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DEMOCRACYNOW.ORG, THE WAR AND
PEACE REPORT, I'M AMY GOODMAN.
>> AND I'M NERMEEN SHAIKH.
WELCOME TO OUR LISTENERS AND
VIEWERS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND
AROUND THE WORLD.
IN A NATIONALLY TELEADVISED
ADDRESS, PRESIDENT OBAMA
ANNOUNCED HE WAS PUTTING OFF A
PLAN TO STRIKE SYRIA WHILE
PURSUING A DIPLOMATIC EFFORT
FROM RUSSIA FOR INTERNATIONAL
MONITORS TO TAKE OVER AND
DESTROY SYRIA'S ARSENAL OF
CHEMICAL WEAPONS.
THE SPEECH CAME JUST 10 DAYS
AFTER HE TOLD THE NATION HE
WOULD ASK CONGRESS TO AUTHORIZE
USING MILITARY FORCE.
ON TUESDAY NIGHT, OBAMA ASKED
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS TO PUT
OFF A VOTE ON HIS REQUEST TO
AUTHORIZE THE USE OF MILITARY
STRIKES, BUT HE SAID THE
MILITARY WOULD REMAIN READY IF
DIPLOMACY FAILS.
>> AMERICA IS NOT THE WORLD'S
POLICEMAN.
TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPEN ACROSS
THE GLOBE.
AND IT IS BEYOND OUR MEANS TO
RIGHT EVERY WRONG.
BUT WHEN WITH MODEST EFFORT AND
RISK WE CAN STOP CHILDREN FROM
BEING GASED TO DEATH AND
THEREFORE MAKE OUR OWN CHILDREN
SAFER IN THE LONG RUN, I
BELIEVE WE SHOULD ACT.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES AMERICA
DIFFERENT.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES US
EXCEPTIONAL WITH HUMILITY BUT
WITH RESOLVE, LET US NEVER LOSE
SIGHT OF THAT ESSENTIAL TRUTH.
>> PRESIDENT OBAMA OFFERED A
QUALIFIED ENDORSEMENT OF THE
RUSSIAN PROPOSAL TO SECURE
SYRIA'S CHEMICAL WEAPONS
ARSENAL.
>> WE'VE SEEN SOME ENCOURAGING
SIGNS.
IN PART BECAUSE OF THE CREDIBLE
THREAT OF U.S. MILITARY ACTION
AS WELL AS CONSTRUCTIVE TALKS I
HAD WITH PRESIDENT PUTIN, THE
RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT HAS
INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO JOIN
WITH THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY IN PUSHING ASSAD TO
GIVE UP HIS CHEMICAL WEAPONS.
THE ASSAD REGIME HAS NOW
ADMITTED IT HAS THESE WEAPONS
AND EVEN SAID THEY JOIN THE
CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION
WHICH PROHIBITS THEIR USE.
IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL WHETHER
THIS OFFER WILL SUCCEED.
AND ANY AGREEMENT MUST VERIFY
THE ASSAD REGIME KEEPS ITS
COMMITMENTS.
BUT THIS INITIATIVE HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO REMOVE THE THREAT
OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS WITHOUT THE
USE OF FORCE.
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE RUSSIA IS
ONE OF ASSAD'S STRONGEST
ALLIES.
I HAVE THEREFORE ASKED THE
LEADERS OF CONGRESS TO POSTPONE
A VOTE TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF
FORCE WHILE WE PURSUE THIS
DIPLOMATIC PATH.
I'M SENDING SECRETARY OF STATE
JOHN KERRY TO MEET HIS RUSSIAN
COUNTERPART ON THURSDAY AND
WILL CONTINUE MY OWN
DISCUSSIONS WITH PRESIDENT
PUTIN.
I'VE SPOKEN TO LEADERS OF TWO
OF OUR CLOSEST ALLIES, FRANCE
AND THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND WE
WILL WORK TOGETHER IN
CONSULTATION WITH RUSSIA AND
CHINA TO PUT FORWARD A
RESOLUTION AT THE U.N. SECURITY
COUNCIL REQUIRING ASSAD TO GIVE
UP HIS CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND TO
ULTIMATELY DESTROY THEM UNDER
INTERNATIONAL CONTROL.
THEY'LL ALSO GIVE U.N.
INSPECTORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REPORT THEIR FINDINGS ON WHAT
HAPPENED AUGUST 21 AND CONTINUE
TO RALLY SUPPORT FROM ALLIES
FROM EUROPE TO ASIA TO THE
MIDDLE EAST TO AGREE ON THE
NEED FOR ACTION.
MEANWHILE, I'VE ORDERED OUR
MILITARY TO MAINTAIN THEIR
CURRENT PRESSURE TO KEEP
PRESSURE ON ASSAD AND TO BE IN
A POSITION TO RESPOND IF
DIPLOMACY FAILS.
>> TO TALK MORE ABOUT PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S SPEECH AND THE CRISIS
IN SYRIA, WE'RE JOINED BY THE
WORLD RENOWNED POLITICAL
DISSIDENT, LINGUIST AND M.I.T.
PROFESSOR NOAM CHOMSKY.
HE'S AUTHORED NUMEROUS BOOKS,
HIS LATEST IS ON WESTERN
TERRORISM "FROM HIROSHIMA TO
BROKEN WARFARE" AND JOINS US
VIDEO STREAM FROM HIS HOME IN
MASSACHUSETTS.
WELCOME TO DEMOCRACY NOW!.
FIRST LET'S GET YOUR RESPONSE
TO PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ANNOUNCING
LAST NIGHT IN A NATIONWIDE
ADDRESS, WHICH I'M SURE WAS
WATCHED WORLDWIDE, THAT FOR THE
MOMENT THERE WOULD BE NO STRIKE
A SYRIA AS THE U.S. SUPPORTS
RUSSIAN PLAN TO DEAL WITH THE
CHEMICAL WEAPONS STOCKPILE OF
SYRIA?
SAVES , THE RUSSIAN PLAN
PRESIDENT OBAMA FROM WHAT LOOKS
LIKE A VERY SERIOUS DEFEAT.
HE'S NOT BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN
VIRTUALLY ANY INTERNATIONAL
SUPPORT FOR THIS -- THE ACTION
HE'S CONTEMPLATING, EVEN
BRITAIN WOULDN'T SUPPORT IT.
AND IT LOOKED AS THOUGH
CONGRESS WASN'T GOING TO
SUPPORT IT EITHER, WHICH WOULD
LEAVE HIM COMPLETELY OUT ON A
LIMB.
THIS LEAVES HIM A WAY OUT.
