--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In fact if you look at Reagan's global…" description: "\"In fact if you look at Reagan's global war on terrorism it very quickly turned into a massive terrorist war: [by us] Central America, South Africa, the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/noam-chomsky-42_america_in-fact-if-you-look-at-reagan-s-global-w_3214393.jpg" --- # In fact if you look at Reagan's global war on terrorism it… ![“In fact if you look at Reagan's global war on terrorism it very quickly turned into a massive terrorist war: [by us] Central America, South Africa, the Middle East, all U.S.-backed terrorism. That's one of the reasons why it disappeared from history and why the standard line is that Bush 43…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/noam-chomsky-42_america_in-fact-if-you-look-at-reagan-s-global-w_3214393.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/noam-chomsky-42_america_in-fact-if-you-look-at-reagan-s-global-w_3214393.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59c/noam-chomsky-42_america_in-fact-if-you-look-at-reagan-s-global-w_3214393.jpg) > “In fact if you look at Reagan's global war on terrorism it very quickly turned into a massive terrorist war: \[by us\] Central America, South Africa, the Middle East, all U.S.-backed terrorism. That's one of the reasons why it disappeared from history and why the standard line is that Bush 43 declared the war on terror. Actually he just repeated what Reagan had said 20 years earlier.” [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. U.S. foreign policy often repeats past interventions, turning anti‑terrorism into broader conflicts. **In simple terms:** History repeats in foreign policy, expanding wars. Key Takeaway Question past patterns before supporting actions. Themes politics history military ethics Mood critical reflective Type analytical political When to use this quote - policy analysis - activism - education - journalism Key Concepts imperialism policy continuity Questions to Reflect On - What lessons from Reagan’s era apply today? - How can citizens hold leaders accountable? A Different Perspective Complex geopolitics can oversimplify moral judgments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Backed Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backed-terrorism-6018044/) [Central america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/central-america/) [East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/east/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Massive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/massive/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle east](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-east/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-why/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south/) [South africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-africa/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror/) [Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism/) [Terrorism Quickly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism-quickly-6018046/) [Terrorism Reasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorism-reasons-6018045/) [Terrorist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorist/) [Terrorist War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorist-war-530408/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War on terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-on-terror/) [War on terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-on-terrorism/) [War Terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-terrorism/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [If I were an innocent individual, flown to a foreign country and held for several years and tortured, I'd become a terrorist, too. I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/if-i-were-an-innocent-individual-flown-to-a-foreign-country-and-held/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [A few months ago, and again this week, bin Laden publicly vowed to publicly wage a terrorist war against America, saying, and I quote,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/a-few-months-ago-and-again-this-week-bin-laden-publicly-vowed-to/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Two thousand people a day were being murdered in Vietnam in a terrorist war, an official terrorist war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/two-thousand-people-a-day-were-being-murdered-in-vietnam-in-a/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [The most dramatic case is that of the Central Americans. Why are people fleeing Central America? It's because of the atrocities the U.S. committed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-most-dramatic-case-is-that-of-the-central-americans-why-are/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I think religion has often played a very positive role. Take western civilization, the Catholic Church has played an honorable role in helping those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-think-religion-has-often-played-a-very-positive-role-take-western/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Pick the topic you like: the Middle East, international terrorism, Central America, whatever it is - the picture of the world that's presented to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/pick-the-topic-you-like-the-middle-east-international-terrorism/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Take, say, the solidarity movement in Central America, which I think is what you probably had in mind. To a large extent, it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/take-say-the-solidarity-movement-in-central-america-which-i-think-is/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [No one is concerned with Central America anymore. If a million people are facing starvation in northern Nicaragua and Honduras, it's none of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/no-one-is-concerned-with-central-america-anymore-if-a-million-people/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The Andes region is not stable. So we can expect to see more US intervention. It could be under any kind of pretext. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-andes-region-is-not-stable-so-we-can-expect-to-see-more-us/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The doctrine that everything is fine as long as the population is quiet, that applies in the Middle East, applies in Central America, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-doctrine-that-everything-is-fine-as-long-as-the-population-is/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Nicaragua was destabilizing Central America, meaning moving in a direction the US didn't like. So Nicaragua was crushed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/nicaragua-was-destabilizing-central-america-meaning-moving-in-a/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [And if you look at all this academic work in the conferences and so on there's a constant theme that terrorism is extremely hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/and-if-you-look-at-all-this-academic-work-in-the-conferences-and-so/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [When Marxist dictators shoot their way into power in Central America, the Democrats don't blame the guerrillas and their Soviet allies, they blame United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/when-marxist-dictators-shoot-their-way-into-power-in-central-america/) [Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/) > [Mexico is sex and Canada is mind. There is much about Canada that I find admirable - the treatment of immigrants, for example, particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/mexico-is-sex-and-canada-is-mind-there-is-much-about-canada-that-i/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [It appears fashionable these days, and almost politically correct, to blame hard-working immigrants, especially those from Mexico and Central America, for the social and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mahony/it-appears-fashionable-these-days-and-almost-politically-correct-to/) [Roger Mahony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mahony/) ## 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 America quotes > [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/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? 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Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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