Rating: 
Summary: Every American should read this book
Review: This is a very wise, cool-headed take on the real meaning behind the 9-11 attacks. Chomsky is one of the few intellectuals in America with the courage to tell the truth about the U.S.'s foolish, corrupt foreign policy and the role it plays in the widespread hatred of America. A much needed wake-up call to anyone who naively believes that our enemies hate us because "they hate freedom". Best[$$]I ever spent.
Rating:
Summary: Apt counterpoint to propagandistic mainstream commentary
Review: Most Americans were left perplexed by the sudden, seemingly out of the blue attack on two national landmarks, and an attempted attack on a third during the morning of 9/11/01. Chomsky's "9-11" COLLECTION OF HIS COMMENTARIES uncovers "aha" clues and uncommon insight surrounding the historical event. He analyses 9-11 from a global, more objective perspective that is in stark contrast to the nationalistic, overly emotional, biased perspectives offered by most other American commentators. He rewinds the record of history, playing back pertinent events that preceded 9-11, and shares with the reader a variety of reports from domestic and foreign sources that help provide deep insight into the event.Chomsky's perspective is a reminder that the very highest form of patriotism is to champion the good of our country while being also mindful that we must recognize, acknowledge and expect correction of our nation's faults. One of the corrections could be to respect and abide by international law (something we have refused to do in the past, as Chomsky notes). Another could be to tone down our arrogant bullying around of underdeveloped nations for selfish aims. Examples of these faults are provided in this work. "9-11" also brings us back to the DEFINITION of "terrorism", as Chomsky provides numerous examples of terroristic acts, including those committed against other nations, wherein our own government took part. Though it is not always comfortable or easy to face the mirror when we are flawed, it is no more comfortable or easy to acquiesce or condone acts committed wrongfully against others when we possess a moral consciousness and hold a strong desire to do what is right and to refrain from eliciting enmity and hatred (and thus potential threat) from others. This work made clear to me Chomsky's insistence upon having and maintaining integrity, and speaking up in that respect even when that may mean being labeled "unpatriotic" by those who don't mind firing shots in the dark. Any citizen concerned about "homeland security" would give serious thought to the implications of the historical atrocities reviewed here by Chomsky. I highly recommend the book to anyone who has sought answers to unanswered questions about 9-11, as well as to anyone who is not well-informed about our nation's history with other countries. "9-11" answers questions like, "What exactly is the Northern Alliance and how was it established?", "Why have we historically supported various known terrorist regimes?", "How many INNOCENT people have been killed since 9-11, in the names of those innocents killed ON 9-11?", "In what frightening ways will countless more innocents become victims in the 'war against terrorism'?" I give five stars to any work that dares to go against the grain in such a manner, and to include an unbiased self-evaluation as a more reliable and balanced means for achieving critically needed understanding.
Rating: 
Summary: Disapointing
Review: Considering how slim this little pamphlet is, it's surprisingly repetitive. Even given its brevity, it's surprisingly slight. Sad to say, there isn't much here. Sure there are a few tidbits of interest, but long time readers of Chomsky will hardly be surprised by his war crimes charge against the US. Taken verbatim from radio interviews, the work can't even pretend to treat it's subjects with any depth. A few pithy comments from Chomsky and off we go to the next chapter in which another interview illustrates the same pithy comments from Chomsky. The editor claims that they removed certain repetitive passages, but one has the feeling that if all repetitive verbiage was removed, the book would be about three pages long. Frankly I think this quickie is attempt to 'cash in' on the legions of disaffected middle class youths that eagerly buy anything that is anti-American and will not criticize as long as they get there 'fix'. Disappointing even at the low price, my advice is save your dough for a similarly priced polemic by Gore Vidal.
Rating: 
Summary: I found this book to be 'on the money' about 9-11!!
Review: "a thought provoking and objective analysis of the causes and the effects of the events of September 11th that corporate controlled media is currently uninterested in providing" ---Ken
Rating:
Summary: An Important Insight into Terrorism and its Causes!
Review: By way of introduction, I would like to say that Chomsky is one of the most intelligent and proficient writers in the world. Most importantly, he always assumes an objective view to international conflicts. In this book, Chomsky accounts for the events that led to September 11 attack. It should be stressed that Noam by no means attempts to justify the atrocious attack on World Trade Center. Instead, he seeks to explain why a great number of third world countries view the US as an enemy. Killing innocent people must not be justified under any circumstances; this is irrefutable! Nonetheless, understanding the underlying causes may be of great importance in forming an objective opinion of the conflict. Undeniably, there are numerous aspects of the US foreign politics that are erronous, unjust, debetable and ambiguous! Noam Chomsky provides an invaluable insight into US involvement in international conflicts. The greatest strength of this book is clear and lucid arguments that are supported by empirical evidence! Buy this book today; it is without doubt the most intelligent and elaborate book on the subject matter!
Rating:
Summary: Unfocused, Episodic, But Provocative And Intriguing!
