Attacking Quote by Noam Chomsky
“Every predecessor has used mercenaries, often drawn from the country that they're attacking like England ran India with Indian mercenaries. You take them from one place and send them to kill people in the other place. That's the standard way to run imperial wars.”
About This Quote
Imperial wars often rely on hiring soldiers from the target region, turning locals against each other.
In simple terms: Empires use local mercenaries against their own people.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the ethical costs of such tactics.
Themes
war
imperialism
ethics
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- military strategy
- foreign policy
- human rights advocacy
Key Concepts
political science
colonial studies
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do powers prefer local forces over their own troops?
- What are the long‑term impacts on societies that employ this method?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on mercenaries can undermine long‑term stability.
![“I wrote an article about the marine landing [in Haiti] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two months later and I assumed by then, "of course, everybody knows." Nobody knew. There was a news report in the Wall Street Journal, in the petroleum journals, and…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc5/noam-chomsky-42_articles_i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-land_13341.jpg)
