On April 4th, the president of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave an "Easter gift" to the British people. He released the 15 sailors and marines that Iran held on charges of illegally entering Iranian waters. Obviously it was nothing more than a not so clever PR move as Ahmadinejad had gotten as much geopolitical traction from holding the sailors as he could. But, what interested me was the response by the American media. CNN had a large discussion about whether these sailors were held and treated according to the Geneva Convention. It seems in that half hour they covered the Geneva Convention more than when the United States violated the convention at Gitmo and Abu Ghraib.
Enter the United States' resident dissenter, Noam Chomsky. In his work Failed States, Chomsky outlines the use of fear mongering the United States uses to excuse its geopolitical power plays. His thesis is pretty simple: The government and the media are not telling the true story. Both are using scare tactics to press up oil prices and continue American world hegemony. In fact, Chomsky goes as far to declare that the United States is moving toward a failed state as it is again and again ignores the consent of the governed to press geopolitical power politics.
The United States ignores International Law as it sees fit. Hence the fit over whether Iran followed the Geneva Convention, but the US open declaration that it does not have to because our enemies are unlawful combatants. While the United States has a constitutional requirement to follow international law (Art. 1, sec 8), to Chomsky the government is found wanting in this regard.
What moves Chomsky, as well, is the media's less than stellar record reporting to the American public. He lists a great number of polls that the media does not report. To report such polls "just wouldn't do." Most Americans support the Kyoto accords, believe the UN should have handled the post war Iraq and that the US should always follow international law.
The fact that the US does not do these things and that the media does not report them, places the US in a position where it may become a failed state. True or not, the myths of American intervention and political process that Chomsky challenges makes one think. As usual the writing of the book is fantastically written and flows as well as a work of fiction. I would not put this on the must read list, but way up on the second tier of your reading list.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Frequently bought together
This item: Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy (American Empire Project)
$13.75
In Stock
+
$18.90
In Stock
+
$14.99
Only 12 left in stock (more on the way).
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Products related to this item
Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Related products with free delivery on eligible orders
Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Sponsored | Try Prime for unlimited fast, free shipping
Top reviews from other countries
Client d'Amazon
What an impressive vision of the world
Paul Takes Photos
Noam Chomsky Provides A Fascinating Insight.
Angela M. Oueslati Ramirez
