Blunders Quote by Noam Chomsky
“Take like, say, Obama, he's called "liberal" and he's praised for his "principled objection to the Iraq war". What was his "principled objection"? He says it was a "strategic blunder," like Nazi generals after Stalingrad.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 2002, The Nation, Noam Chomsky on US foreign policy
Chomsky argues that Obama’s opposition to the Iraq war was based on strategic miscalculation, not moral principle, likening it to Nazi generals’ errors after Stalingrad.
In simple terms: Obama’s objection was strategic, not moral.
Key Takeaway
Recognize strategic flaws in policy decisions.
Themes
politics
war
strategy
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy debate
- academic discussion
- media commentary
Key Concepts
realism
critical analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- Is a strategic error sufficient to oppose war?
- How do moral and strategic critiques differ?
A Different Perspective
Strategic objections may ignore ethical dimensions.
![“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)
![“Your printers have made but one blunder,Correct it instanter, and then for the thunder!We'll see in a jiffy if this Mr S[pencer]Has the ghost of a claim to be thought a good fencer.To my vision his merits have still seemed to dwindle,Since I have found him allied with the great Dr T[yndall]While I…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f3a/anonymous-1_allies_your-printers-have-made-but-one-blunder_92340.jpg)
