There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.
Noam ChomskyRead
When Rumsfeld gets up on television and says we have definitive intelligence that al Qaeda is working with Iraq, how is an ordinary citizen supposed to react? They won't tell you the evidence, and when anyone asks, they say, 'Well, you know: It's secret.'
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the challenge of trusting government claims without transparency.
Noam Chomsky's quote reflects on the difficulties faced by ordinary citizens when presented with government assertions, particularly regarding serious accusations like those involving national security. It underscores the frustration that arises when evidence is withheld under the pretext of secrecy, leaving the public to navigate complex narratives without the necessary information to critically assess the truth behind such claims.
Themes
GovernmentTransparencyTrustIntelligenceCitizenSecrecy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about government accountability at a town hall meeting.
More from Noam Chomsky
All quotes →The 'free-floating intellectual' may occupy himself with problems because of their inherent interest and importance, perhaps to little effect.
Noam ChomskyRead
If you're teaching today what you were teaching five years ago, either the field is dead or you are.
Noam ChomskyRead
There are very few people who are going to look into the mirror and say, 'That person I see is a savage monster;' instead, they make up some construction that justifies what they do.
Noam ChomskyRead
The Republican Party has become overwhelmingly so extreme that it's hardly a traditional political party anymore.
Noam ChomskyRead
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.
Noam ChomskyRead
Similar quotes
It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it.
Barack ObamaRead
Democracy is an imperfect way of steering between the violence of anarchy and the violence of tyranny, with the least violence you can get away with.
Steven PinkerRead
A politician normally prospers under democracy in proportion ... as he excels in the invention of imaginary perils and imaginary defenses against them.
H. L. MenckenRead
I still passionately support comprehensive immigration reform legislation with a path to full and equal citizenship.
Hillary ClintonRead
And I'm not apolitical - I'm very specific in my politics. But a lot of the time it's nobody's business unless you're over at my house having dinner.
Tom HanksRead
He (Saddam Hussein) has not developed any significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction. He is unable to project conventional power against his neighbours.
Colin PowellRead