There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.
Noam ChomskyRead
U.S. Government propaganda tries to give the impression that aerial bombardment achieves near-surgical accuracy, so that military targets can be destroyed with minimal effect on civilians. Technical documents give a different picture.
Interpretation
The quote critiques the misleading portrayal of military precision in government propaganda.
Noam Chomsky highlights the disparity between the government's claims about the accuracy of aerial bombardment and the reality described in technical documents. He suggests that while the government presents an idealized image of military operations, the actual consequences for civilians are significantly more tragic, revealing a disconnection between official narratives and on-the-ground realities.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion about media representation of war.
There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.
The 'free-floating intellectual' may occupy himself with problems because of their inherent interest and importance, perhaps to little effect.
If you're teaching today what you were teaching five years ago, either the field is dead or you are.
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.
The Republican Party has become overwhelmingly so extreme that it's hardly a traditional political party anymore.
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.
When all the objectives of government include the achievement of equality - other than equality before the law - that government poses a threat to liberty.
The first years in Parliament I did nothing - nothing to any purpose. My own distinction was my darling object.
One of the necessary accompaniments of capitalism in a democracy is political corruption.
So efficient are the available instruments of slavery; fingerprints, lie detectors, brain washings, gas chambers; that we shiver at the thought of political change which might put these instruments in the hands of men of hate.
The conservative movement, to which I subscribe, has as one of its basic tenets the belief that government should stay out of people’s private lives. Government governs best when it governs least – and stays out of the impossible task of legislating morality. But legislating someone’s version of morality is exactly what we do by perpetuating discrimination against gays.
I was no party man myself, and the first wish of my heart was, if parties did exist, to reconcile them.
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