VIDEO: Noam Chomsky: U.S. Is Greatest Threat to World Peace

In a speech titled “On Power and Ideology” delivered at The New School for Social Research in Manhattan on Saturday, world-renowned political dissident Noam Chomsky discussed the persistent notion of U.S. exceptionalism, Republican efforts to torpedo the Iran nuclear deal, and the normalization of U.S.-Cuba relations.

In clips broadcast by “Democracy Now!”, Chomsky explained why he believes the U.S. poses the greatest threat to world peace.

“[The United States] is a rogue state, indifferent to international law and conventions, entitled to resort to violence at will. … Take, for example, the Clinton Doctrine—namely, the United States is free to resort to unilateral use of military power, even for such purposes as to ensure uninhibited access to key markets, energy supplies and strategic resources—let alone security or alleged humanitarian concerns. And adherence to this doctrine is very well confirmed and practiced, as need hardly be discussed among people willing to look at the facts of current history.”

Chomsky also explained why he believes the U.S. and its closest allies, namely Saudi Arabia and Israel, are undermining the possibility for peace in the Middle East.

“When we say the international community opposes Iran’s policies or the international community does some other thing, that means the United States and anybody else who happens to be going along with it.”

Chomsky also discussed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

”Today’s Democrats are what used to be called moderate Republicans. The Republicans have just drifted off the spectrum. They’re so committed to extreme wealth and power that they cannot get votes … So what has happened is that they’ve mobilized sectors of the population that have been around for a long time. … Trump may be comic relief, but it’s not that different from the mainstream, which I think is more important [to understand.]”

— Adapted from “Democracy Now!” by Alexander Reed Kelly.