[Peace-discuss] Noam Chomsky on the U.S.-China Rivalry: Is China Really a Threat?

[J.B. Nicholson]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=f1CY-MWukEU

In this interview one point Chomsky raises indirectly helps people understand why The 
Godfather (and mafia movies in general) are so popular with American audiences -- 
these movies help explain international affairs in a way uninitiated audiences can 
understand how power operates. Here's a transcript of an extract from the 
aforementioned video.

> Noam Chomsky: US tells Europe not to trade with Iran, Europe doesn't like it but
> it follows the order. US tells China you're not allowed to trade with Iran and
> they don't pay any attention. Can't have that. You can't have a major country that
> doesn't follow orders. That's an intolerable threat. International affairs is
> pretty much like the mafia: The Godfather does not accept disobedience. It's too
> dangerous. Even disobedience from a small shopkeeper is dangerous because others
> may follow the example. But a major disobedience like another -- someone else
> trying to be the Godfather? Can't have that. That's pretty much the basic
> principle of international affairs. And they say US didn't invent it, it's just
> taking it over from imperial history.
> 
> China's threat is, there are lots of things China is doing that are long
> violations of international law but that's not a threat. The threat is they are
> there, they do not follow orders, they follow their own path -- they're developing
> much of Eurasia through the Belt & Road initiative, this expanding to southeast
> Asia, to Africa, to Latin America even, that's intolerable. Well, can't stop it
> with bombs so let's try to stop it some other way by preventing their economic
> development. It's a long story but it's very dangerous.