E CAN MAINTAIN THE THREAT OF
FORCE, WHICH INCIDENTALLY IS A
CRIME UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW
THAT WE SHOULD BEAR IN MIND
THAT THE CORE PRINCIPLE OF THE
UNITED NATIONS CHARTER BARS THE
THREAT OR USE OF FORCE, THREAT
OR USE OF FORCE.
SO ALL OF THIS IS CRIMINAL TO
BEGIN WITH BUT HE'LL CONTINUE
WITH THAT.
THE UNITED STATES IS A WORLD
STAGE.
IT DOESN'T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO
INTERNATIONAL LAW.
IT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING WHAT
HE DIDN'T SAY.
THIS WOULD BE A PERFECT
CHEMICAL Y TO BAN
WEAPONS, TO IMPOSE THE CHEMICAL
WEAPONS CONVENTION ON THE
MIDDLE EAST.
THE CONVENTION, CONTRARY TO
WHAT OBAMA SAID, DOES NOT
SPECIFICALLY REFER JUST TO USE
OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS, IT REFERS
TO PRODUCTION, STORAGE, OR USE
OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS.
THAT'S BANNED BY THE
INTERNATIONAL NORM THAT OBAMA
LIKES TO PREACH ABOUT, WHILE
THERE IS A COUNTRY WHICH
HAPPENS TO BE -- HAPPENS TO
SYRIAN GALLY AN EX-ED
TERRITORY WHICH HAS CHEMICAL
WEAPONS AND IS IN VIOLATION OF
THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION
AND HAS REFUSED EVEN TO RATIFY
IT, MAINLY ISRAEL.
SO HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ELIMINATE CHEMICAL WEAPONS FROM
THE REGION, TO IMPOSE THE
CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION AS
IT'S ACTUALLY FORMULATED BUT
OBAMA WAS VERY CAREFUL NOT TO
SAY THAT HE, FOR REASONS WHICH
RE TOO OBVIOUS TO GO INTO,
THAT GAP IS HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT.
OF COURSE CHEMICAL WEAPONS
WOULD BE ELIMINATED EVERYWHERE
BUT CERTAINLY IN THAT REGION.
THE OTHER THINGS THAT HE SAID
WERE NOT UNUSUAL, BUT
NEVERTHELESS KIND OF SHOCKING
TO ANYONE NOT FAMILIAR WITH
S. POLITICAL IMPORTS, AT
LEAST.
HE SAID FOR SEVEN DECADES THE
UNITED STATES HAS BEEN THE
ANCHOR OF GLOBAL SECURITY.
REALLY?
SEVEN DECADES?
THAT INCLUDES, FOR EXAMPLE,
JUST 40 YEARS AGO TODAY WHEN
THE UNITED STATES PLAYED A
MAJOR ROLE IN OVERTHROWING THE
PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY OF
CHILE AND IMPOSING A BRUTAL
DICTATORSHIP CALLED THE FIRST
9/11 IN LATIN AMERICA.
GO BACK EARLIER YEARS,
OVERTHROWING THE PARLIAMENTARY
SYSTEM IN IRAN, IMPOSING A
DICTATORSHIP, SAME IN
GUATEMALA, LATER ATTACKING
INDOCHINA, THE WORST CRIME IN
THE POSTWAR PERIOD, KILLING
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, ATTACKING
CENTRAL AMERICA, KILLING --
INVOLVED IN KILLING -- IMPOSING
A DICTATORSHIP IN THE CONGO,
INVADING IRAQ, ON AND ON.
THAT'S STABILITY?
THAT A HARVARD LAW SCHOOL
GRADUATE CAN PRONOUNCE THOSE
WORDS IS PRETTY AMAZING, AS IS
THE FACT THAT THEY'RE ACCEPTED
WITHOUT COMMENT.
SO WHAT HE SAID IS I'M GOING TO
LIE LIKE A TROOPER ABOUT
HISTORY.
I'M GOING TO SUPPRESS THE U.S.
ROLE, THE ACTUAL U.S. ROLE FOR
THE LAST SEVEN DECADES.
I'M GOING TO MAINTAIN THE
THREAT OF FORCE, WHICH IS OF
COURSE ILLEGAL, AND I'M GOING
TO ENSURE THAT THE CHEMICAL
WEAPONS CONVENTION IS NOT
IMPOSED ON THE REGION BECAUSE
OUR ALLY, ISRAEL, WOULD BE
SUBJECTED TO IT.
AND I THINK THOSE ARE SOME OF
THE MAIN POINTS OF HIS ADDRESS.
>> NOAM CHOMSKY, THE WORLD
RENOWNED LINGUIST, POLITICAL
DISSIDENT.
WE'LL GO TO BREAK AND SPEND THE
HOUR WITH HIM ON PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S POLICY AND WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
THIS IS DEMOCRACY NOW!,
DEMOCRACYNOW.ORG, THE WAR AND
PEACE REPORT.
BACK IN A MINUTE.
♪♪
>> BOB DYLAN HERE ON DEMOCRACY
NOW!, DEMOCRACYNOW.ORG, THE WAR
AND PEACE REPORT.
I'M AMY GOODMAN AND HERE FOR
THE HOUR, NOAM CHOMSKY.
WE'LL TURN BACK TO PRESIDENT
OBAMA WHO ADDRESSED PART OF
HITS SPEECH TO THE NATION LAST
NIGHT TO OPPONENTS OF MILITARY
ACTION TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT.
>> MY FELLOW AMERICANS, FOR
NEARLY SEVEN DECADES THE UNITED
STATES HAS BEEN THE ANCHOR OF
GLOBAL SECURITY.
THIS HAS MEANT DOING MORE THAN
FORGING INTERNATIONAL
AGREEMENTS.
IT HAS MEANT ENFORCING THEM.
THE BURDENS OF LEADERSHIP ARE
OFTEN HEAVY BUT THE WORLD IS A
BETTER PLACE BECAUSE WE HAVE
BORNE THEM.
TO MY FRIENDS ON THE RIGHT, I
ASK YOU TO RECONCILE YOUR
COMMITMENT TO AMERICA'S
MILITARY MIGHT WITH A FAILURE
TO ACT WHEN A CAUSE IS SO
PLAINLY JUST.
TO MY FRIENDS ON THE LEFT, I
ASK YOU TO RECONCILE YOUR
BELIEF IN FREEDOM AND DIGNITY
FOR ALL PEOPLE WITH THOSE
IMAGES OF CHILDREN WRITHING IN
PAIN AND GOING STILL ON A COLD
HOSPITAL FLOOR.
