A bit more of a 3-star read, but it’s so vitally important that I bump it up a star.

It’s all a bit breathless and overwhelming. One wishes Chomsky would just slow down a bit and explain in greater depth, rather than jump from statistic to statistic.

Additionally, I feel he somewhat followed the wrong tact. To convince Americans, it would be better to focus on the impact in America first. Instead, the first 3/4 of the book focuses on all the crimes the US has committed overseas. While these are important and deserve to be exposed, at this point, we’re busier pointing fingers at the poor for the sorry state of the nation. It’d seem to make more sense to break that down first.

I think his writing follows a logical trail: “here’s what we’re doing overseas, and that explains why things are such shit back home.” But the process could be reversed, in my mind. Explain how we’ve all been lied to in a gigantic corporate grift, how the interests of eternal war and unending capitalism in a world of finite resources have informed these global policies. Then, the same logic would be presented with a lot more immediate oomph.

Just the failure of the healthcare system alone, or the legion of homeless, in the richest nation on earth – that’s what I think of when I think “failed state”, personally.

So, read it because it’s important, but I’m not sure it does much to convince those who know there are problems but aren’t willing to dig into their sources. They’ll continue to turn a blind eye, enjoy their monied status, and blame the poor for the problems. Whereas if Chomsky focused on the rise in homelessness, rent costs, healthcare costs, declining real wages, record corporate profits, etc. in the US first, and then turned his eye towards how these policies get enforced throughout the world, I think he’d have grabbed more attention.

New life goal unlocked: Read Everything professor Chomsky has written.

Noam Chomsky is a renowned linguist, philosopher, and political activist. His works span across multiple disciplines and have had a profound impact on the academic and intellectual world.

Reading everything he has written is no easy feat, but it is a goal that holds great value. By delving into his extensive body of work, one can gain a deeper understanding of language, cognition, and society.

Chomsky's ideas have challenged traditional views and sparked countless debates. His research on language acquisition and universal grammar has revolutionized the field of linguistics.

Moreover, his political writings have shed light on issues such as imperialism, war, and human rights. By reading his works, we can become more informed and critical thinkers, capable of making a positive impact on the world around us.

So, let the journey begin. With determination and perseverance, I hope to unlock the wealth of knowledge hidden within professor Chomsky's writings.

The first part presents a rather haphazard collection of inflammatory and sarcastic remarks. It may not be the most artfully constructed, but curiously, it has a certain charm that grew on me. Despite its obnoxiously slanted nature, it is extremely informative and compelling. It nags the thoughtful reader to verify numerous details in other sources, presenting a mind-boggling compendium of information.

Part of me wonders if it's overdone, especially when it makes me, of all people, question whether Chomsky is a bit off his rocker regarding more than a few things. In other words, it seems he is trying too hard and exaggerating. This, in turn, makes me consider the other side of the argument. However, perhaps he intends for us to do just that. He has clearly convinced himself to such an extent that he would welcome the readership's so-called fact-checking.

The questions of how closely democracy and capitalism are intertwined and whether there is a viable alternative to democracy that citizens would prefer are raised. Of course, the assumption is that if US leaders had these questions in mind, they would seek answers rather than impose their own views. We all know that it's about hegemony, which is what makes this book often tiresome. Nevertheless, it has undeniably led me to conduct extensive investigations and engage in deep thinking. For that, I am truly grateful.

I was previously unaware of the facet of him as a political scientist and activist, and it has pleasantly surprised me.

His stance regarding the "one-size-fits-all" approach by different US administrations in relation to geology is clear and forceful.

It is appreciated that he gives a voice to the injustices that occur when that nation waves the flag of democracy.

It is essential to have individuals like him who are not afraid to speak out against such inequalities and hold those in power accountable.

His work as a political scientist and activist helps to raise awareness and promotes a more just and equitable society.

We should all take note of his efforts and support him in his pursuit of truth and justice.

This book truly made me feel a profound sense of sadness regarding the current state of our world.

