The Complicated Legacy of Professor Noam Chomsky

In 2003, when the United States invaded Iraq, he publicly opposed the war. Government officials argued that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and posed a threat. He questioned the evidence and warned that the invasion would destabilize the region.

He gave lectures and interviews explaining his concerns about civilian casualties and long-term consequences. When weapons of mass destruction were not found, some critics of the war cited his earlier warnings. Others maintained that his broader view of U.S. policy remained too critical.