Noam Chomsky: “This Is The Most Remarkable Regional Uprising That I Can Remember”

[tekisui]

Source: Democracy Now!

In recent weeks, popular uprisings in the Arab world have led to the ouster of Tunisian dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the imminent end of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s regime, a new Jordanian government, and a pledge by Yemen’s longtime dictator to leave office at the end of his term. We speak to MIT Professor Noam Chomsky about what this means for the future of the Middle East and U.S. foreign policy in the region. When asked about President Obama’s remarks last night on Mubarak, Chomsky said: "Obama very carefully didn’t say anything." "Obama very carefully didn’t say anything. ... he is doing what U.S. leaders regularly do whenever a favorite dictator is in trouble, try to sustain him, hold on. If at some point that becomes impossible, switch sides."

video at link: http://www.democracynow.org/2011/2/2/noam_chomsky_this_is_the_most

[defendandprotect]

1. They're identifying the "pro-Mubarak" protesters as part of Security Forces ...

and some questions about who let them into the square -- ?

[dipsydoodle]

2. He's about the same age

as Fidel and what Che would be now. Wasn't he about in 1959 ?

"he is doing what U.S. leaders regularly do" sounds like the US propping up Batista in those days.

[sabrina 1]

13. And Papa Doc and Baby Doc and Saddam Hussein until he

got too uppity, and Noriega, same as Saddam, Ben Ali and we are currently also supporting one of the world's worst dictators in Uzbekistan, Karamov and Pol Pot and a few others around the world.

Someone should make a Hall of Shame list of the dictators this country has and is supporting as it mouths the words 'we support democracy'. I'm sure I'm forgetting quite a few. But our support for these brutal men has caused untold misery to millions, maybe even over a billion human beings in this world. I am ashamed that we the people have turned a blind eye for so long.

[xchrom]

3. recommend

[leftstreet]

4. K&R

Thanks for posting that

[inna]

5. thank you so much for posting this! here's an updated link to

the further parts of the interview: http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2011/2/2/part_2_noam_chomsky_this_is_the_most_remarkable_regional_uprising_that_i_can_remember


Can't wait to watch them all tonight!

[FLPanhandle]

6. I guess he doesn't remember Eastern Europe and the fall of communism

Much bigger than this.

[tekisui]

7. You'll excuse me if I go with Chomsky's analysis over yours.

[Better Believe It]

8. Now all they have to do in the former USSR republics is establish democracy!

[EFerrari]

9. He said in the video, that's not much of a comparison and explained why

@ about 59:00.

[JVS]

16. Would you mind telling what he says? I can't get to that part of the interview.

[EFerrari]

17. Let me go look and transcribe so I don't screw it up. BrB. nt

[EFerrari]

18. Omg. I have to apologize. So sleep deprived, totally forgot there's a TRANSCRIPT.

LOL!



NOAM CHOMSKY: Well, this is the most remarkable regional uprising that I can remember. I mean, it’s sometimes compared with Eastern Europe, but that’s not much of a comparison. For one thing, in this case, there’s no counterpart to Gorbachev among the—in the United States or other great powers supporting the dictatorships. That’s a huge difference. Another is that in the case of Eastern Europe, the United States and its allies followed the timeworn principle that democracy is fine, at least up to a point, if it accords with strategic and economic objectives, so therefore acceptable in enemy domains, but not in our own. That’s a well-established principle, and of course that sharply differentiates these two cases. In fact, about the only moderately reasonable comparison would be to Romania, where Ceausescu, the most vicious of the dictators of the region, was very strongly supported by the United States right up ’til the end. And then, when he—the last days, when he was overthrown and killed, the first Bush administration followed the usual rules: postured about being on the side of the people, opposed to dictatorship, tried to arrange for a continuation of close relations.

But this is completely different. Where it’s going to lead, nobody knows. I mean, the problems that the protesters are trying to address are extremely deep-seated, and they’re not going to be solved easily. There is a tremendous poverty, repression, a lack of not just democracy, but serious development. Egypt and other countries of the region have just been through a neoliberal period, which has led to growth on paper, but with the usual consequences: high concentration of extreme wealth and privilege, tremendous impoverishment and dismay for most of the population. And that’s not easily changed. We should also remember that, as far as the United States is concerned, what’s happening is a very old story. As far back as the 1950s, President Eisenhower was—

[JVS]

19. Thanks.

[Kurovski]

10. K&R. (nt)

[Catherina]

11. Rec'd. Nailed it in the bolded part. n/t

[upi402]

12. Chomsky always nails it. Wish he'd give a damn stock tip

When I was buying into Colin Powel's Iraq lies -all I had to do was listen to Noam and I remembered the nature of all neocons all the time.

[Solly Mack]

14. K&R

[malaise]

15. K & R n/t