My small Chomsky binge, which consisted of 4 books, has now come to an end.

I have a great liking for Chomsky and have gained a wealth of knowledge from reading these conversations. His Good VS Evil worldview, where America is seen as the Evil Empire and its lackeys are pitted against all that is good in the world, can at times become a bit tiresome and repetitive. However, it must be acknowledged that he has an in-depth understanding of America's crimes, which deserve to be more widely known.

The conversational format of the books makes them easy to read, but it also has its drawbacks. Chomsky does not always provide a satisfactory answer to the question at hand, or he may digress onto other topics. Additionally, there are occasions when he states things without sufficient backing, even though the books come with approximately 20 pages of citations.

Within a relatively short period, I have now read 3 Chomsky-Convo books and have noticed that he sometimes repeats himself almost word for word in different books.

If you can obtain the Chomsky-Convo books at a reasonable price, I would recommend them. They offer a quick and accessible way to learn about American imperialism, both in the past and in the present.

Left-wing intellectual idol Noam Chomsky engages in a profound conversation with award-winning journalist David Barsamian for the sixth installment of their enlightening interview collections.

Their discussion delves into a wide range of crucial topics, including the occupation of Iraq, the doctrine of pre-emptive attack, and the menacing threat to international peace presented by the U.S. pursuit of global domination.

Chomsky, as always, is sharp and playful, delving deep into his vast knowledge of U.S. foreign policy. He makes astonishing revelations such as US-Turkish-Israeli incursions into Iran, offers stunning reevaluations like the supposed US victory in Vietnam, and even shares a few personal insights, such as his academic struggles at university.

The authors have a long-standing working relationship that dates back over 20 years and has been characterized as symbiotic. Barsamian skillfully elicits the best from Chomsky with a精心 prepared set of questions and quotations that send the World's Most Important Intellectual on remarkable journeys of discovery.

As Barsamian puts it, "It's to be in the presence of someone who insists that it's not so complicated to understand the truth or to know how to act."

I recently found this on my dad's bookshelf :D

Chomsky has some extremely definitive and refreshing things to express regarding the US. Even as an individual who wasn't born, raised, or is currently living in America, it truly widens my perspective on the propaganda model and what notions about the US we consider as facts or find acceptable.

This is my very first book from Chomsky, and I had heard wonderful things about him. He definitely didn't let me down. There is an abundance to learn from him, and he is undoubtedly highly knowledgeable in what he discusses. I particularly relished what he had to say about activism and change. It made me think deeply about how we can all contribute to making a difference in the world around us. I'm looking forward to exploring more of his works and gaining further insights into the complex issues he addresses.

A series of interviews were conducted within the time frame of 2003 - 2007, with the renowned linguist and political activist Noam Chomsky as the interviewee. These interviews delved deep into various significant topics. One of the main focuses was on the US response to the tragic events of 9/11. Chomsky provided his incisive analysis and critique of how the US government reacted, examining the policies and actions that followed. Additionally, the interviews explored the complex history of conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Chomsky offered his insights into the root causes, the progression of these conflicts, and their far-reaching implications. His perspectives added a valuable dimension to the understanding of these important events and their impact on the world.

It was truly beneficial to be acquainted with Chomsky via a compilation of his interviews.

He simplifies the seemingly intricate power dynamics into highly understandable explanations regarding U.S. imperial aggression and the accompanying ideological shield that conceals the systems of dominance from the American populace.

He is rather pessimistic, yet I understand his perspective. Overall, it's a great book, and I'm really excited to explore more of Chomsky's works.

Quotes that I favored:

Brzezinski when they were simply allowing that to occur:

“The three grand imperatives of imperial geostrategy are to prevent collusion and maintain security dependence among the vassals, to keep tributaries pliant and protected, and to keep the barbarians from coming together.”

Schumpeter, in “The Sociology of Imperialisms” in 1919:

“The fight was always invested with an aura of legality. Rome was always being attacked by evil-minded neighbors, always fighting for a breathing space. The whole world was invaded by a host of enemies, and it was manifestly Rome’s duty to guard against their indubitably aggressive designs.”

Chomsky on manufactured consent:

“A terrifying aspect of our society and other societies is the equanimity and the detachment with which sane, reasonable, sensible people can observe such events, as in Vietnam … [Hitler, LeMay] would not be able to operate were it not for this apathy and equanimity.”

I'm extremely sorry. However, when we compare the Invasion of Iraq to the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia, it casts a significant shadow over the credibility of everything else stated in this book.

The Invasion of Iraq was a complex and controversial military operation that had far-reaching consequences. It was based on various justifications, some of which later proved to be inaccurate or misrepresented.

Similarly, the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia was also a highly debated event. The motives and actions of NATO in this case were questioned by many.

By making this comparison, it becomes clear that the author may have a certain bias or may not have presented a comprehensive and objective view of these events. This, in turn, calls into question the reliability of the other information and arguments presented in the book.

It is essential to approach such comparisons with caution and to carefully analyze the facts and context surrounding each event before drawing any conclusions. Only by doing so can we hope to gain a more accurate understanding of the complex issues at hand.

Reading Chomsky is always an enlightening experience for me. As I delved into this collection of interviews from 2003 and 2004, I couldn't help but wish I had read it five years ago. Even though it was written towards the end of Bush Jr's first term, the information within remains incredibly relevant. This is because a significant portion of it is either suppressed or buried by the mainstream media.

The majority of the book focuses on the US's illegal occupation of Iraq and our foreign policy that proclaims to the world that we are the only nation whose aggression is sanctioned. If others attempt to do what we do, they are labeled as terrorists. Other topics covered include the roots of Al Qaeda and the Taliban, the roles of Britain and Israel in US policy, Social Security and health care, nuclear proliferation, Chomsky's views on Vietnam, and a fascinating chapter about education.

