Chomsky warns against attack on Iraq

Touching on terrorism and criticizing the US for encouraging a climate of fear, famed revisionist historian Noam Chomsky spoke to an audience of Fletcher and EPIIC students and faculty last night,

Chomsky, a professor of linguistics and philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), spoke at length about US foreign policy in the War on Terror and the possibly impending attack on Iraq.

He focused on the threat assessment of Iraq, saying that before Sept. 11 Iraq "was not a great threat" to the US. After Sept. 11, Iraq was considered by the Bush Administration to be "a threat to our security," and since this past October, Iraq has been labeled "an imminent threat to our survival," Chomsky said.

Unlike the US, he said, most of the world does not view Iraq as an immediate danger. Chomsky said that Iran and Kuwait, both victims of attacks by Saddam Hussein, are "primarily afraid of the United States, and this is true of much of the world."

This difference, he said, begs the question of whether the change in the US threat assessment is "a change in objective threat, perceived threat, or a change in opportunity."

Chomsky believes the opportunity to wage war is the true motive. "They [the Bush Administration] don't want to address the underlying grievances" _ instead, they desire an "unending war." A war in Iraq, Chomsky said, "may not be a bad choice for an endangered, right-wing oligarchy."

Chomsky was particularly critical of what he saw as the beginnings of a state of fear. According to Chomsky, political advantage is easily gained by a frightened population since voters "need a courageous leader," he said. The MIT professor credited the timing of current US foreign policy to "short-term political advantage," referring to this fall's midterm elections and the 2004 presidential race.

Another motivation for an American attack on Iraq, Chomsky said, is the predicted effect on the US economy. "The underlying goal is to regain control of the second largest oil reserve in the world." Chomsky cited a National Intelligence Council report stating that in the future, the US will rely on oil from Pacific Basin countries rather than Middle Eastern oil.

Therefore, current desire for Iraqi oil is similar to that after World War II, Chomsky said, when the US "didn't even use it [Iraqi oil], but had to control it."

One point Chomsky devoted much attention to was the definition of terrorism. Ironically, the word's technical definition, Chomsky said, and the one used by the Bush Administration, is "what they do to us_ not what we do to them."

Other than the US ending its participation in terrorism, Chomsky said, the only way to reduce terrorism is through "careful police work." A tight network of law enforcement, he said, is "the only thing that's had any success so far," as demonstrated by the recent breakup of an al Qaeda cell in Germany.

American policy in the Middle East has fueled anti-American sentiment, Chomsky said. He argued that bombing Afghanistan has had little effect and may even have encouraged terrorism. "US adventurism is driving others to develop a deterrent," he said, "which can either be weapons of mass destruction or terrorism."

Instead of immediate military response, Chomsky suggested, the US should pursue the underlying problems facing prospective terrorists. "Unless the political situation of al Qaeda and other groups are addressed, the US and its allies will continue to be targets."

Chomsky closed his prepared speech with an uplifting message and challenge to the audience. "The good news," Chomsky said, is "we are very highly privileged." Unlike oppressive Middle East regimes, "we can act without any fear at all" in protesting government actions abroad.

Student response to the lecture was positive. "He offered a lot of provocative questions," said Maria Stephan, a Ph.D. Candidate at the Fletcher School. Chomsky's "positive message was that we are free to change the system," Stephan said. "We have a responsibility to speak up."

Rather than let the government use Sept. 11 as an excuse for the "War on Terror," Stephan said, "we should use this War on Terror as an opportunity to challenge the government's policies."

Chomsky has been widely published, writing on topics ranging from linguistics and philosophy to international affairs. He has received over 20 honorary degrees from universities around the world.