Wie man in den Wald hineinruft...

"...so schallt es zurück", this is the central thesis of this little book by Noam Chomsky. He doesn't get involved with all the conspiracy theories surrounding the September 11, 2001 attacks. Instead, he talks about the actions of the US in the past decades. He reports on the terrorist attacks carried out by the CIA in Central America and the Middle East. Content-wise, the book is easy to understand and well-researched. There are no doubts about what is said, and it all sounds very likely, or corresponds to the general state of knowledge.

Since he very obviously wanted to publish his book very quickly after this terrible day, Chomsky didn't bother to research a lot of material. Instead, he repeats all his arguments three times. With this, of course, he actually fills no more than 30 pages, and the rest is a repetition of what has already been said. This small amount of information does not allow for more than three stars to be given to the book. Often, articles in magazines contain as much information as this little book. Accordingly, one can say with a clear conscience that the price-performance ratio is not right.

The book opens a window onto a hidden side of American culture, a side characterized by self-criticism and analysis of many issues that may be hidden from many, whether they are for or against American rationality.

The author, in my opinion, is highly distinguished in the matter of self-criticism. The book is titled "Deconstructing Terrorism." The author does not go far and deconstructs the phenomenon of terrorism, starting with the terrorism practiced by his own country, the US, which he calls "state terrorism." He often hesitates in the book when talking about many of the acts committed by the United States that fall into the category of global terrorism, wondering about the reason for overlooking such practices when (we or our allies do them) while the huge media machine mobilizes when (what we call terrorism) occurs, and gives many examples, such as the well-known American invasion of Iraq and support for the Zionist entity, and others that are unknown, at least to me, such as the attack on Nicaragua for which the International Court issued a ruling considering it a terrorist act.

The book is a collection of journalistic interviews conducted with Chomsky in the period following the September events. Nevertheless, the author is highly objective and does not follow the vengeful hype that was dominant and the call for quick revenge. Kanb did not directly attach the blame to al-Qaeda but said that most of the indications point to that, wondering about the responsibility that the United States bears as the main cause of the emergence of this organization during the Soviet-Afghan war, in cooperation with the intelligence services of some allied countries.

What I noticed in the book is the repetition of some issues in different places, and I think this does not detract from the importance of the book because some facts need some expansion and detail sometimes and just a reminder at other times, and the repetition is due to the fact that the book is a series of journalistic interviews in which some questions are repeated and so are the answers.

Finally, I think the book is worth reading for those interested in such topics.

Chomsky's thoughts and conclusions presented here are truly remarkable and can be simply summarized as follows. Firstly, the US has frequently utilized and supported terrorism, which undermines its claim to lead a global movement against terrorism. Secondly, the 9/11 attacks should have been regarded as crimes to be prosecuted rather than as a pretext for endless bombings and military campaigns. Similar to many books on 9/11 and US involvement in the Middle East published shortly after the attacks, there are numerous points, ideas, and predictions that have evolved in an interesting manner over time. Many of Chomsky's concerns, such as extensive military action resulting in an increase in anti-American sentiment across the Middle East, have indeed materialized.

My omission of a fifth star is not so much a reflection of the book's quality as it is of the book's nature itself. These are interviews conducted immediately after the September 11, 2001 attacks, and Chomsky was evidently attempting to restate and strengthen his main ideas in the heat of the moment through multiple media interactions. This leads to a significant amount of repetition. The points are excellent, and Chomsky is always clear and concise. However, as a book, this content can become somewhat repetitive. A more extensive essay by Chomsky or a secondary source that summarizes and expands on his thoughts would have been more desirable. Nevertheless, I do recommend this book.

Mala traducción al español y además el formato electrónico en el Kindle es deficiente lo que no lo hace fácil de leer.

Chomsky, un excelente pensador y crítico de lo que sucede, considera que los hechos del 11 de septiembre tuvieron su origen en todas las actitudes terroristas y desnaturalizadas de la política norteamericana en muchos de los conflictos en los que participó en el siglo XX, especialmente los de Afganistan y Rusia.

