--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If in fact, the US story is correct, if…" description: "\"If in fact, the US story is correct, if it is true that Syria used chemical weapons, then it wouldn't be a major crime to send a kind of shot across th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/noam-chomsky-42_bandwagon_if-in-fact-the-us-story-is-correct-if-it_1401878.jpg" --- # If in fact, the US story is correct, if it is true that… ![“If in fact, the US story is correct, if it is true that Syria used chemical weapons, then it wouldn't be a major crime to send a kind of shot across the bow saying you can't do this anymore. Not the best thing in the world, but not a major crime, either. So, I think at the very least there should…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/noam-chomsky-42_bandwagon_if-in-fact-the-us-story-is-correct-if-it_1401878.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/noam-chomsky-42_bandwagon_if-in-fact-the-us-story-is-correct-if-it_1401878.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cf/noam-chomsky-42_bandwagon_if-in-fact-the-us-story-is-correct-if-it_1401878.jpg) > “If in fact, the US story is correct, if it is true that Syria used chemical weapons, then it wouldn't be a major crime to send a kind of shot across the bow saying you can't do this anymore. Not the best thing in the world, but not a major crime, either. So, I think at the very least there should have been an inquiry into what happened. But just joining the bandwagon about how we're finally standing up to crimes in Syria, that's ridiculous.” [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that accusing Syria of chemical attacks isn’t a major crime, but calls for investigation. **In simple terms:** Calls for inquiry, not just condemnation. Key Takeaway Demand thorough investigation before judgment. Themes war ethics politics Mood cautious analytical skeptical Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy making - human rights advocacy - journalism - diplomacy Key Concepts international law moral responsibility media narrative Questions to Reflect On - What evidence is needed for moral condemnation? - How should the international community respond to alleged crimes? A Different Perspective Accusations without evidence can undermine credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bandwagon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bandwagon/) [Best things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-things/) [Chemical weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemical-weapons/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Inquiry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inquiry/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Credible reports came through that Syria had used chemical weapons. Whether it's true actually is still open to question, but it's very probably true.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/credible-reports-came-through-that-syria-had-used-chemical-weapons/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [This would be a very good moment to institute a call for imposing the Chemical Weapons Convention on the Middle East. The actual Chemical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-would-be-a-very-good-moment-to-institute-a-call-for-imposing-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Israel produces and stores chemical weapons. So therefore the US will prevent the Chemical Weapons Convention from being imposed on the Middle East. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/israel-produces-and-stores-chemical-weapons-so-therefore-the-us-will/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ Luckily for \[Barack\] Obama, the Russians came along and rescued him with this proposal \[to confiscate Assad's chemical weapons\] which he quickly accepted -… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/luckily-for-barack-obama-the-russians-came-along-and-rescued-him-with/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ What happened in Syria was, President \[Barack\] Obama had made a statement announcing what he called his "red line": You can't use chemical weapons,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/what-happened-in-syria-was-president-barack-obama-had-made-a/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I've seen a lot of people jump on and off my bandwagon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-favre/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-jump-on-and-off-my-bandwagon/) [Brett Favre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-favre/) > [If you see a bandwagon, it's too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/if-you-see-a-bandwagon-it-s-too-late/) [James Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/) > [I'm a sheep when it comes to opinions; I will change my mind and jump on the bandwagon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/i-m-a-sheep-when-it-comes-to-opinions-i-will-change-my-mind-and-jump/) [Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/) > [I'm not jumping on the Andy Johnson for England bandwagon - I'm driving it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-dowie/i-m-not-jumping-on-the-andy-johnson-for-england-bandwagon-i-m-driving/) [Iain Dowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-dowie/) > [It's not like I want to hop on a bandwagon, because I said it 15 years ago - bringing a child into your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/it-s-not-like-i-want-to-hop-on-a-bandwagon-because-i-said-it-15-years/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [If you're constantly just trying to go in this win-loss cycle that MLB is pushing, you are creating bandwagon fans, and that's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-scherzer/if-you-re-constantly-just-trying-to-go-in-this-win-loss-cycle-that/) [Max Scherzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-scherzer/) > [I'd never jump on a bandwagon; sometimes people do that and it's not what I wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-macdonald/i-d-never-jump-on-a-bandwagon-sometimes-people-do-that-and-it-s-not/) [Amy Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-macdonald/) > [I've heard all the things — their marriage is not real, he's gay, she's gay, they swing. But at the end of the day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jada-pinkett-smith/i-ve-heard-all-the-things-their-marriage-is-not-real-he-s-gay-she-s/) [Jada Pinkett Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jada-pinkett-smith/) > [Bandwagon, that's that shit I don't like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bandwagon-that-s-that-shit-i-don-t-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Shouldnt we be the light brigades rather than the bandwagon?