Pirates and Emperors, Old and New: International Terrorism in the Real World [Paperback]

Noam Chomsky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2003

This updated edition of Noam Chomsky’s classic dis-section of terrorism explores the role of the U.S. in the Middle East, and reveals how the media manipulates -public opinion about what constitutes "terrorism."

This edition includes new chapters covering the second Palestinian intifada that began in October 2000; an analysis of the impact of September 11 on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East; a deconstruction of depictions and perceptions of terrorism since that date; as well as the original sections on Iran and the U.S. bombing of Libya.

Chomsky starts by tracing the changing meaning of "terrorism," examining how it originally referred to violent acts by "governments designed to ensure popular submission." He calls its current application "retail terrorism," practiced by "thieves who molest the powerful." Chomsky argues that appreciating the differences between state terror and nongovernmental terror is crucial to stopping terrorism, and understanding why atrocities like the bombing of the World Trade Center happen.

In comparing the "war on terror" launched by George W. Bush to that of his father and Ronald Reagan’s administrations, Chomsky recalls Winston Churchill’s summation of the terror by the powerful: "The rich and powerful have every right to demand that they be left in peace to enjoy what they have gained, often by violence and terror; the rest can be ignored as long as they suffer in silence, but if they interfere with the lives of those who rule the world by right, the ‘terrors of the earth’ will be visited upon them with righteous wrath, unless power is constrained from within."

Pirates and Emperors is a brilliant account of the workings of state terrorism by the world’s foremost critic of U.S. imperialism.

An internationally acclaimed philosopher, linguist, and political activist, Noam Chomsky teaches at MIT.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Judged in terms of the power, range, novelty, and influence of his thought, Noam Chomsky is arguably the most important intellectual alive.' New York Times Book Review 'One of the radical heroes of our age... A towering intellect... Powerful, always provocative.' Guardian 'Our greatest unraveller of accredited lies.' New Statesman 'An exploder of received truths.' New York Times 'On the one hand we have the established media, the respectable community of foreign affairs analysts, the government--and on the other, Noam Chomsky.' The Nation 'Thank God for Noam Chomsky.' Robert Fisk, The Independent --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Noam Chomsky is a world renowned linguist and one of America's foremost social critics. He is Institute Professor in the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is the author of numerous books, including FatefulTriangle; The New Military Humanism: Lessons from Kosovo and Rogue States: The Rule of Force in World Affairs. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 233 pages
• Publisher: South End Press (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896086852
• ISBN-13: 978-0896086852
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,038,549 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Noam Chomsky is Institute Professor in the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston. A member of the American Academy of Science, he has published widely in both linguistics and current affairs. His books include At War with Asia, Towards a New Cold War, Fateful Triangle: The U. S., Israel and the Palestinians, Necessary Illusions, Hegemony or Survival, Deterring Democracy, Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy and Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Free press; controlled minds, April 2, 2003

By 

Alan Mills (Chicago, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pirates and Emperors, Old and New: International Terrorism in the Real World (Paperback)

Chomsky starts with the premise that the United States has fewer restrictions on its press than any other contry in the world. At the same time, it has the most effective system in the world for restricting what its citizens think.

Focusing on the Israel-Palestine dispute (but with forays as far abroad as Hiroshima, Guatemala, Afghanistan, and--most relevantly for today--Iraq), Chomsky proves over and over again that the US version of terrorism is completely one sided. After all, he argues, it is the US that has killed more civilians in more attempts to influence enemies through terror than any other country.

Chomsky gives short shrift to those who argue endlessly over the legal meaning of various UN Resolutions to determine what the legalities are of various conflicts. Applying his philosophical theories to politics, Chomsky says that words mean exactly what those with the power to act say they mean, nothing more and nothing less.

Chomsky's bottom line is that if the US really wants to combat terrorism, the first thing we ought to do is stop practicing it, and stop supporting others who do so.

Chomsky certainly has a point of view that one hears all too infrequently in this country. My main criticism is that the book repeats the same examples several times in different chapters to make the same point. This results from the fact that the book is actually a loosely connected series of essays and talks, not originally wirtten at the same time, let alone with a book in mind.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The truth is not for sale, January 11, 2007

By 

Eric E. Weinraub (Issaquah, Washington United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pirates and Emperors, Old and New: International Terrorism in the Real World (Paperback)

I am someone who actually worked on this book when it was published years ago. When I read the manuscript in preparation for publication, I was thrilled. Unlike the Zionist critics, or those afraid to see the world as it is, I was not afraid of the damning analysis of my country and of my ethnic breatheren. Though I may be a Jew, I do not not hold with Zionism and its hatreds. I love this book. We should be thankful that Chomsky stands where does, shoots for the truth, and challenges us to lay down our biases while on the joureny to enlightenment.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent mind stimulating analysis and critique in the Chomsky tradition!, February 25, 2006

By 

Srinidhi Anantharamiah (Melbourne, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pirates and Emperors, Old and New: International Terrorism in the Real World (Paperback)

Professor Noam Chomsky deserves a literary award for this scholarly treatise that exposes the hypocrisies and selective standards the big powers use with respect to the
word "terrorism." Chomsky brilliantly illustrates that by the internationally accepted definition of the word terrorism, the Western powers are guilty of state sponsored terrorism by their support of attrocities against Third World peoples such as the
Palestinains, Kurds, East Timorese, and others.

The convenient countries that are targeted for sanctions against terrorism are Iraq, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea. Chomsky argues that should a leader who supports
Western expansionism and domination such as the Shah of Iran or Ferdinand Marcos of the Phillipines
arise, the countries will be termed "friendly" and "moderate" like the Gulf potentates and Indonesia.

I thorougly enjoyed reading this book and others by the same author. Chomsky consistently points out the mistakes and fallacies of policy makers through his superb
mastery of polemics and prose. His style is entertaining and never loses my interest. I suggest any prospective student in international relations be required to read this text by
one of America's leading dissident voices, particularly in this time of "war on terror," which has been advocated and advanced by the Bush Administration.