Turning the Tide: U. S. Intervention in Central America and the Struggle for Peace

Noam Chomsky addresses relations throughout Central America and relates these to superpower conflicts and the overall impact of the Cold War on international relations.__Turning the Tide__ succinctly and powerfully addresses three interrelated questions: What is the aim and impact of the U.S. Central American policy What factors in U.S. society support and oppose current policy? And how can concerned citizens affect future policy?__Turning the Tide__ shows how U.S. Central American policies implement broader U.S. economic, military, and social aims even while describing their impact on the lives of people in Central America. A particularly revealing focus of Chomsky's argument is the world of U.S. academia and media, which Chomsky analyzes in detail to explain why the U.S. public is so misinformed about our government's policies.Whether the U.S. initiates a major invasion in Central America or instead continues to support reaction through the region by economic pressure, CIA intervention, and proxy military activity, many U.S. citizens will want to argue for a more humane policy. Chomsky provides the most compelling available analyses of what is going on, why, and what concerned citizens can do about it. Noam Chomsky Addresses Relations Throughout Central America And Relates These To Superpower Conflicts And The Overall Impact Of The Cold War On International Relations. Turning The Tide Succinctly And Powerfully Addresses Three Interrelated Questions: What Is The Aim And Impact Of The U.s. Central American Policy What Factors In U.s. Society Support And Oppose Current Policy? And How Can Concerned Citizens Affect Future Policy? Turning The Tide Shows How U.s. Central American Policies Implement Broader U.s. Economic, Military, And Social Aims Even While Describing Their Impact On The Lives Of People In Central America. A Particularly Revealing Focus Of Chomsky's Argument Is The World Of U.s. Academia And Media, Which Chomsky Analyzes In Detail To Explain Why The U.s. Public Is So Misinformed About Our Government's Policies. Whether The U.s. Initiates A Major Invasion In Central America Or Instead Continues To Support Reaction Through The Region By Economic Pressure, Cia Intervention, And Proxy Military Activity, Many U.s. Citizens Will Want To Argue For A More Humane Policy. Chomsky Provides The Most Compelling Available Analyses Of What Is Going On, Why, And What Concerned Citizens Can Do About It. -- ‡c From Publisher’s Description. Machine Generated Contents Note: Ch. One Free World Vignettes -- 1.the Miseries Of Traditional Life -- 2.challenge And Response: Nicaragua -- 3.challenge And Response: El Salvador -- 3.1.the Carter Years -- 3.2.reagan Takes Command -- 4.challenge And Response: Guatemala -- 5.the Reagan Administration And Human Rights -- 6.the Contribution Of The Mercenary States -- 7.the Planning Of State Terror -- 8.the Miseries Of Traditional Life: A Further Note -- Ch. Two The Fifth Freedom -- 1.rhetoric And Reality -- 2.the Perceptions Of The Planners -- 3.latin America: An Incident, Not An End -- 4.planning For Global Hegemony -- 5.the Crimes Of Nicaragua -- Ch. Three Patterns Of Intervention -- 1.defending Our Sovereignty -- 2.the Rule Of Law And The Rule Of Force -- 3.the Us And El Salvador In Historical Perspective -- 4.contemporary State Terrorism: The System Established -- 5.the System Applied: Torturing El Salvador -- 5.1.carter's War -- 5.2.duarte's Role --^ 5.3.towards Democracy In El Salvador -- 5.4.the Propaganda System Moves Into High Gear -- 5.5.the War Moves Into High Gear -- 5.6.reaction At Home: Successful Terror And Its Rewards -- 6.torturing Nicaragua -- 6.1.before The Crisis -- 6.2.the Proxy War -- 6.3.the Elections And The Opposition -- 6.4.the Free Press At Work -- 6.5.a Glimpse Into The Civilized World -- 7.elsewhere In The Region -- 7.1.torturing Hispaniola -- 7.2.torturing Guatemala -- 8.human Rights, The Raising Of The Living Standards And Democratization -- 9.the Awesome Nobility Of Our Intentions -- Ch. Four The Race To Destruction -- 1.the Threat Of Global War -- 2.the Nuclear Freeze Campaign: Successes And Failures -- 3.the Lessons To Be Drawn -- 4.defense Against The Great Satan: The Doctrine And The Evidence -- 4.1.defending The National Territory -- 4.2.the Defense Of Western Europe -- 4.3.the Containment Doctrine -- 4.4.containing The Anti-fascist Resistance: From Death Camps To Death Squads --^ 4.5.escalation Of The Pentagon System: The Pretexts And The Evidence -- 5.the Roots Of The Pentagon System -- 6.the Consequences -- 7.cold War Realities -- Ch. Five The Challenge Ahead -- 1.the Conservative Counterattack -- 1.1.confronting The Threat Of Democracy At Home -- 1.2.the Attack Against Labor -- 1.3.the Attack Against Rights -- 1.4.the Attack Against Independent Thought -- 1.5.investing To Control The State: The Political System Of Capitalist Democracy -- 1.6.the Ultimate Target: The Public Mind -- 1.7.the Domestic Successes Of Conservatism -- 2.the Opportunities For Constructive Action -- 2.1.the System Of Control: Its Points Of Weakness -- 2.2.the Shift To The Right: Rhetoric And Reality -- 2.3.turning The Tide -- Ch. Six Postscript: 1986 -- 1.the Scandals Of 1986 -- 1.1.the Problems Of Clandestine Terrorism -- 1.2.the Limits Of Scandal -- 1.3.damage Control -- 1.4.the Reality That Must Be Effaced: Iran And Nicaragua --^ 2.further Successes Of The Reagan Administration -- 2.1.accelerating The Race Towards Destruction -- 2.2.the Conservative Agenda: The Attitude Towards Congress And The Public -- 2.3.freedom Of Expression In The Real World -- 2.4.the Threat Of A Good Example -- 2.5.the Fledgling Democracies -- 2.6.restoring Regional Standards -- 3.the Prospects. Noam Chomsky. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 399-435) And Index. The renowned activist examines the brutal reality of America’s Cold War era foreign policy across Central America—with a new preface by the author. First published in 1986, Turning the Tide presents Noam Chomsky’s expert analysis of three interrelated questions: What was the aim and impact of the US Central American policy? What factors in US society supported and opposed that policy? And how can concerned citizens affect future policy? Chomsky demonstrates how US Central American policies implemented broader US economic, military, and social aims—while claiming a supposedly positive impact on the lives of people in Central America. A particularly revealing focus of Chomsky's argument is the world of US academia and media, which Chomsky analyzes in detail to explain why the US public is so misinformed about our government's policies. Free World Vignettes -- The Fifth Freedom -- Patterns of Intervention -- The Race to Destruction -- The Challenge Ahead -- Postscript: 1986.;US Central American policies project broader US economic, military, and social aims, impacting millions in Central America. TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 Preface to the 2015 Edition 8 Introduction 14 1. Free World Vignettes 18 2. The Fifth Freedom 72 3. Patterns of Intervention 130 4. The Race to Destruction 252 5. The Challenge Ahead 322 6. Postscript: 1986 370 Footnotes 412 Index 450