Chomsky truly astounds me.

I have a complex feeling towards him. I love him because his ideas stimulate my thinking, yet I hate him for making my brain hurt. However, it's just like a great workout. Afterward, the adrenaline courses through your brain, connecting neurons.

This particular book leaves no reasonable doubt in pointing out how and why the US is a failed state.

It helps you understand the intricate steps the US takes to mess things up for both itself and other countries. Chomsky uncovers the deception and reveals the steps the US takes to cover up or completely reject what this nation is supposed to be built on, and how "democracy" is almost an illusion within the political spectrum.

I firmly believe that persevering through this book can and will assist people in clearly seeing the direction our country is heading and the steps it is taking to reach there.

If nothing else, it will ignite a fire within you, enabling you to fully understand the injustice that the system perpetrates against democracy.

One of the most prominent characteristics of a failed state is that it fails to protect its citizens, perhaps even from destruction.

Or the decision-makers in it view these matters as the lowest priority in the pursuit of short-term power and wealth for the dominant sectors of the state.

And there is another trait that characterizes a failed state, which is that it is a "lawless" state, and its leadership blatantly violates international law and international agreements.

These means may be binding on others, but they are not binding on the lawless state.

This situation often leads to chaos, instability, and a breakdown of social order within the failed state.

The international community may need to take measures to address the problems of failed states to maintain global peace and security.

However, dealing with failed states is a complex and challenging task that requires the cooperation and coordination of multiple actors.

If you're a fan of A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn, then this is an absolute must-read book for you.

It delves deep into numerous aspects that many of us may not be fully aware of. It reveals the actions and policies of the United States government outside of the country, shedding light on a whole new perspective.

Moreover, it graphically points out the assault that the Republican party is allegedly taking on American democracy. This aspect is particularly eye-opening and prompts readers to question and reevaluate the current state of affairs.

The book offers a comprehensive and thought-provoking analysis that challenges our existing beliefs and understanding. It encourages us to look beyond the surface and explore the hidden truths that lie beneath.

Whether you're interested in history, politics, or simply seeking a deeper understanding of the world we live in, this book is sure to provide valuable insights and stimulate meaningful discussions.

I think it's blatantly evident to highlight the reason why this book fails to gain popularity among those who harbor a false perception of the so-called "greatness" that is the United States. Chomsky, in essence, shatters that notion with hard facts.

I couldn't care less if you and I adhere to two distinct or opposing political viewpoints. However, we must concur that Chomsky presents precise data. He doesn't engage in any tomfoolery. Therefore, regardless of your political convictions, you ought to read this book.

The concepts and facts expounded in this book center around the United States as a failed state. A state that persistently violates international law, wreaking havoc on other nations while simultaneously undermining its own people. Whether it pertains to the Iraq/Afghanistan invasion or the Israel-Palestine conflict, Chomsky elucidates history through data, and it's of great value too. The book also delves into South America and Asia.

Now, one might contend that the United States cannot be classified as a failed state given that it has a functioning government, a constitution, and one of the world's largest economies. But I believe the crux here is to compare the United States with the rest of the first-world countries, and then it becomes readily apparent as a failing state. In terms of healthcare, the public education system, the flawed voting system, and the dearth of job growth, the United States is undeniably floundering.

Fast forward to 2020, and the United States has deteriorated even further. A state propelled by racism, sexism, homophobia, and environmental destruction, governed by a deranged president.

I relished the fact that Chomsky employed a significant amount of irony and sarcasm in his book. I think it bestowed a certain character upon the book, and a rather dismal one at that.

Failed States is a disheartening yet refreshing account of reality. I would recommend it if you have an interest in international law, the Bush administration, the failure of the United States economy, the Iraq/Afghanistan war, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, and the United States' relation with the world as a whole.

So, if any of the aforementioned topics piques your interest, do read it.

I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The writer says that Iraq has become like a magnet for attracting Islamic fighters.

However, I would say to him that it is actually America that has made Iraq a magnet for mess, worry, blood, sorrow, killing, aggression, war, and destruction.

America's actions and policies in Iraq have had far-reaching and disastrous consequences. Its invasion and occupation brought chaos and instability to the country, causing the loss of countless lives and the displacement of millions of people.

The situation in Iraq today is a result of America's interference and meddling. Instead of bringing peace and prosperity, it has left a trail of destruction and suffering.

It is time for America to take responsibility for its actions and work towards a just and lasting solution to the Iraqi crisis.

