Baghdad Quote by Noam Chomsky
“The U.S. is not constructing a palatial embassy, by far the largest in the world and virtually a separate city within Baghdad, and pouring money into military bases, with the intention of leaving Iraq to Iraqis.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview, 2004
He argues that massive U.S. investments in Iraq prioritize control over genuine nation‑building.
In simple terms: U.S. spending focuses on power, not rebuilding.
Key Takeaway
Question motives behind aid.
Themes
foreign policy
military
economics
Mood
skeptical
inquisitive
Type
political
critical
When to use this quote
- diplomacy
- development aid
- military presence
Key Concepts
imperialism
resource allocation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does foreign aid affect sovereignty?
- What alternatives exist for rebuilding?
A Different Perspective
May ignore local agency.
![“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)
