Noam Chomsky: The State Fears Its Own People <-- AWESOME 5 MINUTE VIDEO

[99th_Monkey]

Noam Chomsky: The State Fears Its Own People
Chomsky on terror, Snowden, and why "security" is usually an excuse for government repression.
July 29, 2013 * Noam Chomsky * Alternet

In a recent media appearance Noam Chomsky said that whistleblower Edward Snowden, who remains in Russia after releasing a trove of documents about secret NSA surveillance, should be honored.

"He was doing what every citizen ought to do," Chomsky says in the video below. "He was telling Americans what the government is doing."

Chomsky goes on to explain that governments always claim security as their justification for civil liberties abuses, but that overwhelmingly the security in question is that of the state ... from its own population. To smatterings of applause, Chomsky goes on to explain how America's drone campaign abroad is a far bigger threat to our security than leaked information about surveillance.

Watch Chomsky discuss the relationship between the state, the people, and "security" below.

[indepat]

1. For those who can dispute what Dr. Chomsky says, please speak up to

enlighten those on this board who can't contradict what he says.

[truebluegreen]

2. The part about the former Bolivian president--

Gonzalo Sanchez, "free-marketer and friend of the US"--is absolutely true. He has been indicted in Bolivia, several associates have already been convicted (Human Rights Watch called that a "major step forward&quot , Bolivia has tried to extradite him and the US won't.

'Cause we're exceptional doncha know. Exceptionally hypocritical.

By all means, keep waving that flag.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

7. Sure, I'll do so...

Chomsky:

"First a look at what he exposed ... this is not any threat to security, with one exception, the security of the government from its own population."

FALSE.

About the Fort Hood shooting:

Days after the shooting, reports in the media revealed that a Joint Terrorism Task Force had been aware of e-mail communications between Hasan and the Yemen-based cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who had been monitored by the NSA as a security threat, and that Hasan's colleagues had been aware of his increasing radicalization for several years. The failure to prevent the shootings led the Defense Department and the FBI to commission investigations, and Congress also held hearings.

The problem, in short, isn't the NSA. It's that, due to 4th Amendment concerns, that government is very hesitant in acting, even when there are clear indications a terrorist attack is about to occur.

The things the NSA is tracking with these programs clearly ARE a threat to security.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

/ cue the "Obama is literally Hitler" non-sequitur responses by the hard Naderite leftists who, just as much as the GOP, hate inconvenient truths as much as they love fact-free bashing of President Obama

[Fumesucker]

10. I'm sure you'll be just as happy with the NSA when a Republican takes the White House in 2016

Because we know Republicans love America and would never abuse something like a vast spy program.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

21. The only way Hillary won't win the White House in 2016

...is if we have more 5th-column anti-Democratic party leftists persuading people to vote for Nader, or some other fringe nutcase, splitting our votes to let the Republican win.

Luckily, there really aren't so many of these, so she's a shoo in.

And the NSA was worse under Bush. Far worse. But there wasn't anything near the kind of anti-Bush attacks on the DU over this issue than there are against Obama, who already reined in some of the worst abuses.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[Fumesucker]

23. Hell it wouldn't surprise me to see Jeb elected

All of the bad things we got with Dubya and (some) brains too.

A week is an eternity in politics, I recall Hillary was a sure thing in 2008 as well.

[NealK]

17. Stupid 4th Amendment, we should burn that thing.

Oh what the hell, lets get rid of that whole constitution.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

19. The government clearly supports the 4th amendment, even when it leads to more terrorism

...but you'd never know that reading the screamers here.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[Rex]

22. Leads to more terrorism? On what planet?

nt.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

27. Fort Hood is clearly on planet Earth

...what planet do you live on?

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[NealK]

29. Nice non sequitur.

[NealK]

24. The government clearly supports the 4th amendment?

You're joking, right?

[ConservativeDemocrat]

26. I've got facts on my side. You've only got incredulity.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[NealK]

28. For someone who's a Proud Member of the Reality Based Community...

You sure live in a freaking fantasy world.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

30. Again, that's not an argument

Much less a well founded one.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[warrprayer]

3. good find!

thanks

[99th_Monkey]

9. u r most welcome

that man can turn a phrase just so, like no other.

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. I posted this yesterday

But I'll kick yours since he needs to be heard.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023359571

[99th_Monkey]

5. Awesome. thanks. eom

[adirondacker]

6. Rec for Chomsky and something a standardized test won't teach. nt

[Wilms]

8. ^

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

12. Edward Snowden is a modern day Paul Revere with a thumb drive full of news that Tyranny is coming!

Edward Snowden is a modern day Paul Revere with a thumb drive full of news that Tyranny is coming!

Edward Snowden's Dad Calls Him 'Modern Day Paul Revere'
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/edward-snowdens-dad-calls-modern-day-paul-revere/story?id=19554337

Hmmm... who knew who influential a DU meme could be

[L0oniX]

13. I miss Howard Zinn. RIP N/t

[Enthusiast]

14. I'll recommend this every chance I get.

I think "generating" terrorists is the goal of the military industrial complex. Someone has to take the boogie man position vacated by the former Soviet Union.

But no matter how hard they try to ramp up fear, there is no justification for the size and scope of this military and intelligence apparatus.

[malaise]

16. True but you have to go one step further

Keeping enemies is very profitable

[malaise]

15. Kick and

Recommend

[woo me with science]

18. Thank you for posting this.

K&R

[limpyhobbler]

20. chomsky. woot chomsky. nt

[KoKo]

25. Recommend! Definitely!

[Douglas Carpenter]

31. knr