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Amazon.co.uk Review
Scarcely had the dust settled on NATO's 1999 bombing of Serbia when prolific political commentator Noam Chomsky brought out The New Military Humanism, which raises incisive, unsettling questions about the motives of the United States and England--the two most vocal proponents of Operation Allied Forces--and the efficacy of their handiwork. Chomsky pulls together much damning evidence, including testimony from the military commander who led the attack, to demonstrate that the assault was not intended to bring an end to Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic's "ethnic cleansing" of the disputed territory in Kosovo; it seems very likely, in fact, that President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Tony Blair knew full well that their actions would ultimately exacerbate the situation. Chomsky also points out that if the United States was genuinely concerned with ending the horrors of genocide, its continued financial and military support of repressive regimes in countries like Turkey and Indonesia is at the very least extremely puzzling. (The New Military Humanism was written and published before the international community decided in September 1999 to intervene in East Timor, which had been subject to Indonesian occupation for over 20 years.) Ultimately, Chomsky suggests, such contradictions exist because what the United States claims to be a "humanitarian" mission is--no matter how glowingly the mass media portrays it--nothing more than American muscle flexing. "The contempt of the world's leading power for the framework of world order", he concludes, "has become so extreme that there is little left to discuss". --Ron Hogan
Review
'Thank God for Noam Chomsky ... Ruthless in his analysis of Nato's lies, relentless in his emphasis on the parallels between Kosovo, Central America and Turkey, he believes that this year's bombardment of Serbia undermines what is left of international law.' Robert Fisk, The Independent 'Chomsky's new book systematically destroys the argument that there is a new humanism underpinning US policy.' Labour Left Briefing 'This book amounts to a critique of power politics as a possible foundational concept of world order: The only alternative to an international juridico-political framework is allowing the powerful to do as they wish, and the New Military Humanism is a step towards the demolition of the rules of world order.' Millennium 'Rich in thought, and it will definitely serve as a solid introduction to the author's further work on this topic, which is eagerly awaited by many.' Journal of Peace Research 'Lessons from Kosovo is a caustic, honest and totally devestating critique of the rotten nature of contemporary global politics.' Left Republican Review
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A devastating critique of the NATO aggression, which rips apart both the hype surrounding the values and principles of the NATO states, and also analyzes the deceitful diplomacy they indulged in after the peace treaty of June 3. Chomsky also goes further, analyzing the real reasons for the resort to force in this conflict, and the implications of 'humanitarian intervention' for the future of world order.
Two caveats are necessary here. Firstly, Chomsky falls into the trap of speaking of NATO's war against Yugoslavia; a war has two sides able to harm each other - the conflict had only one. As Edward Said pointed out, this makes the NATO action more akin to torture. Secondly, recent investigation has indicated that the scope of atrocities committed by the Serbs was wildly exaggerated. Bear that in mind while reading this book.
Altogether, an excellent read, and a warning of things to come.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
31 reviews
42 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Well-researched, essential info not widely discussed
23 Sep 1999
Format:Paperback
I'll begin by disclosing a personal interest: Prof. Chomsky and I have the same publisher, and I had the honor of voicing the book-on-tape version of this book. But facts are facts, verifiable whatever the source, and the information presented here is well-researched, largely unpublicized, and deeply disturbing.
The mass media's consistent parroting of NATO's shifting versions of the causes and purposes of the war, and their Orwellian convenient forgetting of their own earlier reports as need be, are chronicled in detail. The Balkan war is placed in the context of ongoing US, UK, and NATO policies in other parts of the world (Turkey, for example) to devastating effect. And the final chapters, detailing the reasons for the ongoing expansion of military force and flouting of international law -- and how current NATO policies are actually making the world a more dangerous place -- left me chilled while doing the reading.
This is terrific, important work. I was honored to be associated with it, and I recommend it in the strongest terms.
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
The picture of Balkan affairs-as they REALY are.
26 Mar 2000
Format:Paperback
Much has been said about that missunderstood part of the world-Balkan,and since late 19/early 20 century,Balkan has been synonimous with something ugly,crude,barbaric and desperately backward.Such fixed stereotypes had left such an "exotic" impression on everybody involved in policy making in this area that this lead to nothing else,but history of troubles,divisions and hatred-although Balkaners themselves had very highly developed sence for coexistence.With such "predispositions",horrible thing happened that claimed thousends of lives-so it is no wonder that nothing will improve without corect diagnosis of real causes,those who operate behind the scene.Initiative is not to be found amoung Balkaners themselves,since they were at best instruments of foreign strategies.Yes,Balkan is "powder-cage",but sparks are from outside.This is brought to light in this wonderfull and unbiased,objective and truthfull work by dr.Chomsky,that incorporates minimum, but crucial aspects of developments that had such tragedy as results.This is done with distinction that is caracteristic of Chomsky,but most important is approach that is instrumental,rather than narative,for only than word becomes deed- a good one!Hence such interest in social issues by linguist-because language is primary tool of action.Therefore,social issues cannot be viewed separately from mutual interdependence with linguistic.I can hardly imagine anybody left unimpressed by authors elaboration of western interest in keeping western Balkan under their umbrella,how do they invented "KLA"-collection of criminal elements from western narco-mafia circles,and fiasco of N.A.T.O. propaganda that derogated(and still derogates) their domestic public,while Balkan has been thoroughly devastated and fragmentated into dosens of states-protectorates,whose existence is at mercy of western financial circles.This book is triumph of common sence reasoning,over hatred and propaganda,and is a monumental contribution towards perception of things as they are-first step to reconciliation in the Balkan,but also reminder to ancient Balkan proverb:
"HEROISM IS THE POWER TO DEFEND YOURSELF FROM OTHERS,HUMANITY IS VIRTUE TO DEFEND OTHERS FROM YOURSELF"
47 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Excellent
11 Nov 1999
Format:Paperback
Unarguable facts are detailed in this work which "wouldn't do to mention" in polite company. The bombing in the FRY "was not undertaken in 'response' to ethnic cleansing and to 'reverse' it, as alleged by leaders." Most importantly, the question of whether the New Humanism is "guided by power interst, or by humanitarian concern" is answered. Those who believe in the doctrine of "intentional ignorance" as the reviewer before me will dismiss the information presented in this book like any commissar. If you want to understand what happened in Kosovo as well as the current ethnic cleansing within and supported by NATO (Turkey), read this book. As all of Chomsky's book, very well written and incredibly informative.
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