The New Military Humanism: Lessons from Kosovo

by Noam Chomsky

Book Overview

Analyzing the Nato bombing campaign over Kosovo, Noam Chomsky poses questions about the New Humanism: Is it guided by power interests or by humanitarian concern? Is the resort to force undertaken in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1567511767
• ISBN13: 9781567511765
• Release Date: July 2002
• Publisher: Common Courage Press
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

The picture of Balkan affairs-as they REALY are.

Much has been said about that missunderstood part of the world-Balkan,and since late 19/early 20 century,Balkan has been synonimous with something ugly,crude,barbaric and desperately backward.Such fixed stereotypes had left such an "exotic" impression on everybody involved in policy making in this area that this lead to nothing else,but history of troubles,divisions and hatred-although Balkaners themselves had very highly developed sence for coexistence.With such "predispositions",horrible thing happened that claimed thousends of lives-so it is no wonder that nothing will improve without corect diagnosis of real causes,those who operate behind the scene.Initiative is not to be found amoung Balkaners themselves,since they were at best instruments of foreign strategies.Yes,Balkan is "powder-cage",but sparks are from outside.This is brought to light in this wonderfull and unbiased,objective and truthfull work by dr.Chomsky,that incorporates minimum, but crucial aspects of developments that had such tragedy as results.This is done with distinction that is caracteristic of Chomsky,but most important is approach that is instrumental,rather than narative,for only than word becomes deed- a good one!Hence such interest in social issues by linguist-because language is primary tool of action.Therefore,social issues cannot be viewed separately from mutual interdependence with linguistic.I can hardly imagine anybody left unimpressed by authors elaboration of western interest in keeping western Balkan under their umbrella,how do they invented "KLA"-collection of criminal elements from western narco-mafia circles,and fiasco of N.A.T.O. propaganda that derogated(and still derogates) their domestic public,while Balkan has been thoroughly devastated and fragmentated into dosens of states-protectorates,whose existence is at mercy of western financial circles.This book is triumph of common sence reasoning,over hatred and propaganda,and is a monumental contribution towards perception of things as they are-first step to reconciliation in the Balkan,but also reminder to ancient Balkan proverb:"HEROISM IS THE POWER TO DEFEND YOURSELF FROM OTHERS,HUMANITY IS VIRTUE TO DEFEND OTHERS FROM YOURSELF"

A Bold Summarisation of New World Order's Absurdness

The NATO's intervention in FR of Yugoslavia was event that represented paradigm for entire opus of Noam Chomsky.Never before all elements of unjust and unmoral war were present in such exergated degree. Victim was proclaimed Guilty.Terrorist were given aura of 'fighters for liberty'.Rules of warfare were broken.Even some s.c.'humanitarian' and 'monitoring' organisations were expositures to NATO,and this is extremely disturbing.Illusion industry produced impression that were intendend to serve as exuse for agression.One could imagine that paralel with development of warfare technology and methods,there is straightproportional development in propaganda methods.NATO's reign of terror in the Balkans was indeed one episode of history that showed bestiality of entire 'pragmatic approach' called 'benevolent interventionism' and those who think that perhaps policy-makers of NATO pact learned something from their own propaganda mistakes,are witnesses that these days history repeats itself with even lesser atempts to hide real motives.This book is obligatory for all those who wish to immunise themselves from repertoire of NWO's brainwashing methods,that stream from few secluded power circles who are in desperate need of apolitical public,both home and abroad. Nothing lesser than lucid and thorough, apocaliptical essay is within content of this book.A truly remarkable,brave and unique oposition to absurdity exemplified trough situation that was extremely representative of NATO's first steps into pattern of behavior that does not deserves lesser epithet other than Global Terrorism.

An excellent analysis of the Kosovo situation

I read this book after a friend who is originally from Montenagro recommended it. I was amazed at this book. Chomsky can be a bit one sided at times, but his analysis of what the US and England were really trying to accomplish in this war are strikingly accurate. This book is probably the best I've ever read on this subject. If you are wanting to more fully understand the situation in Kosovo and are not afraid to be challenged, then you should read this book.

Excellent

Unarguable facts are detailed in this work which "wouldn't do to mention" in polite company. The bombing in the FRY "was not undertaken in 'response' to ethnic cleansing and to 'reverse' it, as alleged by leaders." Most importantly, the question of whether the New Humanism is "guided by power interst, or by humanitarian concern" is answered. Those who believe in the doctrine of "intentional ignorance" as the reviewer before me will dismiss the information presented in this book like any commissar. If you want to understand what happened in Kosovo as well as the current ethnic cleansing within and supported by NATO (Turkey), read this book. As all of Chomsky's book, very well written and incredibly informative.

Well-researched, essential info not widely discussed

I'll begin by disclosing a personal interest: Prof. Chomsky and I have the same publisher, and I had the honor of voicing the book-on-tape version of this book. But facts are facts, verifiable whatever the source, and the information presented here is well-researched, largely unpublicized, and deeply disturbing.The mass media's consistent parroting of NATO's shifting versions of the causes and purposes of the war, and their Orwellian convenient forgetting of their own earlier reports as need be, are chronicled in detail. The Balkan war is placed in the context of ongoing US, UK, and NATO policies in other parts of the world (Turkey, for example) to devastating effect. And the final chapters, detailing the reasons for the ongoing expansion of military force and flouting of international law -- and how current NATO policies are actually making the world a more dangerous place -- left me chilled while doing the reading.This is terrific, important work. I was honored to be associated with it, and I recommend it in the strongest terms.