Not only is Noam Chomsky recognized for being an
accomplished professor of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, he is also famous for being one of the most radical
scholars in the United States, both praised and condemned for
criticizing American foreign and domestic policies. He is known
throughout the world as author of dozens of books, such as What
Uncle Sam Really Wants, Understanding Power: The Indispensable
Chomsky, and 9-11. Chomsky has made numerous appearances in
popular media outlets such as CNN, Good Morning America and Rolling
Stone Magazine. The New York Times has called Chomsky "the
most important intellectual alive." Chomsky was recently interviewed
for the Herald via e-mail.
QUESTION: What were you doing when you when you first heard of the
terrorist attacks on the United States? What was your first reaction
to the news?
CHOMSKY: I was working, as usual. Heard about it several hours
later. [My] reaction was the same as everyone's: shock and horror. But
not, I'm afraid, disbelief. It had been known for some years that
something like this was likely, and that was known even to people who
don't read technical papers about it (as I had, and had written about
[it] myself) ever since 1993, when related groups came ominously close
to blowing up the World Trade Center, with tens of thousands killed
had the plan been more careful, according to the WTC engineers.
QUESTION: Why do you think foreign policy right now is different
between the United States and Iraq, as opposed with that of the United
States and North Korea?
CHOMSKY: The difference is that North Korea isn't sitting on the
second largest oil reserves in the world, and a war against North
Korea would be a disaster, leading possibly to the destruction of the
South in retaliation. In contrast, a war against Iraq is expected to
be a pushover. Most predictions are that many Iraqis will die, but
probably very few US casualties, given the awesome disproportion of
means of violence. Of course, once the dogs of war are unleashed, no
one really knows: not the CIA, not Donald Rumsfeld, not me.
QUESTION: After releasing your book 9-11, many reporters
have said that you are anti-American. Others even suggest that you
should pack up and move to another country since you believe America
to be a leading terrorist state. How do you respond to such remarks?
CHOMSKY: The concept "anti-American" is an interesting one. The
counterpart is used only in totalitarian states or military
dictatorships, something I wrote about many years ago (see my book
Letters from Lexington). Thus, in the old Soviet Union, dissidents
were condemned as "anti-Soviet." That's a natural usage among people
with deeply rooted totalitarian instincts, which identify state policy
with the society, the people, the culture. In contrast, people with
even the slightest concept of democracy treat such notions with
ridicule and contempt. Suppose someone in Italy who criticizes Italian
state policy were condemned as "anti-Italian." It would be regarded as
too ridiculous even to merit laughter. Maybe under Mussolini, but
surely not otherwise.
Actually the concept has earlier origins. It was used in the Bible
by King Ahab, the epitome of evil, to condemn those who sought justice
as "anti-Israel" ("ocher Yisrael," in the original Hebrew, roughly
"hater of Israel," or "disturber of Israel"). His specific target was
Elijah.
It's interesting to see the tradition in which the people you refer
to choose to place themselves. The idea of leaving America because one
opposes state policy is another reflection of deep totalitarian
commitments. Solzhenitsyn, for example, was forced to leave Russia,
against his will, by people with beliefs very much like those you are
quoting.
QUESTION: Do you think the United States government has justified
war against Iraq?
CHOMSKY: No. Not even close. And they know it.
QUESTION: As you know, many people often look to you as a resource
or guide when seeking information and ideas. Is there anyone in
particular serving a similar role for you?
CHOMSKY: There are plenty of resources, but one should be cautious
about "guides." People have to learn to think for themselves.
Otherwise we're back to totalitarianism again.
QUESTION: How do you think Thomas Jefferson would react to
contemporary American government?
CHOMSKY: With utter disgust, and profound sorrow that the
democratic experiment had reached such depths. We don't have to
speculate. 200 years ago his friend James Madison warned of something
similar, and Jefferson too was much concerned about people like those
now in Crawford and Washington.
QUESTION: If there is just one message you could deliver to college
students at Arkansas State University, what would that be?
CHOMSKY: Think for yourselves, and observe elementary moral
principles, such as taking responsibility for your actions, or
inaction. |