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'Judged in terms of the power, range, novelty, and influence of his thought, Noam Chomsky is arguably the most important intellectual alive.' New York Times Book Review 'One of the radical heroes of our age... A towering intellect... Powerful, always provocative.' Guardian 'Our greatest unraveller of accredited lies.' New Statesman 'An exploder of received truths.' New York Times 'On the one hand we have the established media, the respectable community of foreign affairs analysts, the government--and on the other, Noam Chomsky.' The Nation 'Thank God for Noam Chomsky.' Robert Fisk, The Independent
Review
'Judged in terms of the power, range, novelty, and influence of his thought, Noam Chomsky is arguably the most important intellectual alive.' New York Times Book Review 'One of the radical heroes of our age... A towering intellect... Powerful, always provocative.' Guardian 'Our greatest unraveller of accredited lies.' New Statesman 'An exploder of received truths.' New York Times 'On the one hand we have the established media, the respectable community of foreign affairs analysts, the government--and on the other, Noam Chomsky.' The Nation 'Thank God for Noam Chomsky.' Robert Fisk, The Independent
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Sometimes Second editions of books have a very small amount of extra material to offer, and are a bit of a waste of time. Not so with this re-issue of Pirates and Emperors. One way to examine the New War on Terrorism is to look at how the Reagan administration (many elements of which are running the Bush administration) handled their War on Terror in the 1980s. By examining case studies from the Middle East in close deatail, with some info on Central America as well, Chomsky dispells many of the myths about the War on Terrorism, and reveals the true agendas which drive post-Cold War foriegn policy. 2 new chapters look at the response to the 9/11 attacks, and chart the progress of the Israel/Palestine "Peace Process". All of the essays have detailed footnotes, and all of the footnotes have been updated.
It should be noted that this is really a collection of essays, not a purpose-written book, so that it is really an examination of a few case studies, rather than an exhaustive and methodical examination of terrorism. It also means that most of the material featured has probably appeared elsewhere in the past.
Still, this is definitely a worthwhile text for anyone interested in determining the roots of international terrorism.
It should be noted that this is really a collection of essays, not a purpose-written book, so that it is really an examination of a few case studies, rather than an exhaustive and methodical examination of terrorism. It also means that most of the material featured has probably appeared elsewhere in the past.
Still, this is definitely a worthwhile text for anyone interested in determining the roots of international terrorism.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
10 reviews
32 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Free press; controlled minds
3 April 2003
Format:Paperback
Chomsky starts with the premise that the United States has fewer restrictions on its press than any other contry in the world. At the same time, it has the most effective system in the world for restricting what its citizens think.
Focusing on the Israel-Palestine dispute (but with forays as far abroad as Hiroshima, Guatemala, Afghanistan, and--most relevantly for today--Iraq), Chomsky proves over and over again that the US version of terrorism is completely one sided. After all, he argues, it is the US that has killed more civilians in more attempts to influence enemies through terror than any other country.
Chomsky gives short shrift to those who argue endlessly over the legal meaning of various UN Resolutions to determine what the legalities are of various conflicts. Applying his philosophical theories to politics, Chomsky says that words mean exactly what those with the power to act say they mean, nothing more and nothing less.
Chomsky's bottom line is that if the US really wants to combat terrorism, the first thing we ought to do is stop practicing it, and stop supporting others who do so.
Chomsky certainly has a point of view that one hears all too infrequently in this country. My main criticism is that the book repeats the same examples several times in different chapters to make the same point. This results from the fact that the book is actually a loosely connected series of essays and talks, not originally wirtten at the same time, let alone with a book in mind.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
The truth is not for sale
12 Jan 2007
Format:Paperback
I am someone who actually worked on this book when it was published years ago. When I read the manuscript in preparation for publication, I was thrilled. Unlike the Zionist critics, or those afraid to see the world as it is, I was not afraid of the damning analysis of my country and of my ethnic breatheren. Though I may be a Jew, I do not not hold with Zionism and its hatreds. I love this book. We should be thankful that Chomsky stands where does, shoots for the truth, and challenges us to lay down our biases while on the joureny to enlightenment.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
An excellent mind stimulating analysis and critique in the Chomsky tradition!
25 Feb 2006
Format:Paperback
Professor Noam Chomsky deserves a literary award for this scholarly treatise that exposes the hypocrisies and selective standards the big powers use with respect to the
word "terrorism." Chomsky brilliantly illustrates that by the internationally accepted definition of the word terrorism, the Western powers are guilty of state sponsored terrorism by their support of attrocities against Third World peoples such as the
Palestinains, Kurds, East Timorese, and others.
The convenient countries that are targeted for sanctions against terrorism are Iraq, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea. Chomsky argues that should a leader who supports
Western expansionism and domination such as the Shah of Iran or Ferdinand Marcos of the Phillipines
arise, the countries will be termed "friendly" and "moderate" like the Gulf potentates and Indonesia.
I thorougly enjoyed reading this book and others by the same author. Chomsky consistently points out the mistakes and fallacies of policy makers through his superb
mastery of polemics and prose. His style is entertaining and never loses my interest. I suggest any prospective student in international relations be required to read this text by
one of America's leading dissident voices, particularly in this time of "war on terror," which has been advocated and advanced by the Bush Administration.
word "terrorism." Chomsky brilliantly illustrates that by the internationally accepted definition of the word terrorism, the Western powers are guilty of state sponsored terrorism by their support of attrocities against Third World peoples such as the
Palestinains, Kurds, East Timorese, and others.
The convenient countries that are targeted for sanctions against terrorism are Iraq, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea. Chomsky argues that should a leader who supports
Western expansionism and domination such as the Shah of Iran or Ferdinand Marcos of the Phillipines
arise, the countries will be termed "friendly" and "moderate" like the Gulf potentates and Indonesia.
I thorougly enjoyed reading this book and others by the same author. Chomsky consistently points out the mistakes and fallacies of policy makers through his superb
mastery of polemics and prose. His style is entertaining and never loses my interest. I suggest any prospective student in international relations be required to read this text by
one of America's leading dissident voices, particularly in this time of "war on terror," which has been advocated and advanced by the Bush Administration.
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