FOR SOMETIMES RESOLUTIONS AND
STATEMENTS OF CONDEMNATION ARE
SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH.
INDEED, I'D ASK EVERY MEMBER OF
CONGRESS AND THOSE OF YOU
WATCHING AT HOME TONIGHT TO
VIEW THOSE VIDEOS OF THE
ATTACK.
AND THEN ASK WHAT KIND OF WORLD
WOULD WE LIVE IN IF THE UNITED
STATES SEES A DICTATOR BRAZENLY
VIOLATE INTERNATIONAL LAW WITH
POISON GAS AND WE CHOOSE TO
LOOK THE OTHER WAY?
>> THAT WAS PRESIDENT OBAMA
ADDRESSING THE NATION LAST
NIGHT.
PROFESSOR NOAM CHOMSKY, YOUR
RESPONSE TO HIS DESCRIPTION OF
THOSE WHO OPPOSE MILITARY
STRIKE AGAINST SYRIA FOR
CHEMICAL WEAPONS ATTACK?
>> ONCE AGAIN, WHAT'S
PARTICULARLY INTERESTING IS
, AT HE DIDN'T SAY, SO YES
GOOD IDEA TO LOOK AT THE VIDEOS
OF THE GAS ATTACK IN SYRIA.
BUT THEN WE ALSO COULD LOOK AT
THE PHOTOS OF DEFORMED FETUSES
IN SAIGON HOSPITALS STILL
APPEARING DECADES AFTER JOHN F.
KENNEDY LAUNCHED A MAJOR
CHEMICAL WARFARE ATTACK AGAINST
UTH VIETNAM, 1961, DOUSING
THE COUNTRY WITH POISONOUS
DIOXIN LACED AGENT ORANGE.
DIOXIN IS ONE OF THE MAJOR CARS
AINS WITH THE ATTACKS --
CARCINOGENS WITH THE ATTACKS
AIMED AT FOOD CROPS WITH A
GENERAL ASSAULT ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, A HUGE NUMBER OF
ATROCITIES, MANY PEOPLE KILLED,
THE EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL WARFARE
ARE IN EFFECT TO TODAY BY
AMERICAN SOLDIERS, TOO.
OR WE COULD LOOK AT THE PHOTOS
OF OTHER DEFORMED FETUSES
FILUJA GULARLY IN
ATTACKED BY U.S. MARINES IN
NOVEMBER OF 2004, KILLING
SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE,
DESTROYING MUCH OF THE TOWN
USING WEAPONS WHICH ARE OF
UNKNOWN CHARACTER BUT LEFT
RADIATION LEVELS THAT
EPIDEMIOLOGISTS ESTIMATED ARE
COM PROBABLE TO HIROSHIMA AND
THE EFFECTS OF THAT OF HIGH
CANCER RATES ON DEFORMED
FETUSES ON CHILDREN DEVASTATED
BY HORRIFYING DEFORMITIES THAT
WE COULD LOOK AT, TOO.
THOSE ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH THE
U.S. HAS BROUGHT -- HAS BEEN
THE ANCHOR FOR GLOBAL SECURITY
FOR SEVEN DECADES.
WE CAN RUN THROUGH THE RECORD
IF THERE WERE TIME BUT EVERYONE
SHOULD KNOW IT.
THESE OF COURSE, THAT'S NOT
SAID, THE IDEA THAT THE U.S.
HAS INTRODUCED AND IMPOSED
PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
, THAT'S HARDLY EVEN A JOKE.
THE UNITED STATES HAS EVEN GONE
SO FAR AS TO VETO SECURITY
COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS CALLING ON
ALL STATES TO OBSERVE
INTERNATIONAL LAW.
THAT WAS IN THE 1980'S UNDER
REAGAN.
NO STATE WAS MENTIONED.
BUT IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE
INTENTION WAS TO REQUEST THE
UNITED STATES TO OBSERVE
INTERNATIONAL LAW AFTER IT HAD
REJECTED A WORLD COURT JUDGMENT
CONDEMNING IT FOR WHAT WAS
ALLED UNLAWFUL USE OF FORCE IN
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AGAINST
NICARAGUA.
IN FACT, THE U.S. HAS BEEN THE
LEADING ROGUE STATE, RADICALLY
VIOLATING INTERNATIONAL LAW,
REFUSING TO ACCEPT
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS.
THERE'S HARDLY ANY
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS THAT
THE U.S. HAS ACCEPTED, AND
THOSE FEW THAT IT HAS ACCEPTED
ARE CONDITIONED, SO AS TO BE
INAPPLICABLE TO THE UNITED
STATES.
THAT'S TRUE EVEN AT THE
GENOCIDE CONVENTION, THE UNITED
STATES IS SELF-AUTHORIZED TO
COMMIT GENOCIDE.
IN FACT, THAT WAS ACCEPTED BY
THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF
JUSTICE IN THE CASE OF
YUGOSLAVIA VERSUS NATO, ONE OF
THE CHARGES WAS GENOCIDE.
THE U.S. APPEALED TO THE COURT
SAYING THAT BY LAW THE UNITED
STATES IS IMMUNE TO THE CHARGE
OF GENOCIDE, SELF-IMMUNIZED,
AND THE COURT ACCEPTED THAT SO
THE CASE PROCEEDED AGAINST THE
OTHER NATO POWERS BUT NOT
AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.
IN FACT, THE UNITED STATES,
WHEN IT JOINED THE WORLD COURT,
IT HELPED TO INTRODUCE THE
MODERN WORLD COURT IN 1946 AND
JOINED THE WORLD COURT, BUT
WITH A RESERVATION.
THE RESERVATION IS THAT
LAWS TIONAL AGREEMENTS,
DO NOT APPLY TO THE UNITED
STATES SO THE U.N. CHARTER, THE
CHARTER OF THE ORGANIZATION OF
AMERICAN STATES THAT THE U.S.
IS IMMUNE TO THEIR
SELF-IMMUNIZED TO THEIR
REQUIREMENTS AGAINST THE THREAT
AND USE OF FORCE, INTERVENTION,
SO ON.
IT'S KIND OF ASTONISHING.
BY NOW IT'S HARD TO BE
ASTONISHED BUT IT SHOULD BE
ASTONISHING THAT A PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES WHO IS
FURTHERMORE A CONSTITUTIONAL
LAWYER OR GRADUATE OF HARVARD
LAW SCHOOL CAN SAY THINGS LIKE
THIS IN THE FULL KNOWLEDGE THAT
THE FACTS ARE EXACTLY THE
OPPOSITE, RADICALLY THE
OPPOSITE, AND THERE ARE
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF
VICTIMS WHO CAN TESTIFY TO THAT
.