Review: More and more postmodernist icon Noam Chomsky is coming to resemble no one more than that feckless dand compulsive do-gooder Ralph Nader. Anyway, I saw a portion of this monologue somewhere on public television, and was as rankled and yet also as intrigued by the contradictions that Chomsky represents whenever he speaks or writew, for he is certainly not an easy or uncomplicated scholar or thinker to classify. So too this offering is a mixed bag of observations, threading together a number of points made for other reasons in other works, and so at times can be a little frustrating to work your way through. But bear with it, folks, for Noam, as always, has some interesting things to say. First, he understands very well the degree to which the foreign policy of the United States is an extension of craven corporate business interests, so he always speaks with authority and vision regarding the real motives underlying the reaction of the current administration to the attack on the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon. He also appreciates that the acts by the terrorists were despicable and horrific, and that there can be no exuse for such murderous behavior. So far, so good. One can agree with the logic and examples he cites. He is best when he argues against conventional logic that always seems to result in patently absurd and meaningless acts, like our attacks on peasants in the Afghan countryside. Unfortunately, he sometimes lapses into a style that is neither clear nor coherent by assuming the reader has read things not in the present argument, such this glued-together set of essays does him and his ideas a serious disservice by making them appear less logical and less feasible than one might otherwise conclude. Which is not to say that I necessarily agree with all his precepts or conclusions. Yet I find his attempt to clear the air and present ideas not pre-packaged by some media maven into a neat little sound-bite quite refreshing. As he intimates, the reason the radical muslims hate us so fervently has little to do with our beliefs or our democratic principles, regardless of what the President may claim over and over again. Rather, they hate us because we have sponsored despots to rule over them, enriching the few at the expense of the legions, and we have done so to enrich ourselves at the same time. They don't hate us because we're democrats; they hate us because, in their minds, we are pigs! This is not a book for someone looking for easy answers or a comfortable philosophy or worldview to view current events with. But it is an interesting and provocative little book one can easily devour in an afternoon to get an entertaining ans foten fascinating glimpse of someone who is ready, willing, and able to think , out loud and in public, for himself. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Essential knowledge for the 21st century!
Review: Any book by Noam Chomsky will immediately be rejected by myopic conservatives who dismiss him as a mindless liberal or a dangerous socialist and yet those conservatives are exactly who should read this analysis of American foreign policy.I have been rummaging around in the history and contemporary politics of a reasonable part of the globe for many years and the way in which Chomsky pieces together the world that we live in is totally accurate according to the information that I have accumulated.In this book Chomsky has assembled the various interviews he has given to journalists from around the world and will throughout this short book illuminate his ideas as to why September 11 happened. I'm sure that the power brokers of America will be dismissive of what Chomsky says in these interviews and they will use their traditional bent and ignorant interpretation of contemporary affairs to justify policies that determined the events of September 11. It's appaling for the world to realize that while the Americans do not understand this world there are people like Chomsky who do but who are marginalized and derided while others who know little more than barrel-pushing make decisions that impact negatively all of us.
Rating:
Summary: The Solution Manual to Global Emergency
Review: Exposer of truths, Noam Chomsky, is back with another timely book addressing the pain, suffering, misrepresentation and subversion ensuing from the events of September 11, 2002 in the United States.
9-11 is a compilation of the transcripts of interviews given by Chomsky following the event. Focusing on the event, 9-11 presents the facts as they are, as opposed to how they are portrayed. As is typical for the author, issues are examined with a keen and critical eye neither prone to jingoism nor to rhetorical caricatures. As Chomsky puts it, "We can choose to ignore all the facts and wallow in self-indulgent fantasies...at considerable risks to ourselves." Which is why 9-11 presents events, facts and root causes free from aggrandizement and ulterior motive. Chomsky, while calling the events of 9-11 "horrifying atrocities", reminds the reader that there are bin Ladens on "both sides."
In the course of his interviews printed within the author reiterates that in order to deal with terrorism (as with any issue) there needs to be an effort to understand - something lacking in modern discourse. If one criticism were to be levelled at the book, that would be the price tag given that the content is a series of transcripts. Still, as far as intellectual dialogue goes, 9-11 is both a worthy and courageous book.
Rating:
Summary: Clarity
Review: As always, Chomsky sees and presents the history and issues clearly, without ideology or bias. There is no one alive today with a greater ability to articulate the problems we face and their causes. Disregard those who attack him as being "un-American" for treating the U.S. as a great power similar to others (rather than a instrument of divine will). Such critics simply are unable - or unwilling - to give up their illusions.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Place to Start Learning about the "War on Terror"
Review: I would have liked this book to be a little more in depth, like some of Chomsky's other talks conducted after September 11th. But I can also understand the need for him to get this book out right away, in order to help educate Americans about the true nature of our foreign policy in Afghanistan.
Chomsky reviews the root causes for the September 11th attacks in this set of interviews, while provoking a thoughful analysis of how American policies may better prevent future terrorism. This approach is not meant to "blame America" or show that Chomsky "hates America" in the least, for anyone that's interested in the truth. The real point of this book is to help Americans understand the facts behind the "War on Terror" and how U.S. foreign policy hurts innocent people in Afghanistan. Why in this book, does Chomsky focus almost exclusively on U.S. atrocities, and not other countries atrocities one might ask? The answer is simple. As Americans, we have a direct responsiblity primarily for our own actions and how our tax dollars are used, not for anyone elses. I was happy with how concise this book was, but I would also recommend reading it along with many other critical perspectives by other members of the "left" (for lack of a better word) in order to understand other points not specifically adressed here. Overall, this is a great book for anyone looking to understand the "War on Terror". Anyone labeling it "Anti-American" is just living in the clouds. Chomsky is just being honest, (like usual) and he should not be subjected to name calling or criticism for telling the truth. If you have not already picked this book up, get it right away. It's a quick read, and worth the money.
|
