Chomsky: Why the Mideast Turmoil Is a Direct Threat to the American Empire

[Joanne98]

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... He’s doing what U.S. leaders regularly do. As I said, there is a playbook: whenever a favored dictator is in trouble, try to sustain him, hold on; if at some point it becomes impossible, switch sides." We continued the interview with Chomsky for 50 minutes after the live show.

AMY GOODMAN: For analysis of the Egyptian uprising and its implications for the Middle East and beyond, we’re joined now by the world-renowned political dissident and linguist Noam Chomsky, Professor Emeritus at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, author of over a hundred books, including his latest, Hopes and Prospects.

Noam, welcome to Democracy Now! Your analysis of what’s happening now in Egypt and what it means for the Middle East?

NOAM CHOMSKY: Well, first of all, what’s happening is absolutely spectacular. The courage and determination and commitment of the demonstrators is remarkable. And whatever happens, these are moments that won’t be forgotten and are sure to have long-term consequences, as the fact that they overwhelmed the police, took Tahrir Square, are staying there in the face of organized pro-Mubarak mobs, organized by the government to try to either drive them out or to set up a situation in which the army will claim to have to move in to restore order and then to maybe install some kind of military rule, whatever. It’s very hard to predict what’s going to happen. But the events have been truly spectacular. And, of course, it’s all over the Middle East. In Yemen, in Jordan, just about everywhere, there are the major consequences.

The United States, so far, is essentially following the usual playbook. I mean, there have been many times when some favored dictator has lost control or is in danger of losing control. There’s a kind of a standard routine—Marcos, Duvalier, Ceausescu, strongly supported by the United States and Britain, Suharto: keep supporting them as long as possible; then, when it becomes unsustainable—typically, say, if the army shifts sides—switch 180 degrees, claim to have been on the side of the people all along, erase the past, and then make whatever moves are possible to restore the old system under new names. That succeeds or fails depending on the circumstances.

http://www.alternet.org/story/149786/chomsky%3A_why_the_mideast_turmoil_is_a_direct_threat_to_the_american_empire/?page=1

[sabrina 1]

1. Very well put by Chomsky:

I mean, there have been many times when some favored dictator has lost control or is in danger of losing control. There’s a kind of a standard routine—Marcos, Duvalier, Ceausescu, strongly supported by the United States and Britain, Suharto: keep supporting them as long as possible; then, when it becomes unsustainable—typically, say, if the army shifts sides—switch 180 degrees, claim to have been on the side of the people all along, erase the past, and then make whatever moves are possible to restore the old system under new names.

It hasn't worked in most of Latin America although they never stop trying. See the anti-Chavez MSM propaganda eg while we supported the genocidal Uribe in Colombia. Latin America should be a lesson to the U.S. that people will not accept brutal dictators forever.

So first, Latin America got out from under our propped up dictators. Now it looks like its spreading.

What is an Empire to do?

[Pacifist Patriot]

4. U.S. foreign policy has utilized Newspeak for eons.

We have a disastrous record, but apparently it is un-American to point out our moral failings. Yes, I'm going to used that charged word because empire building, in my opinion, is thoroughly immoral.

[StarburstClock]

2. Kudos to you for trying to get the truth out there

Not many people want to hear the truth about our American empire, largely due to the American media's demonizing of "evil others" for propaganda purposes which directly contradicts the current effort in Egypt by the people to create a democracy. An Egyptian interviewed yesterday said she blamed herself and her piers for accepting corruption in the name of civility instead of standing up to it, therefore leaving it to the next generation to live with and fight.

[MasonJar]

3. Yes, Chavez is a great example of our press/government demonizing

a leader who is trying to help the average citizen. My main fear in Egypt and the other Middle Eastern countries seeking democracy is that they will get instead the installation of cruel Islamic rule, in which women become second class citizens. We perpetrated it in Iraq. Will it happen now in Egypt?

[sabrina 1]

5. Yes, we should be helping him and other emerging democracies

to develop and also not helping their neighbors to undermine them, such as Colombia. We always seem to be on the wrong side.

[Jefferson23]

6. K&R , highly recommend. n/t