Noam Chomsky’s new book reviewed

This video is called Noam Chomsky on U.S. policy towards Iran.

From British daily The Morning Star:

Argument and insight

(Sunday 27 April 2008)

What We Say Goes by Noam Chomsky
(Hamish Hamilton, £14.99)

POWERFUL: What We Say Goes by Noam Chomsky.

GORDON PARSONS reads Noam Chomsky’s view on everything from religious fundamentalism to the threat to the environment.

The title of this series of recent interviews with one of the world’s relatively few undisputed intellectuals, although he does not value the label, is drawn from the first George Bush’s proud boast in 1991, towards the end of the first Gulf war, when he proclaimed a “new world order” based on the principle that “what we say goes.”

Since the Vietnam war, Chomsky, renowned for his groundbreaking work in linguistics, has become one of the most analytical and potent critics of US international policies. A permanent thorn in the Establishment’s flesh, his world standing gives him a position equivalent to that of Bertrand Russell half a century ago.

Skilful interviewing is an art and, from his many previous interviews, David Barsamian is able to draw from Chomsky succinct and perceptive commentaries on subjects ranging from US machinations in the Middle East and Latin America, religious fundamentalism, the nature of propaganda, revolution versus reform, threats to the planet and those solutions that might be possible in a world dominated by a mafia state.

This little book – less than 200 pages of text – is packed with fact-supported argument and insights, many of which may surprise.

For example, powerful as it is, Chomsky denies the reputed total influence on US policy of the American zionist lobby.

“Everything that Israel does, virtually, is with the authorisation of the United States” and, consequently, when Israel’s interests vary occasionally from its puppet masters, the normally vociferous lobbyists are muted.

Noam Chomsky on 1968: here.

Bush on Latin America: here.