TODAY HAPPENS TO BE AN
IMPORTANT DATE, THE 40TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE OVERTHROW OF
THE PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY OF
CHILE WITH SUBSTANTIAL U.S. AID
BECAUSE WE INSISTED ON HAVING A
ICIOUS DICTATORSHIP IN WHICH
WE HAVE A MAJOR TERROR
INTERNATIONAL CENTER WITH OUR
SUPPORT RATHER THAN ALLOWING A
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST
GOVERNMENT.
WELL, THESE ARE SOME OF THE
REALITIES OF THE WORLD.
THE PICTURE THAT PRESIDENT
PRESENTED DOESN'T EVEN MERIT
THE NAME FAIRY TALE.
>> PROFESSOR NOAM CHOMSKY, WHY
DO YOU THINK THE U.S. SO
QUICKLY STARTED TO PUSH FOR
MILITARY STRIKES, AND WHAT DO
YOU THINK THE U.S. OR THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD
DO TO DEAL WITH THIS ALLEGED
USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS IN
SYRIA?
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE
APPROPRIATE RESPONSE WOULD BE?
>> THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE
WOULD BE TO CALL FOR IMPOSING
THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION
IN THE MIDDLE EAST, IN FACT
BEYOND, BUT WE'LL KEEP TO THE
MIDDLE EAST, WHICH WOULD MEAN
THAT ANY COUNTRY THAT IS IN
VIOLATION OF THAT CONVENTION,
WHETHER IT HAS ACCEPTED IT OR
NOT, WOULD BE COMPELLED TO
ELIMINATE ITS CHEMICAL WEAPONS
STORES, JUST MAINTAINING THE
STORES, PRODUCING CHEMICAL
WEAPONS, OR THAT'S IN VIOLATION
OF THE CONVENTION AND NOW IS A
PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
OF COURSE, THAT WOULD REQUIRE
THAT U.S. ALLY ISRAEL GIVE UP
TS CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND PERMIT
INTERNATIONAL INSPECTIONS.
INCIDENTALLY, THIS SHOULD
EXTEND TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS AS
WELL.
E FURTHER STEP WOULD BE TO
MOVE TOWARDS THE KINDS OF
NEGOTIATIONS, GENEVA
NEGOTIATIONS THAT THE U.S.
NEGOTIATOR HAS BEEN CALLING FOR
WITH RUSSIAN SUPPORT AND WITH
THE UNITED STATES KIND OF
DRAGGING ITS FEET.
OBAMA MISSTATED THAT, TOO, LAST
NIGHT.
THAT'S THE ONE THIN HOPE AND
IT'S PRETTY THIN FOR SOME WAY
, IN OW SYRIA TO ESCAPE
FACT PLUNGED TO VIRTUAL
SUICIDE.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK THE U.S.
STARTED TO PUSH FOR MILITARY
ACTION SO SWIFTLY?
>> AS IT ALWAYS DOES, THE
UNITED STATES IS A VIOLENT
MILITARY STATE.
IT'S BEEN INVOLVED IN MILITARY
ACTION ALL OVER THE PLACE.
SOUTH VIETNAM, PRACTICALLY
DESTROYED INDOCHINA, INVADED
IRAQ, ELICITTED A SUNNI-***'IA
CONFLICT WHICH IS NOW TEARING
THE REGION TO SHREDS, DON'T
HAVE TO RUN THROUGH THE REST OF
THE RECORD.
BUT THE UNITED STATES MOVES
VERY QUICKLY TO MILITARY
ACTION.
UNILATERALLY.
AND SOMETIMES CAN GET SOME
ALLIES TO GO ALONG, IN THIS
CASE CAN'T EVEN DO THAT.
AND IT'S JUST A ROUTINE.
THE UNITED STATES IS
SELF-IMMUNIZED FROM
INTERNATIONAL LAW WHICH BANS
THE THREAT OR USE OF FORCE.
AND THIS IS TAKEN FOR GRANTED
HERE.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, PRESIDENT
OBAMA REPEATEDLY SAYS ALL
OPTIONS ARE OPEN WITH REGARD TO
IRAN.
THAT'S A VIOLATION OF
FUNDAMENTAL INTERNATIONAL LAW.
AND SAYS WE'RE USING THE THREAT
OF FORCE IN VIOLATION OF
INTERNATIONAL LAW, TO WHICH WE
ARE SELF-IMMUNIZED.
THERE'S NOTHING NEW ABOUT THIS.
CAN YOU THINK OF ANY OTHER
COUNTRY THAT'S USED MILITARY
FORCE INTERNATIONALLY ON
ANYTHING REMOTELY LIKE THE
SCALE OF THE UNITED STATES
DURING THESE SEVEN DECADES WHEN
, ACCORDING TO OBAMA, WE'VE
BEEN THE ANCHOR OF GLOBAL
SECURITY?
>> NOAM CHOMSKY, SUPPORTERS OF
THE U.S. PLAN SAY THE ONLY
REASON THAT ASSAD AGREED TO
HAND OVER, CONTROL OF THE
CHEMICAL WEAPONS WAS BECAUSE OF
THE THREAT OF U.S. MILITARY
FORCE.
AND WHAT INTEREST DOES THE U.S.
HAVE IN STRIKING SYRIA
MILITARILY?
>> THE FIRST COMMENT IS
CORRECT, THE THREAT AND USE OF
FORCE CAN BE EFFECTIVE.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, RUSSIA WAS
ABLE TO CONTROL EASTERN EUROPE
FOR 50 YEARS WITH THE THREAT
AND OCCASIONAL USE OF FORCE.
HITLER WAS ABLE TO TAKE OVER
CZECHOSLOVAKIA WITH THE THREAT
OF FORCE.
YES, IT OFTEN WORKS, NO DOUBT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS IT'S
BANNED UNDER OTHER
INTERNATIONAL LAW.
HE REASON -- THE PRETEXT FOR
IMPOSING -- OR CARRYING OUT A
FORCEFUL ACT HAVE GENERALLY
DECLINED TO THE POINT OF EVEN
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HASN'T
ACCEPTED THEM, CONGRESS WANTS
TO REJECT THEM, AND THE UNITED
STATES, THE GOVERNMENT RESORTED
TO THE -- WHAT IS USUALLY THE
LAST RESORT WHEN EVERYTHING
ELSE FAILS, SAYING OUR
CREDIBILITY IS AT STAKE.
THAT'S CORRECT.
U.S. CREDIBILITY IS AT STAKE.
