--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On nuclear war, actions in Syria and at…" description: "\"On nuclear war, actions in Syria and at the Russian border raise very serious threats of confrontation that might trigger war, an unthinkable prospect...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b16/noam-chomsky-42_action_on-nuclear-war-actions-in-syria-and-at-t_2067569.jpg" --- # On nuclear war, actions in Syria and at the Russian border… ![“On nuclear war, actions in Syria and at the Russian border raise very serious threats of confrontation that might trigger war, an unthinkable prospect. Furthermore, Trump's pursuit of Obama's programs of modernization of the nuclear forces poses extraordinary dangers. As we have recently learned…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b16/noam-chomsky-42_action_on-nuclear-war-actions-in-syria-and-at-t_2067569.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b16/noam-chomsky-42_action_on-nuclear-war-actions-in-syria-and-at-t_2067569.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b16/noam-chomsky-42_action_on-nuclear-war-actions-in-syria-and-at-t_2067569.jpg) > “On nuclear war, actions in Syria and at the Russian border raise very serious threats of confrontation that might trigger war, an unthinkable prospect. Furthermore, Trump's pursuit of Obama's programs of modernization of the nuclear forces poses extraordinary dangers. As we have recently learned, the modernized U.S. nuclear force is seriously fraying the slender thread on which survival is suspended.” [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. Current geopolitical tensions and nuclear modernization increase the risk of accidental war, threatening global survival. **In simple terms:** Nuclear upgrades raise war risk. Key Takeaway Advocate for de-escalation and arms control. Themes security war policy nuclear weapons Mood urgent serious Type political analytical When to use this quote - government policy - international relations - defense planning - public advocacy Key Concepts deterrence escalation global stability Questions to Reflect On - What steps can reduce nuclear tensions? - How can citizens influence nuclear policy? A Different Perspective Modernization may be justified as deterrence by some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Confrontation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confrontation/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Nuclear war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-war/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Threats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threats/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [On the other hand, you have to balance that against expanding our nuclear forces, add to our so-called depleted military, which is already more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/on-the-other-hand-you-have-to-balance-that-against-expanding-our/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ \[Donald Trump\] supports the modernization of the U.S. nuclear arsenal, while complaining about budget expenditures. He presumably intends to go forward with the $1… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/donald-trump-supports-the-modernization-of-the-u-s-nuclear-arsenal/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [ American strategic \[nuclear\] forces do not exist solely for the purpose of deterring a Soviet nuclear threat or attack against the U.S. itself. Instead,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-s-gray/american-strategic-nuclear-forces-do-not-exist-solely-for-the-purpose/) Colin S. Gray > [The budget for nuclear forces in the United States is on the order of $25 billion or so. That includes warheads, delivery systems, command…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/the-budget-for-nuclear-forces-in-the-united-states-is-on-the-order-of/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [We must contemplate some extremely unpleasant possibilities, just because we want to avoid them and achieve something better. 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Knowingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-two-problems-for-our-species-survival-nuclear-war-and/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There have been repeated cases when nuclear war came ominously close, often a result of malfunctioning of early-warning systems and other accidents, sometimes \[as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-have-been-repeated-cases-when-nuclear-war-came-ominously-close/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It's a near miracle that nuclear war has so far been avoided.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-near-miracle-that-nuclear-war-has-so-far-been-avoided/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The most important issues to address are the truly existential threats we face: climate change and nuclear war. On the former, the Republican leadership,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-most-important-issues-to-address-are-the-truly-existential/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are people on the left who say, Look, we can't let these atrocities go on, so let's enter the war and get rid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-people-on-the-left-who-say-look-we-can-t-let-these/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## 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. 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