It is disheartening to see how the policy-makers in the US seem to have no respect for anything or anyone, except for the pursuit of money-making.

I suspect that this same situation occurs in many other parts of the world as well.

The facts presented by Noam Chomsky are not only extremely interesting to follow but also easy to understand.

However, especially in the first half of the book, it appears to jump rather quickly between several examples of the US's behavior.

Some of these examples are not explained well enough, or the direction seems to change too often.

Nevertheless, by the end of the book, I was left convinced that the US is a failed state and that hypocrisy indeed rules the ruling world.

In this regard, Noam Chomsky has accomplished his goal.

Another harrowing read by Chomsky.

In this book, he meticulously outlines the numerous contradictions of the empire.

The empire claims to be humanitarian and presents this image not only to its citizens but also to a broader international community.

However, with just a bit of in-depth analysis, Chomsky skillfully breaks down the many falsehoods within this equation.

He examines its constant disregard for international law, highlighting how it often acts in ways that go against the very principles it purports to uphold.

He also points out its unique isolation in terms of human rights, standing in contrast to what is expected in the modern world.

Moreover, he shows how the empire lags behind other developed nations in many aspects, especially when it comes to humanitarian efforts.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is specifically interested in uncovering the contradictions in the construction of the empire.

It provides a thought-provoking and eye-opening perspective that challenges the commonly held beliefs about the empire's supposed virtues.

Overall, the book truly deserves 5 stars.

However, it demands that you possess a great deal of knowledge about politics and incidents of various countries from diverse angles. It is quite difficult to fully grasp the concepts without having prior knowledge of world politics.

Nevertheless, what the author has accomplished by writing about all the abuses of power by the US is nothing short of a heroic act.

In a nutshell, it is a good book, but with certain preconditions. One must have a solid foundation in political understanding and be well-versed in the events and happenings around the world to truly appreciate and benefit from this book.

It offers valuable insights and perspectives that can expand one's knowledge and awareness of the complex world of politics and power dynamics.

Despite the challenges it presents, for those who are willing to invest the time and effort to understand its contents, it can be a highly rewarding read.

Often, the prevailing beliefs are referred to as "double standards" [or: the kilo in pounds]. This term is misleading. It is more accurate to describe it with a single, clear and distinct standard, which Adam Smith named: "The mean principle that governs the behaviors of the masters of humanity... everything for ourselves and nothing for others." Many things have changed since his time, but the mean principle itself has not ceased to witness its flourishing.

And due to the severity of the dominance of the single standard on earth, you can find it as a stick in perception. Take "terrorism" - the prominent topic of the era - for example. There is a single and clear standard: Their terrorism against us and against those who side with us is absolute evil, while our terrorism against them does not exist - and if it is found, then it is completely appropriate.

Noam Chomsky

#Failed_states

Such an intense book!

Masses of evidence are condensed down into as close to the truth as we're ever going to get, and it's a depressing truth indeed.

I found the whole book stimulating to read. However, it was the 6th chapter, "Democracy Promotion at Home", which strayed from the main focus of the book - American foreign policy, that I found most interesting.

In this chapter, Chomsky basically predicts the current financial meltdown in the US and the reasons for it. He then leads on from this into the healthcare debate. At that time, over 70% of Americans were desperate for it. But now, ironically, it hangs in the balance due to the lack of public finances caused directly by the aforementioned meltdown! All of this is set against the backdrop of a continuously limited 'democracy' in America being hijacked and misdirected by big business and the media. It's amazing, if depressing, foresight.

Is this the ultimate end for Democracy in Capitalist states, where truth and public knowledge are lost to profits? Even with Obama now trying to right the wrongs of the Bush era, I think it's too late for America to save itself from itself. There are just too many fatally deep issues that need to be dealt with both in the country and abroad now.

I can't currently foresee anything but the fall of America and the rise of China as the next world super-power.

Power corrupts, and this adage holds true in many aspects of life.

America, being a highly powerful nation, is no exception. With its significant economic, military, and political influence on the global stage, there are concerns that this power may lead to corruption.