Un pensamiento que hace meditar al lector es aquel en el que menciona que en USA es terrorismo todo lo que hacen los demás contra ellos, pero no aceptan calificar como acciones terroristas o como violencia si sucede lo contrario. Esto se ha visto en casos como Nicaragua y los "contras", o el bombardeo a una fábrica farmacéutica en Sudan, entre numerosos otros ejemplos.

Preferible leer un libro suyo que una recopilación de entrevistas repetitivas como es este caso. En general, la obra de Chomsky ofrece una perspectiva crítica y profunda sobre los eventos internacionales y la política norteamericana. Aunque la traducción y el formato electrónico puedan ser deficientes en este caso, su contenido sigue siendo relevante y merece ser estudiado y reflexionado.

Compilation of heavily edited transcripts from interviews with Chomsky in the weeks following 9/11. By its very nature, much of it is redundant, resulting in an occasionally tedious read. Chomsky adopts a primarily historical perspective when discussing global affairs and U.S. foreign policy. While this isn't always useful, it is frequently interesting. The book acts as a good counterpoint to the nationalistic propaganda that the U.S. media was churning out at the time these interviews occurred. The edition of the book I read had a 10 - page 2004 interview appended at the end. This interview more succinctly stated many of the better points in the rest of the book and also addressed the Iraq war. My advice is to obtain that copy, read those last ten or so pages, and skim the remainder.

A reality check is sorely needed for all those individuals who are perilously myopic. They seem to be completely oblivious to the bigger picture, focused only on their own narrow perspectives. It's as if they are living in a bubble, shielded from the truth and the consequences of their actions.

These people are truly the epitome of the adage "it takes one to know one." They are so wrapped up in their own world that they fail to recognize the flaws and shortcomings in others, or even in themselves. It's a sad state of affairs, really.

Perhaps if they were to open their eyes and look beyond their own noses, they would see the error of their ways. Maybe then they would realize that there is a whole world out there waiting for them to explore and understand. Until then, they will continue to stumble through life, blind to the beauty and complexity that surrounds them.

If you've delved into any other works penned by Chomsky, you're fully aware of what awaits you. It's the argumentation of a brilliant individual who has a more profound understanding of history than one might imagine. However, his views are often incendiary. Chomsky does an excellent job of elucidating the context that surrounds hatred. Those who oppose his stance will label him as an apologist for terror.

This book meticulously examines US foreign policy over the past several decades, spotlighting numerous examples to buttress the contention that "when they do it to us, we term it terrorism; when we do it to them, we call it foreign policy."

The examples he presents are of situations that likely receive due consideration (or are at least mentioned) in your history classes. It will evoke a sense of shame within you for America's past misdeeds and for your own ignorance regarding history. It forces you to confront the uncomfortable truths and reevaluate your perspectives on the role of the United States in the world.

Chomsky's work challenges the status quo and compels readers to engage in a deeper analysis of the complex web of international relations and the actions of powerful nations.

The situation is truly informative, disturbing, and sad. What is most relevant is that the atrocities inflicted by the U.S. and some European countries are not just a thing of the past.

These issues are still glaringly occurring today, right before our eyes. It is disheartening to witness how the actions of these powerful nations have had a profound and negative impact on countless people around the world.

From military interventions that have led to the destruction of lives and communities, to economic policies that have widened the gap between the rich and the poor, the list of atrocities seems endless.

Despite the outcry and condemnation from many, there seems to be no end in sight to these unjust practices. It is essential that we continue to shine a light on these issues and demand accountability from those responsible. Only then can we hope for a more just and peaceful world.

This collection of interviews of Noam Chomsky in the weeks after 9/11/01 is truly thought-provoking. It takes me back to that fateful time and the two years that followed.

During that period, the mainstream American media seemed to lose its backbone, and one had to turn to sources like the BBC and truthout.org to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the global events. Chomsky's contrary voice was a breath of fresh air in a sea of those who blindly followed what was called patriotism but often verged on mindless obedience.

His perspective that America is a terrorist country, similar to the so-called "axis of evil" countries that support terrorism but in a more effective and subtle way, is indeed disturbing. He correctly points out that the U.S. could conduct its foreign policy and national security more effectively and is harming itself by needlessly making enemies and hurting innocent people. However, his equating of a terrorist attack like 9/11 with the missile attacks on the pharmaceutical factory in Sudan and the covert support given to the Contras in Nicaragua is questionable.

