a thought-provoking and essential read for anyone interested in understanding the complex and often murky world of international relations.

I should add that Chomsky delves into the crucial issues of "humanitarian intervention" in the military sense, especially concerning Kosovo. This work, published post-9/11 in 2003, like all of Chomsky's writings, is essential for understanding the global situation and the role of power. For readers unfamiliar with his works, this and all his writings may seem难以置信, extremely far-fetched, and just too crazy to be true. After all, we were raised to know, not just believe but know beyond a doubt, that the USA is the purveyor of all that is good in the world. If we did it, it had to be good.

Perhaps the first Chomsky book to read should be Manufacturing Consent, where he exposes the propaganda system, awakening the reader to the possibility that not all is as it seems. Otherwise, the reader may be inclined to dismiss everything NC writes as nonsense, as the mainstream actually does. He is inundated with speaking invitations worldwide but rarely appears on US mainstream media. Why? [My answer is that the truth is too dangerous.]

So, "hegemony or survival." The survival of the species is a worthy topic, isn't it? One that parents (and everyone) would seemingly find of utmost interest. Should we listen to those who "just know" things, upon whom wisdom descends like a butterfly (like certain TV commentators), or should we dare to consider and weigh the words of one of the greatest scientists of all time (practically the inventor of psycholinguistics, or at least its greatest exponent), who has intensively studied US foreign (and domestic) policy for about five decades in ways that even most scholars cannot closely match.

Chomsky argues that if the species is to survive, we would do well to examine our most cherished beliefs, especially those that arouse the deepest emotions, such as allegiance to one's government, right or wrong. Or the belief that we are the good and those who don't agree with us - often a large majority of the world - are the evil.

Much of Chomsky's insight can be summed up in a key phrase: If it's wrong when they do it, it's wrong when we do it. Simple enough, hardly a test of human reasoning ability - but then the propaganda system kicks in. For example, the US Senate recently voted unanimously to approve of Israel's attack on the civilian population of Gaza. The fact of such unanimity suggests a pervasive belief system maintained by propaganda. [Chomsky has written extensively to document what he calls Israeli "crimes" aided and abetted by the crucial support of the US.]

Interestingly, the title "hegemony or survival" parallels another dichotomy Chomsky applies to Israeli state planners - the choice of "territory vs security." But we'll leave the discussion of that for another time.

In H or S, Chomsky writes about Israel and Palestine, and Iraq. Many related topics recur in this work as in his others, as understanding the world must be placed in a historical context. For example, he again touches on Reagan's "terrorist wars" in Central America in the '80s (a horribly shameful record), the Cuban missile crisis, the war on drugs in Colombia (and the use of pesticides that shred the poisonous environment when local governors wanted to switch to manual defoliation - hey, who cares about the ecosystem in which people live, right?), Turkey and the Kurds, Indonesia and East Timor, and more.

If the reader doesn't have the patience to delve into the extensive Manufacturing Consent to gain a basic understanding from which to question the propaganda system, at least H or S is compact at 237 pp (+ references) - and thus a convenient bedside read, quick and easy. After reading it, the reader will either throw the book out the window like the character in Silver Linings Playbook, or find his/her acquired worldview challenged most uncomfortably. (Something people generally don't want to experience.)

However, the survival of the species (and the planet) is/are extremely worthy topics, and I do hope that the great mass of readers will be open to what Chomsky gets right (or wrong) and carefully weigh these matters - open to the possibility that not all is as it seems.

Reviewer is the author of Stir It Up: [book:Stir It Up: The CIA Targets Jamaica, Bob Marley and the Progressive Manley Government|15727177]

I cannot help but give Chomsky 5 stars. His work is always enlightening.

Chomsky's insights into various issues, especially when it comes to the question of who the real terrorists are, are truly thought-provoking.

In a world where the term "terrorist" is often misused and politicized, Chomsky challenges us to look beyond the surface and consider the broader context.

He argues that the actions of powerful states and their allies, which often result in the deaths and suffering of countless innocent people, should also be considered acts of terrorism.

By highlighting this, Chomsky forces us to reevaluate our own beliefs and assumptions about terrorism and justice.

His work serves as a reminder that we must always be vigilant and question the dominant narrative, especially when it comes to issues of war and peace.

In conclusion, Chomsky's contributions to the field of intellectual inquiry are invaluable, and I highly recommend his work to anyone interested in understanding the complex issues of our time.