OBAMA ISSUED AN EDICT AND IT
HAS TO BE ENFORCED.
THAT'S A FAMILIAR DOCTRINE, ONE
OF THE LEADING DOCTRINES OF
WORLD AFFAIRS.
CREDIBILITY IS A POWERFUL,
VIOLENT STATE AND MUST BE
MAINTAINED.
IT'S OCCASIONALLY CALLED THE
MAFIA DOCTRINE, IT'S
ESSENTIALLY THE DOCTRINE BY
WHICH THE GODFATHER RULES HIS
DOMAINS WITHIN THE MAFIA
SYSTEM.
THAT'S ONE OF THE LEADING
PRINCIPALS OF WORLD ORDER.
CREDIBILITY HAS TO BE
MAINTAINED.
BUT THAT HAS MANY VARIANCE.
SOMETIMES IT'S CALLED THE
DOMINO THEORY.
IF WE DON'T IMPOSE OUR WILL
HERE, THE DOMINOS WILL START TO
FALL, OTHERS WILL BEGIN TO BE
DISOBEDIENT.
IN THE CASE OF CHILE 40 YEARS
AGO, GO BACK TO THAT, WHAT
LATIN AMERICANS CALLED THE
FIRST 9/11, HENRY KISSINGER
VIRUS ED THAT CHILE IS A
THAT MIGHT SPREAD CONTAGION
ELSEWHERE ALL THE WAY TO
SOUTHERN EUROPE.
AND HE WASN'T SAYING THAT
CHILEAN TROOPS WERE GOING TO
LAND IN ROME BUT WAS CONCERNED,
RIGHTLY, THE MODEL OF PEACEFUL,
PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY MIGHT
SPREAD, IN WHICH CASE THE
CONTAGION WOULD SPREAD BEYOND
AND THE U.S. SYSTEM OF
DOMINATION WOULD ERODE.
JUST EARLY ON IN THE PROGRAM
YOU HAD AN INTERVIEW WITH SAUL
LANDAU WITH REGARD TO CHILE AND
EXACTLY THE SAME DOCTRINE
APPLIES THERE.
THE U.S. INVADED CUBA.
A BIG INVASION.
WHEN THAT FAILED, KENNEDY
LAUNCHED A ENORMOUS TERRORIST
CAMPAIGN, MURDEROUS TERRORIST
CAMPAIGN.
THE GOAL WAS TO BRING THE
TERRORORS OF THE EARTH TO CUBA
AS ARTHUR SCHLESSINGER
DESCRIBED IT, HIS LATIN
AMERICAN ADVISOR, IS IN THE
HANDS OF ROBERT KENNEDY AND WAS
NO JOKE, IT WAS VERY SERIOUS.
THAT'S BEEN FOLLOWED BY 50
YEARS OF ECONOMIC WARFARE, VERY
HARSH ECONOMIC WARFARE, ALL
UNILATERAL WORLD IS
OVERWHELMINGLY OPPOSED TO IT
BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER, WE AS A
ROGUE STATE, WE DO WHAT WE LIKE
AND THE REASONS ARE EXPLICIT IN
THE INTERNAL RECORD.
OTHER REASONS, GO BACK TO THE
EARLY 1960'S, THE INTERNAL
GOVERNMENT RECORD EXPLAINS THAT
CASTRO IS GUILTY OF WHAT WE
CALL OF SUCCESSFUL DEFIANCE OF
THE U.S. PRINCIPLES GOING BACK
TO THE DOCTRINE OF 1823.
ND NO RUSSIANS, JUST THE
MONRUT DOCTRINE WHICH
ESTABLISHED IN PRINCIPLE OUR
RIGHT TO DOMINATE THE
ATMOSPHERE.
THE U.S. WASN'T POWERFUL ENOUGH
TO DO IT THEN BUT THAT WAS THE
PRINCIPLE AND CASTRO IS
CARRYING OUT SUCCESSFUL
DEFIANCE OF THAT PRINCIPLE AND
THEREFORE CUBA MUST BE
SUBJECTED TO MASSIVE TERRORISM,
ECONOMIC WARFARE AND
STRANGULATION.
THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR 50
YEARS.
SAME PRINCIPLE, THE MAFIA
PRINCIPLE.
THE SAME WAS TRUE IN VIETNAM.
THE PRIMARY MOTIVE FOR THE
INDOCHINA WAR, GOING BACK TO
THE EARLY 1950'S, AS PRESENTED
HERE AS THE DOMINO THEORY.
WHAT THAT MEANT WAS IF YOU READ
THE INTERNAL RECORDS, THERE WAS
FEAR, A JUSTIFIED FEAR THAT
SUCCESSFUL INDEPENDENT
DEVELOPMENT IN VIETNAM MIGHT
SPREAD THROUGH THE REGION,
MIGHT SPREAD CONTAGION THROUGH
THE REGION, OTHERS WOULD ATTEND
THE SAME PATH THAT ON ITSELF
WAS NO GREAT SIGNIFICANCE BUT
MIGHT SPREAD AS FAR AS
INDONESIA WHICH HAS RICH
RESOURCES AND THERE, TOO, MIGHT
BE A MOVE TOWARDS INDEPENDENT
DEVELOPMENT, INDEPENDENT VIEW
OF U.S. DOMINATION.
AND IT WAS EVEN FEARED THAT
MIGHT BRING IN JAPAN, JOHN
DOWER, FAMOUS ASIAN HISTORIAN
DESCRIBED JAPAN AS THE
SUPERDOMINO.
THE U.S. WAS CONCERNED, DEEPLY
CONCERNED THAT IF SOUTHEAST
ASIA MOVED TOWARDS INDEPENDENT
DEVELOPMENT, JAPAN WOULD
ACCOMMODATE, THE WORD THAT WAS
USED, TO EAST AND SOUTHEASTERN
ASIA BECOMING ITS TECHNOLOGICAL
INDUSTRIAL CENTER, AND CREATING
A SYSTEM, AN ASIAN SYSTEM FROM
WHICH THE U.S. WOULD MAYBE NOT
BE EXCLUDED BUT AT LEAST
WOULDN'T CONTROL.
AND THE U.S. HELD THE SECOND
WORLD WAR TO PREVENT THAT.
THAT'S JAPAN'S NEW ORDER AND IS
IN DANGER OF BEING
RECONSTITUTED IF INDOCHINA
GAINED INDEPENDENCE.
THAT'S THE DOMINO THEORY.
AND THAT WAS UNDERSTOOD.