Noam Chomsky has something to say...

America is a failed state and it is all George W. Bush's fault.

In his book, Chomsky makes the point that by all the definition points, the U.S. has successfully become a failed state. By all counts in Chomsky's book, the U.S. has become the single biggest threat to democracy in the world and it drastically needs to change in order to correct itself.

It is not that Chomsky doesn't have valid points to make. His critique of the Iraq war and the doctrine of preemptive strikes is spot on. He legitimately criticizes the lack of affordable health care in the United States. He correctly points out the U.S. faces a great deal of challenges as it goes forward in the 21st century.

However, Chomsky also engages in hyperbole, exaggeration, sarcasm and overstates his case. For instance, he argues that the main problem of the 1990s military intervention in Serbia was not the heinous crimes of the Serbians, but the United States military intervention. While there were concerns about the US intervention, to place the blame solely at the footsteps of Washington and ignore Milosovic is insane.

Chomsky's writing is surprisingly engaging and clear. He helps the reader understand complex situations. Nevertheless, the limitations of Chomsky's book lie in his overstating his case. I am in awe that I can agree with many of his points, but disagree with the central theme of the book.

In good conscience, because of the logical fallacies committed in this book, I cannot recommend it.

Grade: D

What can one say about Chomsky except that his works are must-reads? Once you have acquired a basic understanding of the US and geopolitics, it is highly advisable to peruse the writings of Chomsky. His works penetrate beneath the surface and guide you to the profound depths that our leaders explore. It is not a pleasant sight, nor is it as altruistic as these politicians claim in the public domain.

Chomsky is an extremely well-researched scholar, and his utterly precise analysis is profound. The mainstream media should, at the very least, offer some recognition of Chomsky's opinions and insights. While the public is continuously misled, Chomsky remains unaffected and presents the clearest understanding of US/Israeli policies.

Why is he not more widely read in general? Chomsky is a political genius, and we are in desperate need of more individuals like him. His works have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the world and inspire us to take action for a more just and equitable future.

Noam Chomsky points out many important topics in this book. He explains to us the nature and characteristics of failed states, which can be summarized as follows:

1) The state's inability or unwillingness to protect its citizens.

2) The absence of democracy.

3) The state's threat to international security and considering itself above the law; it practices violence and aggression even if it is a model of democracy in the world.

And by mentioning this point, Chomsky shows a contrast and observation to the political historian Alexis de Tocqueville about America, which was able to exterminate the Native Americans without violating a single great principle of morality in the eyes of the world.

*The idea from the book "Failed States"

The author of this book aims to describe and define failed states; he believes that they are the states that are unable or unwilling to protect their citizens from violence or destruction, and consider themselves above the law, and then take the initiative in practicing violence and aggression against their citizens and others.

Here, the strong criticism that the book contains towards the policies of the US government is revealed. The author compares the policies of the US government with the policies of the states and groups that America usually opposes, and explains the relationship between America and Israel and the extent to which the fate of the former is linked to the latter.

Moreover, Chomsky aims to prove that America poses a threat to international security and world peace.

Failed States: The Erosion of Equality, Liberty, and Democracy

We are currently and quietly bidding farewell to equality, liberty, and meaningful democracy. de Tocqueville noted that the US could exterminate the native race without the world batting a moral eye. Bin Laden's reasons for hating the US had nothing to do with freedoms but everything to do with policies and actions in the Muslim world. The US, speaking out of both sides of its mouth, pardons terrorists. Consider these names: Orlando Bosch, Luis Posada Carriles, and Emmanuel Constant.

This book has a good chapter on rogue states, great stuff on Adams and Jackson, and a good chapter on Israel and Palestine. Sam Huntington observed that aggression and terror must be portrayed as self-defense with “dedication to inspiring visions.” The US has become a failed state as it no longer provides for its people and cannot guarantee rights at home or abroad. Bretton Woods established a system of protection that has now been reversed, and we are all paying the price of unrestricted capital movement and speculation. In 2003, the House of Representatives passed a bill stating that international studies programs needed to show more support for American foreign policy. The list of cool facts in this book goes on. So, buy a copy and learn from the man. I'll keep reading his books to be a better citizen. If my government could be trusted, I'd rather read about music, history, and literature. But since I can't trust two pro-war business parties to stop the commodification of the commons and the destruction of the planet, I'll keep reading the gatekeepers like Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Chris Hedges, Derrick Jensen, Glenn Greenwald, Arundhati Roy, Cornel West, and Jeremy Scahill. They are compelled to speak the truth, no matter the cost. In the end, this is another great Chomsky book. It was published in 2006 and is not his latest, but that's okay as I need to read every book he has written.

