9-11: Was There an Alternative? (Open Media Book)

This book is a puzzle, and it is hard to understand how Chomsky came to write it. After 9/11, within hours, a global group of critics and commentators began to question the official account. I recall reviewing a book here at Amazon on Sept 12, scratching my head: the Bin Laden gambit is phony. But the views of people like Chomsky on the left confused me for years, although my first instincts turned out to be right. It was clear from the start that something didn't add up. Chomsky's perspective, present in this book, is almost tailor-made to have opened the challenge to the crafted propaganda in effect from the start in the government and media. He is on the verge of seeing the real issue, but then turns around and demurs. Possibly it was too soon after the event to see what had happened. His book is all ready to go as an expose of the 9/11 conspiracy, and then a blank fire. Thus, he presents the correct background to the issue, such as the complicity of the US government in the creation of 'terrorists' and Bin Laden himself, but drifts off into a completely puzzling acceptance of the cover up. This pattern, we should note, has been present all along in Chomsky's refusal to consider the JFK assassination question, a tricky issue to be sure. To be fair, it took time for the skeptics to get their act together, and it was to be several years until figures like David Ray Griffin began to coordinate the evidence of covert conspiracy. Thierry Meyssan's The Big Lie came a year after 9/11, but didn't properly register with Americans. In fact, it was very hard to put the facts together, and it wasn't, perhaps, until the conclusive evidence that the Twin Towers couldn't have collapsed under the collision with jet planes that many were forced to go 'cold turkey' off the official story. The issue is important still if activists on the left defer to what seems now a false view. It sends a message that the perpetrators can get away with a real whopper. This book has frozen a whole generation of leftists into silence, or second string propaganda supporting a Budh, on 9/11. Whatever the case, after so many years, it is time for leftists to check out the real research here. The covert distortions of American democracy require seeing the reality of what happened on that eleventh day of September.

Over the years the good linguist has produced a tome of books with each becoming more and more predictably ostensible exercises of commercial counterculture. I believe Professor Chomsky was at his peak and very sincere when opposing the Vietnam war but has fallen into his own caricature of "America is always evil and I will find a way to describe it as such" that is presented by his neoconservative critics. He sticks to meticulous research and document dropping but divulges many almost conspiratorial explanations that border on the deus ex machina jeers from critics such as Dershowitz originating from "Planet Chomsky." Undoubtedly American foreign policy has played a role in the actions of jihadist but like Ron Paul (who Chomsky ultimately decimates in this book, contrary to the tepid broken clock being right twice a day sentiment he's demonstrated towards paleolibertarian nonintervention in some interviews respecting the misdirected outrage working class nationalists demonstrate towards an increasingly untrustworthy political system) leaves the perpetrators free from the scrutiny he administers to Washington. He evenhandedly criticizes the Obama administration for continuing many of the remnants of his predecessor, but its plausible Chomsky does this in order to generate more publicity for being an equal opportunity hater.Its a good read and I'd suggest it if you feel the need to complete your collection of his mammoth bibliography. I just would not advise reccommending this as the book to introduce a curious newcomer to Noam Chomsky and his libertarian socialist critiques of globalized neoliberalism and the military-industrial complex. That would be better served by his book on Anarchism or "Making the Future."

Still very timely. I wish I had read it after 9/11 - it would have better informed my opinions. Chomsky raises uncomfortable and disturbing questions as they relate to all countries, including our own: When is someone a tyrant and when are they a freedom fighter? When is a nation a terrorist state and when is it promoting freedom and democracy? The answer is not so clear. The new intro written after the capture of bin Laden was very informative. Sometimes the interview format of the rest of the book prevented a fuller clarification of important history and issues; however, the questions raised served as good motivation for me to read and learn more. The message of the book is thought-provoking and controversial: the way to achieve lasting peace is through the law and judicial systems of the world, not the military systems.

This book is of interview given by Chomsky after 9/11 about various aspects. He had a great opportunity after 9/11 to make an impact on the discourse and he did. Since Chomsky is a very fast researcher and writer, he was really able to get an alternative narrative out as soon as possible. He discusses the discourse of 9/11 and its impact on the world and the US. It is a short worthwhile book to pick up. If you like Chomsky, pick it up, rather straight forward.

Good information concerning a view that is difficult to find in the main media. I presently write for some in the media and would like to read more from Chomsky and others like him through their communication.Not likely to happen!!

I am a Chomskian. I love him and all his work - whether on theoretical linguistics or on politics. I now have twenty different books of his and I still can't have enough of them. Long live Noam Chomsky. I wish him a very long and healthy life. May God bless you.

Could not be better. The author express an objective reflection on the September 11 events. I goes deeper explaining the foolishness and obsession of the american administration for war without thinking of back effects of its policy.

If you like Chomsky, this one doesn't disappoint. Always wanted to know the scenario of 911 going on behind the Whits House doors. Great information, great insight.

A short, yet impactful account of Chomsky's opinions of the events and politics leading up to and following the 9/11 attacks.I found Chomsky's evaluation of the evidence (or lack thereof) personally linking bin Laden to the 9/11 plot particularly interesting. His point that the U.S. may have preferred to execute Osama rather than putting him on trial, due to a lack of compelling evidence that directly linked him to the 2001 attacks novel. Although, it's worth noting that Chomsky does stress that al-Qaeda was almost undoubtedly behind the atrocities. In this sense, Chomsky's analysis is a mix of his usual approach of all-around fact-based analysis, mixed with examples of American shortcomings/crimes and double-standards which inform Chomsky's theses and paint a much more rounded view of the non-binary reality of history/current-affairs.As a negative, the majority of the book is printed in an interview style, question and answer type format. Meaning one, Chomsky tends to give short answers and two despite the editors best efforts the content of his answers is somewhat repetitive.That said, this is an excellent brief overview of the key history surrounding 9/11 from an intellectual who aims for objectivity rather than mainstream popularity.

does what bought for

Thought provoking.

i should be so lucky with all my purchases ,arrived on time , condition good , as advertised, no problems, will buy from again

Chomsky, (take him or leave him,) presents reasoning and rationale that can't be ignored.