Collateral damage and mistaken intelligence, although terrible, are not the same as terrorism. While the Sudanese people suffered from the lack of malaria medication, President Clinton was not intentionally trying to cause those specific effects. He was aiming to take out someone who was actively seeking to harm innocent people. The Nicaraguan Contra example is more complex, but it still raises concerns. Without delving into the justification for that disaster, it can be said that Chomsky makes a valid point about Nicaragua seeking justice at the UN, which was blocked by the U.S. He uses this example to argue that the U.S. should have pursued legal remedies against the perpetrators of 9/11.

While I support legal avenues and believe they may have been a more effective way to achieve justice and potentially save lives in Afghanistan, I doubt that the Taliban and Pakistani border leaders would have tracked down al Qaeda operatives for us. It's also interesting to note that al Qaeda is not mentioned even once in this book, perhaps due to an oversight by Chomsky or because at that time, no one truly knew that bin Laden was operating through them.

Overall, the book did not persuade me that the U.S. should not have invaded Afghanistan or that the U.S. is a terrorist nation. However, it did rightfully highlight the arrogance, danger, ineffectiveness, and short-sightedness of U.S. foreign policy. It also presented a strong and intelligent counterpoint to the current direction of the debate in the country. It made the point that there are complex motivations behind those who would attack civilians, and while such actions and rationales can never be justified, they must be understood to prevent future tragedies.

Did it make me think? Yes. Was it a bit repetitive? Also yes. Did I find it a little difficult to get through and was I glad to have finally finished it so I could give the book away after all these years? Absolutely.

The book contains a set of journalistic interviews with the American thinker Noam Chomsky.

What is most important in the book for me is his talk about American policies that deal with terrorism differently from other countries, so that terrorism is known in its own way. And here are the main black points in the history of American policies:

- America was accused of terrorism in 1986, but it used the right of veto, that is, the veto.

- England was not attacked by India, nor was Belgium attacked by the Congo, nor Italy by Ethiopia, nor France by Algeria. Therefore, Europe and America were shocked by the events of 9/11.

- America practices "covert terrorism." Some examples:

1) In 1985, America placed a car bomb in front of a mosque in Beirut, which killed 80 civilians and injured 250 others, in order to kill a Muslim sheikh.

2) America's support for Israel in its occupation of Lebanon, which killed about 20,000 civilians.

3) America's support for Turkey in its war against the Kurds, where 3,500 villages were destroyed and 3 million people were displaced.

4) America's support for Indonesia in East Timor.

5) The recognition of the Albanian army's liberation of Kosovo and considering its people terrorists in 1998.

6) The aggression against Nicaragua and the incitement of unrest and wars in South America.

Well said, Chomsky.

Chomsky is a renowned linguist and philosopher whose ideas have had a profound impact on various fields. His work on language and its relationship to thought and society has been widely studied and debated.

The image accompanying this text shows a picture related to Chomsky. It may give us a visual representation of the man or something related to his work.

Chomsky's contributions to the field of linguistics are significant. He has proposed theories about the structure and acquisition of language that have challenged traditional views. His ideas have also influenced other disciplines such as psychology, sociology, and cognitive science.

Overall, Chomsky's work continues to be relevant and thought-provoking, and his words are well worth considering.

This text delves into Chomsky's profound thoughts regarding the attacks of September 11th, 2001. It is assembled from the interviews that Chomsky provided within the first month after the tragic events. In these discussions, Chomsky explores various aspects related to the attacks. He examines Osama bin Laden and attempts to uncover the root causes that led to such a heinous act. Additionally, he delves into historical precedents that might have contributed to the situation. Moreover, he speculates on the possible outcomes that could arise from this event.

Similar to a significant portion of Chomsky's political writings, the text on 9-11 is characterized by its frankness and revealing nature. It presents detailed information about the United States' policy decisions and actions over the past 20 years. This comprehensive analysis offers valuable insights into the complex web of events and policies that have shaped the world we live in today. Without a doubt, this text is highly recommended and well worth reading for anyone interested in understanding the true nature of the 9-11 attacks and their far-reaching implications.