9-11

by Noam Chomsky | Nonfiction |
ISBN: 1583224890 Global Overview for this book
Registered by PostMuse of Wellfleet, Massachusetts USA on 6/12/2003
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12 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by PostMuse from Wellfleet, Massachusetts USA on Thursday, June 12, 2003
The first voice of reason to be heard after the 9-11 attacks. I will write more about this wonderful book later. It is on its way to Germany now and hopefully beyond.

Journal Entry 2 by mojitopt on Monday, June 23, 2003
Had this book in the mail today. Thank you very much to *zrmzlina* for this RABCK. The book will be in the pole position on my TBR pile and I will comment on it here as soon as I read it. Definitely looks interesting ...

Journal Entry 3 by mojitopt on Tuesday, June 24, 2003
I read this book with great interest, but find it kind of difficult to comment on it. I will try to give at least some impressions, restricting myself to a description of some of Chomsky's points rather than giving my personal opinion.

While most of us Europeans probably know Chomsky mainly as a linguist from their studies (and have "suffered" while working through his texts), this book shows him as a political activist, sociologist and 'critical intellectual'. The book is a collection of interviews with Chomsky by journalists from various newspapers (U.S. and European) immediately after the Sept 11, 2001 events. Chomsky's lengthy answers (which constitute the book, while the interviewer's questions serve as a sort of 'paragraph division') are possible only due to the fact that these interviews were conducted by e-mail. They are in parts repetitive. Chomsky's sources are mainly American daily newspapers like the New York Times, Financial Times or the Boston Globe. [One can not avoid the impression that he spents the whole day reading newspapers or has subscribed to a clipping service :-)]. The book also has a very interesting appendix, the official Department of State report on foreign terrorist organizations.

Chomsky has a very intelligent way of answering the sometimes rather suggestive questions. He calls the terrorist attacks - probably like most of us do - "horrifying atrocities". He also does not blame anything on one side (or group, or country), but asks to look more into the "why" and the circumstances, usually providing similar or comparable examples.
In the course of this argumentation, he points out repeatedly "that the U.S. is the only country that was condemned for international terrorism by the World Court and that rejected a Security Council resolution calling on states to observe international law" (p. 44) referring to the 1980s events in Nicaragua. He states that similar (or comparatively even worse) terrorist acts and killing of civilians have been performed in many countries over the world, either directly by the U.S., or, funded and supported by the U.S.: Middle East, Turkey, East Timor... (pp. 85). This is, BTW not a novelty of the Bush administration, but has been practiced under Reagan and Clinton in the same way.

The book terminates with the following phrase: "But it is important... to keep as closely as we can to the truth and honesty and concern for the human consequences of what one does, or fails to do. All truisms [sic!], but worth bearing in mind." (p. 118)

It is interesting and sad at the same time to read this book now, almost two years later and partially seeing the course world events have taken since. Bearing in mind that Chomsky's statement followed immediately after the Sept 11 attacks, he must be considered extremely foresighted and wise.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in an additional view on the "war on terrorism" apart from the mass media coverage we usually get.

Will probably send this book as RABCK to Bni-Legi in Hannover. Fellow BCeress nikel27 has also asked to receive it ... so I hope it will travel a few more stops!

Journal Entry 4 by Bni-Legi from Hannover, Niedersachsen Germany on Friday, July 11, 2003
Having just come home from holidays I've found this book among my post piles. Thanks to *mojitopt* for this RABCK.
I will comment on the book later, the subject is of great interest to me although I'm afraid it'll be no easy reading.
Readers interested in the 9-11 subject might also check: http://www.broeckers.com

Having just finished, I would like to comment what interested fellow-BCer *tietschmitischo* mailed to me: "Can't wait to read something intelligent about this insanity"
This is what these interviews are: An intelligent set by a variety of interviewers during the 1st month following the attacks...

Sent this to *nikel27* August 11th 2003, asking her to pass it on to *tietschmitischo*.
Will send his address per PM to *nikel27*


Journal Entry 5 by nikel27 from -- Irgendwo / Somewhere --, Hessen Germany on Tuesday, August 12, 2003
thanks Bni-Legi for sending me this book, I really look forward to read it. Last year I was in New York and visited Ground Zero, I still can't believe how this could happen.
I will sent the book to tietschmitischo after I am finish with reading.

I think I may will start a BookRay for this book....
(*) means can ship internationally

#1 tietschmitischo/Germany
#2 Semioticghost/UK
#3 perfect-circle /UK (Europe)
#4 kernow8/UK (*)
#5 Hawkette/Australia (*)
#6 jmg49/Canada (*)<--- reading
#7 1-more-lemming/Canada
#8 Betsy-STL/USA (*)
#9 outofreach/Australia (*)


Journal Entry 6 by nikel27 at post office* in Ginsheim, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Monday, January 26, 2004
Released on Monday, January 26, 2004 at post office* in Ginsheim, By Post Controlled Releases.

off to the first member from this BookRay.

EnJoy the Book !!

Journal Entry 7 by Tietschmitischo on Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Another voice to let you know Americans are not all little Bushes and Gibsons. And sorry to all who were waiting for it- I plainly forgot I still had it.

Journal Entry 8 by wingSemioticghostwing from Ipswich, Suffolk United Kingdom on Sunday, May 2, 2004
Arrived this weekend - I've got another ring to finish, but should be able to move this onwards within two weeks. Thanks for sharing it!

