Chomsky on Iraq: 'responsibilities'
Updated on 19 March 2008
Was it worth it? Noam Chomsky gives his verdict on the legacy of the Iraq war, as part of our series of viewpoints from social and political voices.
Watch Noam Chomsky give his verdict
Read a transcript of Noam Chomsky's verdict
"I would like to remind myself and others in the United States and Britain that agressors have no rights, they have only responsibilities.
"The first responsibility is to pay massive reparations for the crimes they have carried out. That extends in the case of Iraq to include support for Saddam through his worst atrocities after the war with Iran.
"After the savage first Gulf War when George Bush authorised the crushing of the rebellions that might have overthrown him, the murderous sanctions and of course the war and its aftermath.
"And their second responsibility is to hold the perpetrators accountable.
"And finally, and crucially, to attend to the voices of the victims, which are not a secret. The Pentagon has just released its latest study of opinions in Iraq. It was optimistic, it said. Iraqis have shared beliefs, so there's hope for reconciliation.
"The shared beliefs turn out to be that the United States and Britain are responsible for the Sectarian warfare and all of its horrors and they should leave Iraq to Iraqis."
"And we should finally resolve to ensure that we are never again responsible for such terrible crimes."
More voices
To see all the voices - including General Sir Mike Jackson, George Galloway, Peter Oborne and Inayat Bunglawala - give their verdict on the legacy of the Iraq war, click on the image below. Click on the image below