The concentration of power in the hands of a few can result in unethical behavior, abuse of authority, and a disregard for the rights and well-being of others.

In the political sphere, there have been instances of lobbying and campaign financing that may undermine the democratic process.

The influence of big corporations and special interests can sometimes overshadow the interests of the general public.

Moreover, the military's power and its role in international affairs also raise questions about the potential for abuse.

However, it is important to note that not all those in power in America are corrupt. There are many individuals and institutions that strive to uphold the values and principles upon which the nation was founded.

Nevertheless, the issue of power and corruption in America remains a topic of great importance and requires constant vigilance and oversight to ensure that the nation's power is used for the greater good.

Failed states are those that exhibit certain characteristics.

They are unable or unwilling to safeguard their citizens from violence and potential destruction. This lack of protection leaves the people vulnerable and at risk.

Moreover, these states often have a tendency to consider themselves above domestic or international law. They believe they are free to engage in aggression and violence without consequences.

Even if they have democratic forms on the surface, they suffer from a significant "democratic deficit." This means that their formal democratic institutions lack real substance and do not function effectively to represent the will of the people and ensure their rights and freedoms.

Failed states pose a threat not only to their own citizens but also to regional and international stability. It is essential to address the issues that lead to state failure and work towards building stronger, more stable, and democratic states.

The United States has been fulfilling its "great" responsibility of bombing and civilizing the "failed states" in the world's eyes since its birth.

One of the prominent figures in intellectual circles, Noam Chomsky, has turned the table in his "Failed States" and placed the United States itself under the scrutiny.

He has shown how the country is suppressing democracy within its own borders day by day and endangering its own citizens. Chomsky said, "The country that once gained fame as a model of excellence in Western civilization, rich in science, philosophy, art, and literature, has now seen the rapid spread of barbarism and its deep penetration."

The entire singapore section of the book published in 2006 was filled with various critiques of the Iraq invasion. There is a detailed description of how the Western powers disregarded all the rules and regulations of war. The then statement of the Bush administration was like this, "When the United States deems it appropriate to invade a country, it has the right to do so." Chomsky said, "The reality is that the United States is generally not subject to international law or regulations."

He identified "sovereign national consciousness" as the eternal enemy of the United States. He believes that whenever the United States sees this sovereign national consciousness starting to spread like a disease to other places, it chooses the wrong path. It starts to undermine the democratic government with various tricks. An example is 9/11 in 1973.

In addition, the United States mainly determines friends and enemies based on the country's ideals, not on the country's actions. As a result, many countries that have committed more serious crimes are still friends of the United States, while many others become enemies without any fault. A recent example is Saddam Hussein. When the trial of Saddam Hussein began, his crime in 1982 was brought up. However, at that time, President Reagan acquitted him for that action, so Iraq was not affected.

Chomsky said, "If we want to understand the world, it is very important to ensure that we do not let the recent past be lost in the abyss of oblivion in any way."

Chomsky often mentioned the democratic mindset of ordinary Americans when talking about their mindset. He said that a large part of ordinary Americans also want their government to abide by all the international laws and regulations.

From his discussion in the first chapter, it was clear that the hint was about the world politics ten years later. China is emerging as a single economic power, Russia will return to world politics again, many more countries including Iran will try to build their permanent weapons, and Israel's various actions will be criticized, and this country will become even more extreme. Therefore, there will be no single leadership in the whole world. Exactly 11 years later, what do we see?

A remarkable book by Chomsky with sufficient evidentiary proofs. It will help the reader to see the world in a different way, even if only a little. You may know what the book will say, such as the Iraq war, the Israeli invasion of Palestine, the Vietnam war, Indonesia, Cuba, Nicaragua; but still, it is necessary to read the book. To experience the story from the other side of the table.

The book has been translated into Bengali by two teachers named Dr. Abdur Rashid and Meherun Nessa. They have also translated the book "Clash of Civilizations". And unfortunately, this translation has started to make my head ache. A remarkable and extremely stinky translation.