Journal Entry 9 by perfect-circle from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 12, 2004
arrived this morning, looks like interesting reading.

Journal Entry 10 by perfect-circle from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Saturday, June 5, 2004
This wasn't what I expected to be honest. Placed in the time they were written the interviews are interesting and show Chomsky to be foresighted and very knowledgeable about American actions abroad. The problem I had was that it became repetitive and made Chomsky look like his knowledge was limited to certain events only, which I'm sure isn't true.

I am holding on to this at the moment as Kernow8 is in the process of moving and I will pass it on as soon as I have the new address.

thanks Nikel27 for arranging this.

Journal Entry 11 by Kernow8 from Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Thursday, June 17, 2004
The first book I've received back at my English home, following my re-relocation! I hope to read within the next month - thanks!

Journal Entry 12 by Kernow8 from Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Thursday, July 15, 2004
Very interesting and important information, some of which shocked me greatly - the atrocities in Sudan and Nicaragua to name but two. I'd agree that this was a bit repetitive, but at the time it was written (published in 2001) that was understandable. It does suffer a bit due to its immediacy - I kept wanting to know what the current situation was. I wish I'd read it a couple of years ago when it was fresher. However, it still merits reading. On to Hawkette soon...

Journal Entry 13 by Kernow8 from Southampton, Hampshire United Kingdom on Monday, July 19, 2004
Posted to Hawkette this morning.

Journal Entry 14 by Hawkette from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Monday, July 26, 2004
This little book has arrived with me.
Sept 11 has meant so much to us really, with not only the horror and lives lost, but it has changed almost everything we do today - not all for the better!
I actually visited NYC a month after the attacks, and then again 2 months after that, so I got a mini first hand feel of the city and it's pain, and healing process. Am interested to read more about the whole horror, to try and understand it all better.

Journal Entry 15 by Hawkette from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, September 11, 2004
I decided to bump this up on my TBR, so that I could read it today - the 3 year anniversary of that horrible day.

A level-headed voice about the September 11 attacks, and all that led up to, would/might eventuate from, and the horror itself and what it means politically, compliled in the highly emotive months just after the day that shocked the Western world.
This is the first Chomsky I have read, and having read Moore, not too much of the background to the 9-11 attacks surprises me anymore.
Well read and rationally opinionate, and amazingly insightful, I will certainly seek out more Chomsky.

The one shock from this little volume was the US role in Sudan, with the destruction of the source of vital medicines, and the support of the warring factions. In light of the recent focus on the atrocities in Sudan, I was stunned as always at the round-a-bout intervention and destruction of US and it's allies actions.

The continued stream of information that whilst the US was shocked to be hit in such a horrific manner in 2001, given the plays in major pies thoughout the world, there really was no surprise. The surprise really was the reation of the US to strike back immediately with force. Like a big bully kid in the sandpit building sandcastles alongside his peers. The bully periodically gets up and helps one of his peer ruin the sandcastle of another peer in the pit. But then be outraged when two of his peers returns to destroy his own castle. And then vows to destroy over again.
'The US was happy to support their hatred and violence when it was directed against US enemies; it is not happy when the hatred it helped nurture is directed against the US and its allies, as it has been, repeatedly, for 20 years' (p.80)

The misery for me is the neverending infliction of poverty and pain to innocent people throughout the world, the victims of the WTC included. How will it ever stop, if the power countries don't adopt and adhere to international laws and processes?

The truths of the current world's madness and atrocities all over seems to be neglected by the masses, and the well read and educated somewhat minority who do read all angles, do not have sufficient voting powers to beat the fear-driven election propagada.
Remincient of Orwell's 1984, Chomsky is quoted as saying '"These facts have been completely removed from history. One has to practically scream them from the rooftops."' (p.9)

My heart and thoughts go out to all victims of the world's madness - to the families of lost ones in NYC and Washington 3 years ago; to the impoverishing, staving and removed families of Afganistan; and also today to the families of the Indonesian workers killed two days ago working at the Australian embassy in Jakarta - an act reportedly in response to Australia's alliance with the US in the "war on terror".

Words of one of my favourite bands Powderfinger, have been resinating in my head all day...
"How far have we really come?
Until the ones that are leading us
Make peace their resolution tonight
Make peace your resolution tonight"

Journal Entry 16 by jmg49 from Woodstock, Ontario Canada on Sunday, October 10, 2004
This arrived here Friday but I did not see it until just now, mixed in with Friday's junk mail. I will read it promptly and pass it on.

Journal Entry 17 by jmg49 from Woodstock, Ontario Canada on Saturday, December 4, 2004
I got a lot of new information out of this book. Fascinating.
I will pass it to 1-more-lemming at next week's meet up.

Journal Entry 18 by nikel27 from -- Irgendwo / Somewhere --, Hessen Germany on Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Sorry to let you knów but this book is lost in Mail

Journal Entry 19 by lostbookisland on Friday, November 18, 2005
This very well-traveled book has gone missing somewhere. It was hoped to have a long bookray journey but that has stopped now that the journal entries have stopped.

It is hoped this book will find the Lost Book Island resort a happy and wonderful place to stay until a new journal entry comes so that this book may once again travel the world spreading the words within its pages.

Journal Entry 20 by wingAnonymousFinderwing on Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Not lost.... right here in my hand.

CAUGHT IN LANSDOWNE ONTARIO CANADA

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