GEORGE BUNDY, THE NATIONAL
SECURITY ADVISOR, IN RETROSPECT
, OBSERVED THAT THE VIETNAM
WAR, THE UNITED STATES SHOULD
HAVE CALLED OFF THE VIETNAM WAR
IN 1965.
WHY 1965?
BECAUSE IN 1965, A U.S. BACKED
ILITARY COUP TOOK PLACE IN
INDONESIA, SLAUGHTERING HUNDRED
OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, WIPING
OUT THE ONLY MASS BASED
POLITICAL PARTY AND INSTITUTING
A REGIME OF TORTURE AND TERROR
BUT OPENING THE COUNTRY UP TO
WESTERN EXPLOITATION WITH ITS
RICH RESOURCES AND THAT MEANT
THE VIETNAM WAR WAS ESSENTIALLY
OVER.
THE U.S. HAD -- ONE OF ITS
OBJECTIVES WAS TO CONTINUE IT.
ITS POLICY.
THESE ARE MAJOR PRINCIPLES OF
WORLD AFFAIRS AND THEY'RE
UNDERSTANDABLE AND THEY'RE
UNDERSTOOD.
SO GO BACK TO CUBA AGAIN.
WHEN KENNEDY CAME INTO OFFICE,
HE WAS CONCERNED WITH CHANGING
LATIN AMERICAN POLICY,
DEVELOPED -- SET UP A LATIN
AMERICAN RESEARCH COMMISSION
HEADED BY ARTHUR SCHLESSINGER
AS A HISTORIAN WHO WAS HIS
ADVISOR, AND THEY CAME OUT WITH
A REPORT, EDITED BY
SCHLESSINGER TO THE PRESIDENT
AND IN IT HE DESCRIBED THE
PROBLEM OF CUBA.
HE SAID THE PROBLEM OF CUBA IS
THE CASTRO IDEA OF TAKING
MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS, AN
IDEA WHICH MAY HAVE RESONANCE
IN OTHER PARTS OF LATIN AMERICA
WHERE THE MASS OF THE
POPULATION IS SUBJECTED TO THE
SAME KIND OF HARSH REPRESSION
THAT THEY ARE IN CUBA.
AND IF THIS IDEA SPREADS, THE
U.S. SYSTEM OF CONTROL ERODES.
WELL, GOING BACK TO THE MIDDLE
EAST, IT'S THE SAME.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO
THE MIDDLE EAST WHEN WE COME
BACK FROM BREAK.
WE WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SYRIA
AND THE LARGER MIDDLE EAST
CONTEXT, PARTICULARLY LOOKING
AT IRAN AND ISRAEL.
AND OF COURSE, AS YOU POINT
OUT, THIS IS MAJOR DATE IN
HISTORY, 40 YEARS AGO TODAY,
SEPTEMBER 11, 1973, IN CHILE,
SAFFLE DOER ALLENDE DIED IN THE
PALACE AND PINOCHET FORCES ROSE
TO POWER AND IS ALSO THE 12TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 11
ATTACKS.
THIS IS DEMOCRACY NOW!.
WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT.
♪♪
[MUSIC BREAK]
>> MILES DAVIS HERE ON
DEMOCRACY NOW!.
DEMOCRACYNOW.ORG, THE WAR AND
PEACE REPORT.
I'M AMY GOODMAN.
AND FOR THE HOUR IS PROFESSOR
NOAM CHOMSKY.
2007, DEMOCRACY NOW!
INTERVIEWED GENERAL WESLEY
CLARK, THE RETIRED FOUR-STAR
GENERAL WHO IS THE SUPREMED
ALLIED COMMANDER IN THE WAR.
GENERAL CLARK DESCRIBED HOW AN
UNNAMED PENTAGON OFFICIAL JUST
AFTER THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS
TALKED ABOUT A MEMO THAT SAID
THE U.S. PLANNED TO TAKE OUT
SEVEN COUNTRIES IN FIVE YEARS,
INCLUDING SYRIA.
>> 10 DAYS AFTER 9/11 I WENT TO
THE PENTAGON AND SAW SECRETARY
RUMSFELD AND SECRETARY
WOLFOWITZ AND WENT DOWNSTAIRS
TO SAY HELLO TO SOME OF THE
PEOPLE ON THE JOINT STAFF WHO
USED TO WORK FOR ME AND THE
GENERAL CALLED ME AND IN SAID
SIR, YOU NEED TO TALK TO ME FOR
A SECOND.
I SAID YOU'RE TOO BUSY.
HE SAID NO, NO, WE MADE THE
DECISION WE'RE GOING TO WAR
WITH IRAQ.
THIS IS ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER
20.
I SAID WE'RE GOING TO WAR WITH
IRAQ?
WHY?
HE SAID, I DON'T KNOW.
[LAUGHTER]
>> HE SAID, I GUESS THEY DON'T
KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.
SO I SAID WELL, DID THEY FIND
SOME INFORMATION CONNECTING
SADDAM TO AL QAEDA?
HE SAID NO, NO.
THERE'S NOTHING NEW THAT WAY.
THEY JUST MADE THE DECISION TO
GO TO WAR WITH IRAQ.
HE SAID, I GUESS IT'S LIKE WE
DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE
TERRORISTS BUT WE GOT A GOOD
MILITARY AND WE CAN TAKE DOWN
GOVERNMENTS AND HE SAID, I
GUESS IF THE ONLY TOOL YOU HAVE
IS A HAMMER, EVERY PROBLEM HAS
TO LOOK LIKE A NAIL.
SO I CAME BACK TO SEE HIM A FEW
WEEKS LATER, AND BY THAT TIME
WE WERE BOMBING IN AFGHANISTAN.
I SAID, ARE WE STILL GOING TO
WAR WITH IRAQ?
HE SAID OH, IT'S WORSE THAN
THAT.
HE SAID -- HE REACHED OVER ON
HIS DESK AND PICKED UP A PIECE
OF PAPER AND SAID, I JUST GOT
THIS DOWN FROM UPSTAIRS FROM
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE OFFICE
TODAY AND THIS IS A MEMO THAT
DESCRIBES HOW WE'RE GOING TO
TAKE OUT SEVEN COUNTRIES IN
FIVE YEARS.
STARTING WITH IRAQ AND THEN
SYRIA, LEBANON, LIBYA, SOMALI,
SUDAN AND FINISHING OFF WITH
IRAN.
I SAID, IS IT CLASSIFIED.
HE SAID, YES, SIR!
I SAID, WELL, DON'T SHOW IT TO
ME.
AND I SAW HIM A YEAR OR SO AGO
AND I SAID REMEMBER THAT?
