U.S. Linguist Noam Chomsky Meets With Hizbullah Leaders in Lebanon

According to Hizbullah's Al-Manar TV network, Professor Noam Chomsky of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) visited Hizbullah headquarters this week, meeting with the organization's secretary-general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in a Beirut suburb as well as with other Hizbullah leaders. The U.S. State Department lists Hizbullah as a "terrorist organization." [1] It should be noted that Sheikh Nasrallah frequently calls for the destruction of the U.S. [2]

On May 13, 2006, Professor Chomsky was quoted by Al-Manar as saying, "Hizbullah's insistence on keeping its arms is justified... I think Nasrallah has a reasoned argument and [a] persuasive argument that they [the arms] should be in the hands of Hizbullah as a deterrent to potential aggression, and there is plenty of background reasons for that. So until, I think his position [is] reporting it correctly and it seems to me [a] reasonable position, is that until there is a general political settlement in the region, [and] the threat of aggression and violence is reduced or eliminated, there has to be a deterrent, and the Lebanese army can't be a deterrent."

Al-Manar goes on to state, "When asked about the U.S. list of terrorist states, he [Chomsky] said [that] if the U.S. was to stick to the clear and precise definition of terrorism in its code of laws, it would be the leading terrorist state." [3]

During his visit to Lebanon, Chomsky also spoke at the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Center for American Studies and Research at the American University of Beirut. [4]

The following are excerpts from a report on Lebanese New TV about a meeting in Lebanon between American linguist Prof. Noam Chomsky and Hizbullah leaders. [5]

TO VIEW THIS CLIP: http://memritv.org/clip/en/1136.htm .

Anchor: "The leftist Jewish American intellectual Noam Chomsky toured Al-Khiyam Prison at the end of his visit to Lebanon. He declared that the victory achieved by the resistance is a victory for all the peoples that fight injustice and oppression."

Reporter: "'Umm Kamel' - the Israeli [MK] spying aircraft - was the first to welcome leftist Jewish American intellectual Noam Chomsky, in his visit to Al-Khiyam Prison. Chomsky chose to provide 'Umm Kamel' with the pictures most detestable from the Israeli perspective, by smiling and shaking hands with Hizbullah's leader in South Lebanon, Nabil Qauq. Then they both entered the prison's Hall of Martyrs. Chomsky, who toured the prison with his wife and university professor Fawwaz Al-Trabulsi, insisted on staying inside one of the prison cells for a short while. He commended the perseverance of the inmates during the years of cruelty and pain, stressing that this prison was no different from Guantanamo.

"The leftist intellectual chose to stand in front of a destroyed Israeli vehicle and declare that all the prisoners in the world must be released, whether in Israel or in American prisons.

"In response to a question about [Lebanese expatriates] who decided to honor U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton, Chomsky said:"

Noam Chomsky: "Well, you know, they have their own choices to make. There is pressure they have to deal with. When Japan occupied Asia and committed atrocities there, some Asians honored Japan because they were subject to imperialism."

Reporter: "On the U.S. position regarding his visit, Chomsky said:"

Noam Chomsky: "I don't know what their response will be, and I don't care."

Reporter: "Chomsky insisted on greeting the Israeli reconnaissance plane:"

Noam Chomsky: "The imperialistic forces do whatever they want, and as long as Washington allows them to do so, they will continue, until the American people learns about it and stops them."

Reporter: "'Umm Kamel' got a picture of another Chomsky smile, when Qauq presented him with a picture commemorating the liberation. This time, Chomsky accompanied his smile with the hope to meet in the future in the Shab'a Farms after their liberation."