There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.
Noam ChomskyRead
The prescription for endless war poses a far greater danger to Americans than perceived enemies do, for reasons the terrorist organisations understand very well.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Chomsky warns that the ongoing state of war poses a more significant threat to Americans than the enemies themselves.
In this quote, Noam Chomsky suggests that the continuous state of conflict, driven by perceptions of external threats, can lead to greater harm and instability within society. He argues that such perpetual warfare serves to distract and manipulate the public while undermining democratic values and creating a cycle of violence that ultimately endangers citizens more than the supposed terrorist threat itself.
Themes
WarDangerPerceptionTerrorismSociety
In practice
Example use cases
In a political debate regarding military spending.
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There is still much debate about whether torture has been effective in eliciting information - the assumption being, apparently, that if it is effective, then it may be justified.
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