**Twisting the Idea of the Failed State**

I have delved into several books penned by Noam Chomsky. Despite his reputation as an accessible writer and a profound intellectual, his works often revolve around a similar theme and seem to cover familiar territory. In a sense, I am eager to gain insights into Chomsky's perspectives on recent events. While his later books might offer some illumination, unfortunately, one often has to traverse a great deal of old ground to reach the new ideas. Moreover, his take on new events tends to simply reinforce the same arguments he has been expounding since the Vietnam era.

Interestingly, after Vietnam and during the eighties and nineties, Chomsky was not highly prominent. It was only after September 11 and George Bush's purported assault on democracy that Chomsky suddenly regained popularity. The challenge with Chomsky is that although his books are quite accessible (i.e., easy to read), his positions on various subjects cannot be simply encapsulated in a soundbite. For instance, an advertisement like 'Coke Adds Life' instantly conjures up a flood of images in a person's mind, while a statement such as 'the Bible is history's most genocidal text' will inevitably put believers in the Bible on the defensive, and the statement itself demands a great deal of background explanation. This is Chomsky's dilemma: he is pitted against a global media conglomerate that inundates people's minds with propaganda and suppresses all opposing views.
This book commences with a chapter on the nuclear arms race and his associated concerns. Although not openly acknowledged, satellites armed with nuclear weapons orbit the earth, and as he posits, a single accidental slip of a finger could unleash Armageddon upon us. While this is not the core of the book, it serves as an opening that compels us to sit up and pay attention. Nobody emerges victorious in a nuclear war, and although the fear of nuclear annihilation that pervaded the eighties has receded (and I recall fearing a nuclear holocaust as a child), it still lingers uneasily at the back of our minds.
In this book, Chomsky's thesis is that despite the US traveling the globe and highlighting all the failed states, it is the US itself that is the major failed state. I dissent from Chomsky on this point. I do not believe that the US is a failed state any more than pre-invasion Iraq or North Korea are. While these places may not have been idyllic to live in, and their governments might have been extremely corrupt, they still had functioning governments. The only true failed state, in my view, would be Somalia, where there is no functioning government. At the time of this writing, one could also include Ivory Coast, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, and the Congo, to name just a few places where the government has essentially lost control of most of the country and descended into civil war (and it could be argued that the Congo has never had a functioning government).
While I would always advocate for reading a Chomsky book, unfortunately, he does end up covering old ground and becoming rather repetitive.

It is essential to approach his works with a critical eye and an open mind, discerning the valuable insights while also being aware of the potential limitations.

This book holds great significance in helping us understand the reasons behind our continuous invasions of other countries and the sense of exceptionalism we often feel.

It is quite evident that our current president should be worried about the fact that Romney agreed with most of his positions on foreign policy. The motives driving his actions can be traced back to the neo-liberal playbook, which only someone as intelligent and honest as Chomsky has the courage to expose.

If you're short on time, it would be beneficial to read the beginning and final chapters of this book. Americans must cease wondering why the world hates and fears us. We need to look within and understand the implications of our actions.

By delving into this book, we can gain a deeper perspective and perhaps start to make positive changes in our foreign policy approach. It is essential that we take responsibility for our actions and work towards building a more peaceful and harmonious world.

Only then can we hope to earn the respect and trust of the international community and move away from the cycle of hatred and fear that has plagued us for so long.

America itself was born a failed state. In the end, all the countries of the Third World are gathering with each other in economic and then political blocs. In Latin America, China is with its neighboring countries. They are the magnitude of the American problem.

Oh God, except for the Arab world. What happened to them? They gathered.

...

I was in a period when I respected America. I thought the countries of the world were gathering for the benefit of their people, and I used to say, "Yes, let's be like that," until instead of us gathering in brotherhood and love in Egypt.

Then I discovered that America is gathering the world for the benefit of the capitalists and the big corporations, and the people themselves are suffering from a high poverty rate, crime, and even they don't have a health insurance that matches the income of a country like theirs compared to other countries that are economically less than them.

...

Curses on the father and sons of the dogs who make the whole world live in poverty, poor health, and human degradation.

...

And finally, and not the last, our Lord has given health to my grandfather. This man is still alive according to my information until this moment.