HE SAID, SIR, I DIDN'T SHOW YOU
THAT MEMO!
I DIDN'T SHOW IT TO YOU!
>> THAT WAS GENERAL WESLEY
CLARK.
I WAS INTERVIEWING HIM AT THE
92ND STREET HERE IN NEW YORK IN
2007.
PROFESSOR NOAM CHOMSKY, IF YOU
COULD RESPOND.
>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S -- IT'S
QUITE PLAUSIBLE, THE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION VEERED SLIGHTLY,
NOT FAR, BUT SLIGHTLY FROM THE
GENERAL PATTERN, ACTUALLY THE
GOAL OF U.S. POLICY FOR DECADES
HAS BEEN TO CONTROL AND
DOMINATE THOSE COUNTRIES.
BUT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION WAS
MORE EXTREME.
THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD
ACTUALLY JUST, AS THEY PUT IT,
TAKE THEM OUT AND FORCEFULLY
IMPOSE ON REGIMES, NOT THAT
THAT WOULD BE ANYTHING NEW.
THERE'S A LONG LIST OF SIMILAR
CASES GOING BACK TO IRAN IN
1953, GUATEMALA IN 19354.
THERE WAS AN ASSAULT, MAJOR
ASSAULT AGAINST INDONESIA IN
1958, AN EFFORT TO STRIP AWAY
THE OUTER ISLANDS WHERE THE
RESOURCES ARE AND OF COURSE
THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT TOO
MUCH INDEPENDENCE IN INDONESIA,
THAT FAILED.
THE INVASION OF CUBA FAILED.
THE *** OF LAMUMBA AND THE
U.S. WAS INVOLVED IN THE CONGO,
DESTROYED AFRICA'S MAJOR HOPE
FOR DEVELOPMENT.
THE CONGO IS NOW TOTAL HORROR
STORY FOR YEARS, THE U.S.
SUPPORTED THE DICTATORSHIP.
NOW IT'S MAYBE THE WORST PLACE
IN THE WORLD.
AND ON RIGHT THROUGH CASE AFTER
CASE.
THIS IS STANDARD U.S. POLICY.
THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION WENT
BEYOND.
THEY WERE MORE EXTREME IN THEIR
GOALS AND THEIR ACTIONS.
AND THEY HAD TO PULL BACK
BECAUSE THAT WAS JUST BEYOND
U.S. CAPACITY.
THE IRAQ WAR WAS A VERY SERIOUS
DEFEAT FOR THE UNITED STATES,
UNLIKE THE VIETNAM WAR.
IN THE CASE OF INDOCHINA, IT'S
CALLED DEFEAT BUT THAT ONLY
MEANS THE U.S. DID NOT ACHIEVE
ITS MAXIMUM OBJECTIVES.
IT DID ACHIEVE ITS MAJOR
OBJECTIVES AS GEORGE BUNDY WELL
UNDERSTOOD.
IT HAD PREVENTED A VIETNAM FROM
MOVING ON A PATH OF INDEPENDENT
DEVELOPMENT, WHICH MIGHT HAVE
HAD THIS CONTAGIOUS EFFECT THAT
KISSINGER WAS CONCERNED WITH.
IT WAS PUT AT THE TIME, ONE
ROTTEN APPLE MAY SPOIL THE
BARREL, MEANING JUST WHAT YOU
AND OTHERS SAID, IF YOU ALLOW
INDEPENDENT -- TAKING MATTERS
INTO YOUR OWN HANDS IN ONE
PLACE THEN IT WORKS, OTHERS
WILL TRY TO EMULATE IT, THE
SYSTEM WILL ERODE.
THE STANDARD PRINCIPLE FOR
SYSTEMS OF POWER, THE GODFATHER
OF THE MAFIA UNDERSTANDS IT
PERFECTLY WELL IN THE MAFIA
STORE IF SOME SMALL
KEEPER DECIDES NOT TO PAY
PROTECTION MONEY, THE MONEY MAY
NOT MEAN ANYTHING TO THE
GODFATHER BUT HE'S NOT GOING TO
LET HIM GET AWAY WITH IT.
IN FACT, HE'S NOT JUST GOING TO
GO IN TO SEND HIS GOONS TO GET
THE MONEY BUT ALSO WILL BEAT
HIM TO A PULP BECAUSE OTHERS
HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT
DISOBEDIENCE IS NOT TOLERATED.
IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS,
THAT'S CALLED CREDIBILITY.
HE BOMBING OF KOSOVO, WESLEY'S
BOMBING OF KOSOVO WAS THE SAME
AFTER OTHER -- THERE WERE
PRETEXT BUT THEY COLLAPSED AND
THE FINAL ONE AS CONNIE BLAIR
AND GEORGE BUSH SAID WE HAVE TO
MAINTAIN THE CREDIBILITY OF
NATO.
NATO HAD ISSUED EDICTS AND WE
MUST ASSURE THAT THEY'RE OBEYED
AND NATO DOES NOT MEAN NORWAY,
IT MEANS THE UNITED STATES.
>> IF I COULD INTERRUPT FOR A
MINUTE TO ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR
REFLECTIONS ON THIS ANNIVERSARY
OF THE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001,
ATTACKS HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES.
YOUR REFLECTIONS ON THIS
ANNIVERSARY AND ALSO HOW IT
RELATES TO SYRIA IN THE MIDDLE
EAST AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
NOW.
>> I WILL RESPOND TO THAT.
MY OWN VIEW IS THAT WE SHOULD
BE CONCENTRATING ON THE FIRST
9/11, THE ONE IN CHILE WHICH
WAS A MUCH WORSE ATTACK BY ANY
DIMENSION.
BUT THE ONE HERE WAS VERY
SIGNIFICANT, WAS A MAJOR
TERRORIST ACT, THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE KILLED.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE
WAR OF 1812 THAT U.S. TERRITORY
HAD BEEN ATTACKED.
THE UNITED STATES HAS HAD
REMARKABLE SECURITY, AND
THEREFORE WAS -- ASIDE FROM THE
HORRIBLE ATROCITY, A VERY
SIGNIFICANT, HISTORICAL EVENT.
AND IT CHANGED ATTITUDES AND
POLICIES IN THE UNITED STATES
QUITE CONSIDERABLY.
AND IN REACTION TO THIS, THE
GOVERNMENT WAS ABLE TO RAM
ROUGH THE LAWS AND PATRIOT
ACT AND OTHERS THAT SHARPLY
CONSTRAINED CIVIL LIBERTIES.
