Noam Chomsky Quotes (Year 534)

Check out #ChomskyReadingList which includes nearly two hundred books and articles by various authors that I found mentioned or recommended by Noam Chomsky in his own interviews and articles.

@citrinowicz So much digital ink wasted here stating the obvious repercussions of the brutal campaign against Iran, but not even a cursory acknowledgement that targeting critical infrastructure is a war crime—handmaiden of empire.

The central question is not what can be struck, but to what end. Targeting critical infrastructure in Iran is unlikely to produce the political effects some anticipate. Such strikes will not drive mass unrest, compel Tehran to capitulate, or halt its missile campaign. If anything, they risk reinforcing regime cohesion while accelerating a broader regional escalation. The immediate consequences would likely include a sharp rise in global energy prices particularly as tensions spill into key maritime chokepoints such as the Bab el-Mandeb, where Houthi activity is already poised to intensify. To be sure, infrastructure strikes would impose significant costs on Iran. But Tehran has consistently demonstrated its capacity and willingness to externalize those costs. Retaliation would likely extend beyond direct confrontation, targeting Gulf states, energy flows, and critical nodes of the global economy. In this sense, the effects would not remain contained but would reverberate across international markets and security architectures. Crucially, such an approach rests on a flawed assumption: that a “decisive blow” can fundamentally alter Iran’s strategic calculus. There is little evidence to support this view. The Iranian leadership operates according to a set of ideological and security imperatives that are resilient to external pressure, particularly when that pressure takes the form of overt military escalation. What emerges, then, is not a pathway to conflict termination, but a trajectory toward expansion, one that increases costs, uncertainty, and systemic risk without delivering a clear strategic end state. The more pressing question, therefore, is not how far escalation can go, but where it ultimately leads and whether that destination serves broader regional and international interests. #iran

@steve_hanke @FortuneMagazine Even more importantly, where does the money for the $1.5T budget come from?

My take on Trump's DoD budget in @FortuneMagazine: "MAGA was told an untruth by Trump—no foreign wars, no adventurism. Now the US DoD budget has come in at $1T, and he wants $1.5T. This is a massive militarization—completely the opposite of what he told his base.”

"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world..."

This is not going to hold up in the ICC pre-trial chamber.

@steve_hanke Any thoughts on this? "Economists at Citi have marked down the eurozone’s growth this year by 0.4 pct. pt., the US’ by just 0.1 pt. The reason: Net imports of oil & liquefied natural gas consume 1% to 2% of European GDP, whereas net exports contribute 0.2% to US output." ~WSJ

Trump thinks US energy independence protects Americans from Gulf shocks. But he FAILS TO SEE that global markets are pricing all barrels the same. TRUMP = CLEARLY DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THE MARKETS FOR OIL.

In case you're skeptical of Chomsky's "hyperbole", see today's headline in WSJ.

No other country could dream of having a network of hundreds of military bases all over the world, nor of carrying out the world’s most expansive campaign of terror...And the U.S., of course, has a brutal record of aggression and subversion. (2/2)

Although the U.S. is a “declining power,” and has been since the late 1940s, it still has no remote competitor as a hegemonic power. Its military spending virtually matches the rest of the world combined, and it is far more technologically advanced. (1/2)

Source: (Noam Chomsky: Truth to power, Noam Chomsky interviewed by David McNeill, The Japan Times, February 22, 2014) chomsky.info/20140222/

Love how the band Lamb of God during their concerts emphasizes the importance of every single band that plays before them, and even more importantly, focuses on their concertgoers as a vital part in the creation of the remarkable experience.

@Sydusm Yep, the public (in the US anyway) have limited protection from censorship by private corporations. They do have protections from govt. censorship, which feels insufficient given how much private corporations control public life.

My number of tweets per day has not gone down. But impressions, shares, new followers, likes... everything has been choked. By now I know that's how Twitter functions. Say anything against the kings and you'll be shadow banned if not fully banned. Thank you, Elon.

@hashjenni The so-called "national interest "(corporations, political class, military industrial complex) have no serious objections to the war as they benefit from it. The general US population is effectively marginalized and will suffer under social spending cuts and debt.

Serious question: why would a United States president actively destroy his own country? We can all see it.

😮 Kunal Purohit is the author of "H-Pop: The Secretive World of Hindutva Popstars." — highly informative.

The death toll from the U.S.-Israeli airstrike on the B1 bridge in Karaj has risen to 13 people killed and approximately 95 wounded.   The attack, which occurred on Thursday, April 2, targeted a major suspension bridge—one of the tallest in the Middle East—that was still under construction at the time. Iranian state media report that a second "double-tap" strike hit the area as rescue workers and civilians were responding to the initial blast. New footage of that strike circulated yesterday. More details below ⬇️

@EdwardGLuce @ArthurLHerman It's disturbing how easily the transition from "partners" to "vassals" flows in Herman's tweet. It's like there is no thought process at all when making these laughable statements.

@ArthurLHerman Correction, vassals of America

European nations face two choices. Partners of the US; or vassals of China. The notion that there is some path as "middle power" is a dangerous fantasy.

Sure taking a long time to investigate the deadly bombing of the Iranian elementary school on the first day of the illegal war. The Pentagon likely hopes it'll go away once they "win" the war. What me, war crimes? warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press…

@johnstanly We should ask Mr. Levin to imagine a foreign power pounding the US regime and arming the American people. These clownish warmongering commentators have internalized empire—no shame.

Reagan armed the Mujahideen in Afghanistan. The Taliban rose when the Mujahideen were in power. Bin Laden who was helping the Mujahideen, formed al Qaeda. After the Mujahideen fell, Taliban hosted al Qaeda. Qaeda planned and executed 9/11 from Afghanistan. America went to Afghanistan to defeat Taliban and Qaeda. Stayed there for 20 years. Spent trillions. Lost thousands of troops. And finally cut a deal with the same Taliban and fled the country, leaving it back in the hands of the Taliban. This is the policy Mark Levin is advising trump to follow. Does anyone think these guys learn?

This could be one explanation for why US energy corporations, dominant in US policy making, are not opposed to the Iran war. (calculated silence and opportunistic positioning). Another reason for the Global South and others to hasten the green energy transition.

@David97768248 @policytensor Lol, best you don't try to read my mind or categorize as "people like you." Focus on the main point of the discussion. If you care about human survival, we need to phase out nuclear weapons, and the entire Middle East, via a NWFZ is a great place to start.

@chomsky_quotes @policytensor people like you would scream to cut it off anyway. One day it's nukes next day it's Israel refusing to grant "right of return".

I doubt Zarif is anywhere close to the center of elite opinion in Tehran. Instead, they're thinking: — Never let go of the Hormuz weapon — Impose the toll booth — Get the bomb — Rebuilt the missile arsenal — Petroyuan standard

@David97768248 @policytensor This is pure fantasy and works around the edges. They can't replace production volumes, advanced systems, complex supply chains. Their debt will also balloon with defense spending. In any case, US can exercise leverage TODAY.

@chomsky_quotes @policytensor Israel survived before US aid began. It's already planning to phase out US aid. It clearly doesn't see it as crucial enough to give up such a asset: nbcnews.com/world/israel/n…