---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are people on the left who say…"
description: "\"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 of Bashar Assad. The problem with t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/noam-chomsky-42_crime_there-are-people-on-the-left-who-say-loo_627447.jpg"
---

#  There are people on the left who say, Look, we can't let…

![“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 of Bashar Assad. The problem with that is you get into a nuclear war with Russia. And Syria gets wiped out along with everything else. So, it's fine to say, OK, let's stop the…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/noam-chomsky-42_crime_there-are-people-on-the-left-who-say-loo_627447.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/noam-chomsky-42_crime_there-are-people-on-the-left-who-say-loo_627447.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/noam-chomsky-42_crime_there-are-people-on-the-left-who-say-loo_627447.jpg)

> “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 of Bashar Assad. The problem with that is you get into a nuclear war with Russia. And Syria gets wiped out along with everything else. So, it's fine to say, OK, let's stop the crimes, but how exactly?”

[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.

Advocates for non‑military solutions to stop atrocities, warning that war could trigger nuclear escalation and massive loss of life.

**In simple terms:** War can cause more harm than good; seek other ways to stop violence.

Key Takeaway

Avoid war, pursue diplomatic and humanitarian strategies.

Themes

ethics politics war humanitarian nuclear risk

Mood

concerned analytical

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- policy debates
- humanitarian crises
- international negotiations
- civil activism

Key Concepts

realpolitik moral philosophy conflict resolution

Questions to Reflect On

- What non‑violent actions could effectively pressure Assad?
- How can the international community prevent nuclear escalation?

A Different Perspective

Military action may not stop the underlying oppression and can create new crises.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Assad Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assad-problem-5063928/) [Atrocities Let](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atrocities-let-5063930/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Let Atrocities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-atrocities-5063929/) [Nuclear war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-war/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Russia Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia-syria-3929894/) [Stop Crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-crimes-1587856/) [Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [Why give Russia or Syria any reason to doubt that Obama would use force?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-frankel/why-give-russia-or-syria-any-reason-to-doubt-that-obama-would-use/)

[Lois Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-frankel/)

> [ If Russia is there \[in Syria\] alone fighting them \[ISIL\], guess what? Russia becomes the target and Russia starts seeing - who knows -… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/if-russia-is-there-in-syria-alone-fighting-them-isil-guess-what/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [Russia has a long-term interest in Syria. Israel by and large does not have an issue with those long-term interests that Russia has in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-dermer/russia-has-a-long-term-interest-in-syria-israel-by-and-large-does-not/)

[Ron Dermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-dermer/)

> [Men who want to support women in our struggle for freedom and justice should understand that it is not terrifically important to us that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/men-who-want-to-support-women-in-our-struggle-for-freedom-and-justice/)

[Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/)

> [Gun control is not the answer to stop crimes committed with firearms,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/gun-control-is-not-the-answer-to-stop-crimes-committed-with-firearms/)

[Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/)

> [ It \[the Brady Bill\] is not a panacea. It's not going to stop crimes of passion or drug-related crime. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brady/it-the-brady-bill-is-not-a-panacea-it-s-not-going-to-stop-crimes-of/)

[Sarah Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brady/)

> [I will do everything possible to stop crimes against children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-donovan/i-will-do-everything-possible-to-stop-crimes-against-children/)

[Dan Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-donovan/)

> [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/)

> [“If you read British Foreign Office records from the 1940s, it’s clear they recognised that their day in the sun was over and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-read-british-foreign-office-records-from-the-1940s-it-s-clear/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [ Some of \[Donald Trump\] comments can be interpreted as potentially reducing the threat of nuclear war. The major threat right now is right on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/some-of-donald-trump-comments-can-be-interpreted-as-potentially/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Remember that in any major nuclear war, the first strike destroys the country that attacks; it's been known for years. The first strike of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/remember-that-in-any-major-nuclear-war-the-first-strike-destroys-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [There are two problems for our species' survival - nuclear war and environmental catastrophe - and we're hurtling towards them. 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/)

> [On nuclear war, actions in Syria and at the Russian border raise very serious threats of confrontation that might trigger war, an unthinkable prospect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/on-nuclear-war-actions-in-syria-and-at-the-russian-border-raise-very/)

[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/)

## 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 Crime quotes

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [“Crime and punishment can be summed up in two classifications: there are bad people and there are people who get into bad situations. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/crime-and-punishment-can-be-summed-up-in-two-classifications-there/)

[Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [“The jailers, the Court, everyone in that building – it wasn’t about justice; it was about obedience and intimidation…about maintaining order. Fear accomplished that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-jailers-the-court-everyone-in-that-building-it-wasn-t-about/)

[Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/)

> [Taking notes while watching Forensic Files and Snapped. I don't want to make the same mistakes the criminals do! ;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/taking-notes-while-watching-forensic-files-and-snapped-i-don-t-want/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/)

[Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/)

> [Nations sometimes flourish by denying the crimes that brought them into being. Only when the original invasion, occupation, extermination or usurpation has been safely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/nations-sometimes-flourish-by-denying-the-crimes-that-brought-them/)

[Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/)

> [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/)

[Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/)

> [“a crime to fell a tree and light it on fire, where coals of hardened shit warmed and stunk up homes,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/a-crime-to-fell-a-tree-and-light-it-on-fire-where-coals-of-hardened/)

[Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/)

> [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/)

[Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/)

> [History is the study of the world's crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/history-is-the-study-of-the-world-s-crime/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [Too much virtue can be criminal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/too-much-virtue-can-be-criminal/)

[Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/)

> [The federal prison population increased by almost 800 percent between 1980 and 2013, often at a far faster rate than the Bureau of Prisons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-yates/the-federal-prison-population-increased-by-almost-800-percent-between/)

[Sally Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-yates/)

> [ \[P\]rogress, however, has not sufficiently infiltrated the Interior Ministry, affording protection to those who participated in the Bytyqi murders and other egregious Milosevic-era crimes. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avis-bohlen/p-rogress-however-has-not-sufficiently-infiltrated-the-interior/)

[Avis Bohlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avis-bohlen/)

[Browse all 8,359 Crime quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "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 of Bashar Assad. The problem with that is you get into a nuclear war with Russia. And Syria gets wiped out along with everything else. So, it's fine to say, OK, let's stop the crimes, but how exactly?",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Noam Chomsky"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-people-on-the-left-who-say-look-we-can-t-let-these/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Crime"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-people-on-the-left-who-say-look-we-can-t-let-these/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/noam-chomsky-42_crime_there-are-people-on-the-left-who-say-loo_627447.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/noam-chomsky-42_crime_there-are-people-on-the-left-who-say-loo_627447.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/noam-chomsky-42_crime_there-are-people-on-the-left-who-say-loo_627447.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There are people on the left who say, Look, we can't let these atrocities go on, so let's enter the war and…” — Noam Chomsky",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Noam Chomsky",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There are people on the left...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-people-on-the-left-who-say-look-we-can-t-let-these/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-people-on-the-left-who-say-look-we-can-t-let-these/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
