Murat Guney: Do you think, that the International Criminal Court (ICC) which is established by UN is a real win for humanity?

Noam Chomsky: It is a step forward, but a small one. As matters stand, it is highly unlikely that the rich and powerful will accept its authority for themselves or their clients and allies, whatever they may say. What small likelihood there was has been effectively undermined by the stance of the United States. Nevertheless, small steps can make some difference, and even help raise consciousness and concern in the countries powerful enough to resist international authority — in the long run, the prerequisite for some form of international justice.

Murat Guney: You know that US declared that his leaders and soldiers have to have immunity at this court, beause they protected “peace on the world” by fighting “terrorism”. Except the allied state England, neither an European government nor the public of the countries show a strong reaction against this ironic situation. According to you why are there no reaction against US politics?

Noam Chomsky: The US stand has elicited plenty of criticism in Europe, but European elites would be unable to do very much even if they were willing to confront the US. They are not, partly from fear, but primarily because of shared interests.
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Dmitrov (Moscow province)
21 December, 1920
Respected Vladimir Illich,
An announcement has been placed in Izvestiia and in Pravda which makes known the decision of the Soviet government to seize as hostages SRs [Social Revolutionary party members] from the Savinkov groups, White Guards of the nationalist and tactical center, and Wrangel officers; and, in case of an [assassination] attempt on the leaders of the soviets, to “mercilessly exterminate” these hostages.
Is there really no one around you to remind your comrades and to persuade them that such measures represent a return to the worst period of the Middle Ages and religious wars, and are undeserving of people who have taken it upon themselves to create a future society on communist principles? Whoever holds dear the future of communism cannot embark upon such measures.
Is there really no one around you to remind your comrades and to persuade them that such measures represent a return to the worst period of the Middle Ages and religious wars, and are undeserving of people who have taken it upon themselves to create a future society on communist principles? Whoever holds dear the future of communism cannot embark upon such measures.
It is possible that no one has explained what a hostage really is? A hostage is imprisoned not as punishment for some crime. He is held in order to blackmail the enemy with his death. “If you kill one of ours, we will kill one of yours.” But is this not the same thing as leading a man to the scaffold each morning and taking him back, saying: “Wait awhile, not today…”
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