When you hear the term rogue state what country do you think of? North Korea? The U.S. as a rogue state cannot be uttered in media commentary and the polite discussions of the political illuminati. It is almost unthinkable. But it is routine almost to the point of banality that the U.S. exempts itself from the standards it applies to others. Washington refuses to sign and ratify international treaties and ignores UN resolutions while at the same time demands that everyone else play by the rules. International law is whatever Washington says it is. The level of hypocrisy is staggering. Unilateralism is the order of the day accompanied by disregard for laws that might stand in the master's way. And the U.S. reserves for itself the right to spy on not only its own citizens but also its closest allies.

Noam Chomsky, by any measure has led a most extraordinary life. In one index he is ranked as the eighth most cited person in history, right up there with Aristotle, Shakespeare, Marx, Plato and Freud. The legendary MIT professor practically invented modern linguistics. In addition to his pioneering work in that field he has been a leading voice for peace and social justice for many decades. The New Statesman calls him, “The conscience of the American people.” Chris Hedges says he is “America's greatest intellectual” who “makes the powerful, as well as their liberal apologists, deeply uncomfortable.” He is the author of scores of books, including Hopes & Prospects, Occupy, How The World Works, and Power Systems with David Barsamian.