There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.
I don't see any possibility of Britain and the U.S. allowing a sovereign independent Iraq; that's almost inconceivable.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests skepticism about the likelihood of Iraq becoming a truly independent nation under the influence of Britain and the U.S.
Noam Chomsky expresses a belief that the political powers of Britain and the United States are unlikely to permit Iraq to operate as a fully sovereign nation. This assertion reflects his view on the challenges of imperial influence and the reality of geopolitical interests, indicating that true independence for Iraq is perceived as an unrealistic goal given the historical context of foreign intervention.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a panel discussion on international relations, one might reference this quote to highlight the challenges faced by nations seeking autonomy.
More from Noam Chomsky
All quotes βThe 'free-floating intellectual' may occupy himself with problems because of their inherent interest and importance, perhaps to little effect.
If you're teaching today what you were teaching five years ago, either the field is dead or you are.
There are very few people who are going to look into the mirror and say, 'That person I see is a savage monster;' instead, they make up some construction that justifies what they do.
The Republican Party has become overwhelmingly so extreme that it's hardly a traditional political party anymore.
There is still much debate about whether torture has been effective in eliciting information - the assumption being, apparently, that if it is effective, then it may be justified.
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We are paying a heavy political price for 20 years in which, as a party, we have played down our criticism of capitalism and soft-peddled our advocacy of socialism
Democracy is not a spectator sport. It is a difficult, hard, full-contact, participatory endeavor.
We have been led to believe that we have come a long way toward world nuclear disarmament. But that is not the case. Our government is not doing all that it could. We must urge our leaders to fulfill the obligations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The United States must assume world leadership to end once and for all the threat of nuclear war. It is our moral responsibility.
The art of government is the organisation of idolatry.
The Iranian regime supports violent extremists and challenges us across the region. It pursues a nuclear capability that could spark a dangerous arms race and raise the prospect of a transfer of nuclear know-how to terrorists. Its president denies the Holocaust and threatens to wipe Israel off the map. The danger from Iran is grave, it is real.