On the quote in question, I have a copy of Clive Ponting's Churchill book balanced on my knee right now, and I can confirm that the quote is word for word, except that the emphases have fallen off it with the loss of italics ('an innocent record and' 'altogether disproportionate' 'mainly acquired by violence, largely maintained by force').
Strike one to Chomsky.
In message <001a01c02cd8$5b116a80$45bb0918 at sttln1.wa.home.com>, Lisa &
Ian Murray <seamus at accessone.com> writes
>Well,
>
>Where's the evidence that he misquotes more often than any other researcher
>[let alone deliberately]. Has someone compiled a compendium of his misdeeds?
>
>Ian
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
>> [mailto:owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com]On Behalf Of kelley
>> Sent: Monday, October 02, 2000 5:57 PM
>> To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
>> Subject: Re: Niiice kitty....
>>
>>
>> this was posted on the cypherpunks list. the respondent maintains that
>> chomsky is well-known for misquoting or twisting quotes/sources. never
>> heard that come up here in all our discussions... comments? cypherpunks
>> is archived if you want more info.
>>
>> kelley
>>
>> <fowarded>
>> --
>> > I've been reading Noam Chomsky's book on Kosovo and came across this
>> > quote from a Cabinet note written by Churchill in January 1914
>> > explaining the need for increased military expenditure (taken in
>> > turn from Clive Ponting's Churchill, 1994, P 132):
>> >
>> > "We are not a young people with an innocent record and a scanty
>> > inheritance. We have engrossed to ourselves an altogether
>> > disproportionate share of the wealth and traffic of the world. We
>> > have got all we want in territory, and our claim to be left in the
>> > unmolested enjoyment of vast and splendid possessions, mainly
>> > acquired by violence, largely maintained by force, often seems less
>> > reasonable to others than to us."
>>
>>
>> Chomsky is hardly a reliable source. He routinely fabricates or falsifies
>> quotes. I suggest you check his alleged sources.
>>
>> Chances are you will be unable to find his alleged source. In
>> the unlikely
>> event that you are able to find it, it will not say quite what Chomsky
>> claims it said.
>>
>> --digsig
>>
>>
>> </backwarded>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
-- James Heartfield
Great Expectations: the creative industries in the New Economy is available from Design Agenda, 4.27 The Beaux Arts Building, 10-18 Manor Gardens, London, N7 6JT Price 7.50 GBP + 1GBP p&p