It is a testament to both authors that this vast amount of information remains fresh and easily accessible. It also highlights Chomsky's remarkable ability to distill the complex with such clarity, always keeping the focus on the humanity of the situation. Perhaps most valuable is his assertion that real change takes time, but as the abolition, workers' rights, civil rights, and women's rights movements have shown, a better world is indeed possible.

Noam Chomsky once said, "The West loses interest in issues such as aggression, sanctions, and human rights violations if there are profits to be made behind them."

He is a figure who calls things by their names. Chomsky, a thorn in the side of the media and false thinkers, speaks outside the mainstream. He criticizes American policy and the imperialism of countries. His book consists of separate interviews collected over the years. Noam has a unique level of clarity in analyzing the dynamics of contemporary international power and expansionist imperial thought. He answers questions with leadership and adds evidence with declassified secret documents.

If you have read Chomsky before, you surely know what he will say. The noble criticism of the "war on terror", the attack on media control and the engineering of consent, the wars of the imperial state of the "almighty Sam, grandson of the devil" as Hugo Chavez described it, and the destruction of Latin American countries, Third World countries, and Iran by the United States.

The imperial expansion to invade Iraq, as well as Haiti, Nicaragua, South Vietnam, and so on, and playing with the void against the Soviet Union...

Very accessible and straightforward interviews with Noam Chomsky were conducted by David Barsamian between March 2003 and February 2005. These interviews remain highly relevant even several years later. In fact, in some cases, what Chomsky predicted has indeed come to pass. He is extremely adept at delineating how the American populace is manipulated by the mass media. He also posits that the United States is a "failed state" despite having formal democratic institutions that scarcely function. Chomsky's insights offer a thought-provoking perspective on the state of American society and its political and media landscapes. His analysis challenges us to question the status quo and consider alternative ways of understanding and addressing the complex issues that confront us.

A quick read and LOTS to digest.

This book has been sitting on my shelf for at least a decade. However, it has proven to be remarkably in tune with current events.

It is rather eerie how effortlessly one could substitute "Bush" with "Trump" and the criticisms would still be extremely accurate.

The interviews in the book jump from one topic to another. Nevertheless, I believe this offers a condensation of his work and thoughts. It serves as a great overview for those who have never read Chomsky before, which was the case for me.

Overall, despite its age, this book remains relevant and provides valuable insights into various aspects of society and politics.

It makes one wonder how much has changed and yet how much remains the same in the world of ideas and criticism.

Perhaps it is a testament to the enduring nature of certain concepts and the importance of continuously engaging with the works of great thinkers like Chomsky.

Imperial Ambitions is a captivating book of interviews carried out by David Barsamian. He engages in conversations with Noam Chomsky, a renowned public intellectual and now emeritus linguistics professor. In certain academic circles, Chomsky might be more recognized for his contributions to the field of linguistics. However, to the general public, his political works are far more prominent.

In this book, Chomsky delves into numerous topics regarding the "post-9/11 world", with a particular focus on the Bush II administration and America as a whole. While it may not be an essential read for everyone, some of Chomsky's insights are truly worth exploring, even if one doesn't always concur with his views. For instance, his assertion that privilege bestows moral responsibility is thought-provoking. Those with the most privilege, like those who formulated the plans for the genocide in Vietnam, had the greatest freedom to choose. He argues that an indigent person from the underclass, forced into the military through the draft, may have less responsibility for their actions within the military because they had less freedom. The atrocities they commit are indeed evil, but he believes the punishments should ultimately fall on the higher-ups, specifically the United States government. Nevertheless, I hold the view that the evil committed by any individual, regardless of the level of choice they had, is worthy of punishment or at least condemnation. This may not be entirely at odds with Chomsky's idea, but it is a more disciplinary stance than he appears to take. We must be cautious of the concept of making people feel guilty, as guilt can sometimes be seen as "enough" to exact retribution. In this regard, I think we should offer those who are guilty a way to make some form of amends (since the past cannot be changed and the mess cannot be truly cleaned up). A mass movement that includes such guilty individuals could be one way to achieve this.

Another significant point raised in the book is the idea of historical amnesia, or our inability to understand our past. American monstrosities, such as propping up dictators and committing genocide, are presented as things that people are unaware of. In a sense, this ignorance is a necessary component of power. If these horrors were widely known in their full magnitude, one would expect there to be some level of resistance or danger for those responsible. At the very least, the idea that mass media narratives would be completely in line with the state's goals or only critique them as noble blunders would be untenable with such knowledge. The importance of money and how the media is shaped is also emphasized. When journalists are paid by corporations, they have an incentive to think in the interests of those corporations.

Even though the book is presented in an interview format, it challenges the reader and can serve as a means to gain insights into Chomsky's mind and how we might want to act in the future. He is almost certainly correct in stating that the media, corporations, and other such entities are isolating forces, existing in part to disrupt any community organizing for change that could potentially harm the wealthiest among us. In this sense, acting against such incentives and, indeed, being able to build a movement at all are of utmost importance, as a movement will not simply materialize out of thin air; it must be constructed.

It's a truly remarkable work.

I came across it in a bookstore where it was being sold for just one-fourth of the original price as an outdated book.

Even though the book is a compilation of interviews from the years 2004 and 2005, I discovered it to be extremely interesting and still very much worthy of reading to this day.

Not only does it serve as a source of enlightenment regarding how the US government functions, but it also reveals how every ruler on earth manages to manipulate the minds of his people and utilize propaganda materials to rule, establish order, and achieve hidden goals and secrets.

It's a fantastic read that is both enlightening and I consider myself extremely lucky to have obtained such a great bargain.