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-mizeur/shouldnt-we-be-the-light-brigades-rather-than-the-bandwagon/) Heather Mizeur ## More by Noam Chomsky > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [This is class war on an international scale, and power is in the hands of those who control the international economic system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-class-war-on-an-international-scale-and-power-is-in-the-hands/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The 50,000 Korean mercenaries we had in Vietnam were professional killers and just massacred people outright. And the American army did plenty of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-50-000-korean-mercenaries-we-had-in-vietnam-were-professional/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Explore all 2,129 Noam Chomsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More Bandwagon quotes > [Shouldnt we be the light brigades rather than the bandwagon?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-mizeur/shouldnt-we-be-the-light-brigades-rather-than-the-bandwagon/) Heather Mizeur > [Bandwagon, that's that shit I don't like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bandwagon-that-s-that-shit-i-don-t-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've heard all the things — their marriage is not real, he's gay, she's gay, they swing. But at the end of the day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jada-pinkett-smith/i-ve-heard-all-the-things-their-marriage-is-not-real-he-s-gay-she-s/) [Jada Pinkett Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jada-pinkett-smith/) > [I'd never jump on a bandwagon; sometimes people do that and it's not what I wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-macdonald/i-d-never-jump-on-a-bandwagon-sometimes-people-do-that-and-it-s-not/) [Amy Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-macdonald/) > [If you're constantly just trying to go in this win-loss cycle that MLB is pushing, you are creating bandwagon fans, and that's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-scherzer/if-you-re-constantly-just-trying-to-go-in-this-win-loss-cycle-that/) [Max Scherzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-scherzer/) > [It's not like I want to hop on a bandwagon, because I said it 15 years ago - bringing a child into your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/it-s-not-like-i-want-to-hop-on-a-bandwagon-because-i-said-it-15-years/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [I'm not jumping on the Andy Johnson for England bandwagon - I'm driving it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-dowie/i-m-not-jumping-on-the-andy-johnson-for-england-bandwagon-i-m-driving/) [Iain Dowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-dowie/) > [I'm a sheep when it comes to opinions; I will change my mind and jump on the bandwagon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/i-m-a-sheep-when-it-comes-to-opinions-i-will-change-my-mind-and-jump/) [Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/) > [If you see a bandwagon, it's too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goldsmith/if-you-see-a-bandwagon-it-s-too-late/) [James Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goldsmith/) > [I've seen a lot of people jump on and off my bandwagon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-favre/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-jump-on-and-off-my-bandwagon/) [Brett Favre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-favre/) > [I don't want to be on the bandwagon of dogging any president or anybody in positions where they have all these different constituencies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hart/i-don-t-want-to-be-on-the-bandwagon-of-dogging-any-president-or/) [Carl Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hart/) > [The Berkshire-style investors tend to be less diversified than other people. The academics have done a terrible disservice to intelligent investors by glorifying the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/the-berkshire-style-investors-tend-to-be-less-diversified-than-other/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [As soon as everyone is on the bandwagon with one idea, a leader should be working on the next one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-enrico/as-soon-as-everyone-is-on-the-bandwagon-with-one-idea-a-leader-should/) [Roger Enrico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-enrico/) > [I was waiting for all other actresses to wear a bikini first so I can just follow the bandwagon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanushree-dutta/i-was-waiting-for-all-other-actresses-to-wear-a-bikini-first-so-i-can/) [Tanushree Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanushree-dutta/) > [I described the pyramid we'd found and waited for him to jump on the bandwagon. Unfortunately he's afraid of wagons. And bands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rardin/i-described-the-pyramid-we-d-found-and-waited-for-him-to-jump-on-the/) [Jennifer Rardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rardin/) [Browse all 79 Bandwagon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bandwagon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If in fact, the US story is correct, if it is true that Syria used chemical weapons, then it wouldn't be a major crime to send a kind of shot across the bow saying you can't do this anymore. Not the best thing in the world, but not a major crime, either. So, I think at the very least there should have been an inquiry into what happened. 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