IT WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE PRETEXT
FOR INVASION OF AFGHANISTAN,
INVASION OF IRAQ, DESTRUCTION
OF IRAQ, CONSEQUENCES THAT
SPREAD THROUGH THE REGION AND
IT PROVIDES -- IT'S THE BASIS
FOR OBAMA'S MASSIVE TERRORIST
WAR, THE DRONE WAR, THE MOST
TREME TERRORIST CAMPAIGN
THAT'S UNDERWAY NOW, MOST
EXTREME IN HISTORY, AND THE
JUSTIFICATION FOR IT IS THE
SAME, THE SECOND 9/11.
9/11, 2001.
HE'S HAD ENORMOUS EFFECTS ON
SOCIETY, ON ATTITUDES, ON
POLICIES, MANY VICTIMS
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD CAN
TESTIFY TO THAT.
>> HOW DO YOU SEE THE SITUATION
IN SYRIA BEING RESOLVED?
AND NOW CAN YOU TIE IT IN TO
THE LARGER MIDDLE EAST CRISIS?
TALK ABOUT ISRAEL, PALESTINIAN,
TALK ABOUT THE U.S.
RELATIONSHIP WITH IRAN AND
RELATIONSHIP WITH SAUDI ARABIA.
>> WELL, SYRIA RIGHT NOW IS
PLUNGING INTO SUICIDE.
IF THE NEGOTIATIONS OPTIONS
THAT RUSSIA AND OTHERS HAVE
BEEN PRESSING, IF THAT DOESN'T
WORK, SYRIA IS MOVING TOWARDS A
KIND OF VERY BLOODY PARTITION.
IT'S LIKELY THAT THE KURDISH
AREAS WHICH ALREADY ARE
SEMIINDEPENDENT WILL MOVE
TOWARDS FURTHER INDEPENDENCE,
PROBABLY LINK UP WITH IRAQI,
KURDISTAN, ADJACENT TO THEM,
MAYBE MAKE SOME ARRANGEMENTS
WITH TURKEY.
THOSE ARE ALREADY IN PROCESS.
AND THE REST OF SYRIA, WHAT
REMAINS, WILL BE DIVIDED
BETWEEN A BLOODY MURDEROUS
ASSAD REGIME AND A COLLECTION
OF REBEL GROUPS OF VARYING
KINDS, RANGING FROM SECULAR,
DEMOCRATIC, TO MURDEROUS,
BRUTAL TERRORISTS.
THAT LOOKS LIKE THE OUTCOME FOR
SYRIA.
ERE IS ANOTHER PART OF SYRIA
WHICH IS NOT TALKED ABOUT, IT'S
OCCUPIED BY ISRAEL AND THE NEXT
FIGHT IN ISRAEL IS THE GOLAN
HEIGHTS, NEXT IN VIOLATION OF
EXPLICIT SECURITY COUNCIL
ORDERS.
THEIR CREDIBILITY DOESN'T
MATTER BECAUSE THEY'RE AN ALLY.
THAT'S ANOTHER PART OF SYRIA.
HAT BRINGS US TO ISRAEL,
PALESTINE.
JUST A COUPLE DAYS AGO,
SECRETARY OF STATE KERRY
APPEALED TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ILLEGAL
CRIMINAL ISRAELI SETTLEMENT
PROJECTS IN THE WEST BANK,
WASN'T PUT IN THOSE WORDS, BUT
HE WAY IT IS PUT IS THAT
EUROPE HAD TAKEN THE QUITE
APPROPRIATE STEP OF TRYING TO
RAWBACK FROM SUPPORT FOR
ISRAELI OPERATIONS IN THE
ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS,
INCIDENTALLY THAT THE
SETTLEMENTS ARE ILLEGAL IS NOT
EVEN IN QUESTION.
THAT'S BEEN DETERMINED BY THE
HIGHEST AUTHORITIES.
THE SECURITY COUNCIL OF THE
UNITED NATIONS, THE
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE.
IN FACT, UP UNTIL THE REAGAN
ADMINISTRATION, THE U.S. ALSO
CALLED THEM ILLEGAL.
REAGAN CHANGED THAT TO AN
OBSTACLE TO PEACE AND OBAMA HAS
WEAKENED IT STILL FURTHER TO
NOT HELPFUL TO PEACE, BUT THE
U.S. IS VIRTUALLY ALONE IN
THIS.
THE REST OF THE WORLD ACCEPTS
THE JUDGMENT OF THE SECURITY
COUNCIL, THE INTERNATIONAL
COURT OF JUSTICE, BUT THE
SETTLEMENTS ARE ILLEGAL, NOT
JUST THE EXPANSION OF THE
SETTLEMENTS BUT THE SETTLEMENTS
THEMSELVES AND THAT EUROPE HAD
PULLED BACK FROM SUPPORT FOR
THE SETTLEMENTS AND KERRY
CALLED ON EUROPE NOT TO DO THAT
BECAUSE PRETEXT WAS THAT THIS
WOULD INTERFERE WITH THE
SO-CALLED PEACE NEGOTIATIONS
THAT HE'S SET UP, WHICH ARE A
TOTAL FARCE.
THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS ARE
CARRIED OUT UNDER
PRECONDITIONS, U.S. IMPOSED
PRECONDITIONS WHICH VIRTUALLY
GUARANTEE FAILURE.
THERE ARE TWO BASIC
PRECONDITIONS.
>> WE HAVE 15 SECONDS?
>> PARDON?
>> WE HAVE 15 SECOND.
>> ONE PRECONDITION IS THAT THE
U.S. RUN THEM.
THE U.S. IS A PARTICIPANT, NOT
NEUTRAL.
THE OTHER IS THAT ISRAELI
EXPANSION OF SETTLEMENTS MUST
CONTINUE.
NO PEACE NEGOTIATIONS CAN
CONTINUE UNDER THOSE
CONDITIONS.
>> WELL, NOAM CHOMSKY, WE WANT
TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BEING WITH US, SPENDING THE
HOUR WITH US, NOAM CHOMSKY,
WORLD RENOWNED POLITICAL
LINGUIST AND PROFESSOR EMERITUS
AT THE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
WHERE HE'S TAUGHT MORE THAN
HALF A CENTURY AND HAS WRITTEN
MORE THAN 100 BOOKS.
WE WILL LINK TO OUR PAST
INTERVIEWS WITH HIM AT OUR
WEBSITE DEMOCRACYNOW.ORG.
YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO
SEE A NUMBER OF NEW INTERVIEWS
SITUATION. -CHILE
I TALKED TO THE JUDGES THAT
ARRESTED AGUSTO PINOCHET AND
WITH A SPECIALIST TO EXHUME THE