Noam Chomsky on ... America ...

The U.S. is a global power, so you cant just look at one region. You have to look at whats going on everywhere. So if we go back, say, to the last intelligence projection of the Clinton administration, National Intelligence Council, year 2000, their projection for the next 15 years, they—just keeping to energy, but theres a lot more. They took it as a matter of course that the United States would control Middle East oil. They dont discuss that much. And then they say the United States, though it will control Middle East oil, because thats a lever of world control, nevertheless it, itself, will rely on what were called more stable Atlantic Basin resources, meaning West African dictatorships and the western hemisphere. Thats what the U.S. will rely on...

Well, whats been going on in Latin America since then significantly threatens that. For the first time in its history, first time since the Spanish colonization, Latin America is moving towards a degree of independence and also a degree of integration. The history of Latin America—Latin America is very sharply split between a tiny rich elite and huge poverty, and the rich elite have been the only active ones politically. Its beginning to change. They are moving towards a degree of independence and towards a degree of integration and the United States is terrified. Just keeping to oil alone, it means that the energy resources—I mean, the major energy producer in the hemisphere is Venezuela. The U.S. kicked the British out under Wilson, Woodrow Wilson. Its known as Wilsonian idealism. They kicked the British out as soon as the oil age began, because they knew that Venezuela had enormous oil resources. That meant supporting a bunch of utterly brutal dictators, while Venezuela became by 1928 the leading oil exporter in the world. Its remained very high. Venezuela is now going towards independence, and the United States is frantic. Thats why you have this hysteria about Chavez. Its not because hes attacking anyone or anything like. Its hysteria because hes not following orders...

The U.S. in the past has had two fundamental mechanisms for controlling Latin America: one is violence, the other is economic strangulation. Theyre both weakening. The last exercise of violence was in the year 2002, when in its dedication to democracy promotion the U.S. supported a military coup to overthrow the elected government of Venezuela. Well, had to back down, for one thing, because there was a popular uprising in Venezuela and so, the U.S. is preparing for more use of violence. If you take a look at the number of U.S. military personnel throughout Latin America, the military bases, the training of Latin American officers, thats all going up very sharply. In fact, for the first time ever, there are now more U.S. military personnel in Latin America than personnel for the major federal aid organizations. That never happened during the Cold War. Also military training for Latin American officers, and you know what that means...
Military training is being shifted from the State Department to the Pentagon. So the military option has by no means been abandoned, but its nothing like what it was before. I mean, in the past, you just overthrew governments, you know, didnt think twice about it...

As for the economic option, thats being lost, too. The most dramatic case, perhaps, was Argentina. Argentina was the poster child for the IMF. And following IMF rules, it led to the worst economic disaster in its history, totally collapsed. Then, violating IMF rules radically, they pulled out of it and have had rapid growth. And the international investing community and the IMF, which is a branch of the Treasury Department, couldnt do anything about it, even the refusal to pay debt. And Argentina—in fact, the president of Argentina said, Well, were ridding ourselves of the IMF. That means of U.S. economic strangulation. And worse, he was helped in that by Venezuela, which bought a large part of the debt. Bolivia is probably doing the same. Brazil had already done it. Well, you know, you rid yourself of the IMF, meaning the Treasury Department, thats seriously weakening the measures of economic strangulation ...

And within Venezuela, as far as—you can like it or hate it, but the interesting question is what Venezuelans think about it. Okay, well, a good knowledge of that. Theres extensive polls taken, Latin American and North American polls. It turns out that the popularity of the government has shot way up in the last—since 1998, and it now is the most popular elected government in Latin America; in fact, in the hemisphere, because this government is not popular. So its the most popular elected government in Latin America, and it keeps going up. Well, reasons not too obscure, but, sure, its driving the United States berserk. Thats why you have the constant hysteria from the government and the media about the terrible things in Venezuela and Bolivia.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• USA
• U.S.
• South
• Latin
• America
• Amerika
• American
• World
• Control
• Middle
• East
• Oil
• Atlantic
• Africa
• Dictator
• Independence
• History
• Elite
• Energy
• Venezuela
• Hysteria
• MSM
• Media
• Manipulation
• Bolivia
• Orders
• Argentinia
• Hugo
• Chavez
• Facts
• Violence
• Democracy
• Poverty
• Military
• Bases
• Option
• IMF
• Noam
• Chomsky
• Failed
• States
• 2006
• 2008

[zoid1982]

Chomsky is simply great!

[mistertakeda]

These comments are rather intelligent for YouTube, I think.

[owenhunt]

@warriorprince1010 The UK ran tarrifs on every coastline in the world, shortly after the War of Independence; the UK secured world control by triumphing in the Anglo-French war. Probably the only time the world was truly globalised under it's more modern, sinister meaning - subject to hegemonic privileges at the request of a monied elite.

My own point of view is that colonisation has ceased to be the way forward, as it's original use was as protection for embattered countries such as Britain.

[WarmongerWW3]

The oil does not belong to Venezuela just because it's on venezuelan soil. The oil belongs to those who are stronger to exploit this natural resource.

[MrUltitrader]

what we need to do is to put your sorry communist fascist ass in a plane and ship you back to Russia,

[arcanto28]

@WarmongerWW3 Exactly, and they took them after fail to take Buenos Aires.

[WarmongerWW3]

@warriorprince1010 "The UK never had colonies in S America"

You still have. Falklands.

[warriorprince1010]

@mixmastermurf Chomsky as you are well aware is anglophobic [hates the English speaking world]. Do you think France, China and Russia got their oil is a fair and open manner? I am happy to support capitalism and democracy, I make my points well.

[mixmastermurf]

@warriorprince1010 No you did not make your points clear and you are still saying very little. Yes wars over resources have always happened, everyone accepts this.

In this video Chomsky is highlighting previous support for dictators or corrupt governments once they are in line with US policy.

Chazez is an exception and a problem for the US and an example of a mood in S. America in that they won't be manipulated anymore.

He does not say Chavez in great or any other enemy of the US.

[warriorprince1010]

@mixmastermurf We made our points clear, you are obviously a Chomskyite. The battle for natural resources has gone on for years and happens even more in dictatorships. So again hypocrisy from Chomsky.

[mixmastermurf]

@warriorprince1010 he's referring here to the dispute of the Guayana Esequiba territories between Britain and Venezuela.

What is your point exactly about oil etc.? You appear to be attacking Chomsky's views without referencing anything he brings up in this video.

[44warjunkie]

@warriorprince1010 That is true. We are thought in the West that for every action there is a reaction in the sense that if they hate us, it must mean that we have done something to cause that hate. It’s not in our system to comprehend people with ideological grievances, that is our first mistake.