<story><title>Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies [pdf]</title><url>https://www.cia.gov/library/abbottabad-compound/52/526D2E781AC9EBBB13346BDF7693E1BB_CHOMSKY_Noam_-_Necessary_Illusions.pdf</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>dotsam</author><text>I read this some years ago, and one of the things I took away was that there is great power in being able to focus attention and debate in one direction rather than another. Permit debate so long as it works within premises that align with your narrative. Direct attention away from questioning the questions themselves.&lt;p&gt;&amp;gt; The most effective device is the bounding of the thinkable, achieved by tolerating debate, even encouraging it, though only within proper limits.&lt;p&gt;An example given in the book is focusing attention on how best to &amp;#x27;contain&amp;#x27; the Soviet Union.&lt;p&gt;&amp;gt; In short, what is essential is the power to set the agenda. If controversy over the Cold War can be focused on containment of the Soviet Union -- the proper mix of force, diplomacy, and other measures -- then the propaganda system has already won its victory, whatever conclusions are reached. The basic assumption has already been established: the Cold War is a confrontation between two superpowers, one aggressive and expansionist, the other defending the status quo and civilized values. Off the agenda is the problem of containing the United States, and the question whether the issue has been properly formulated at all</text></comment>
<story><title>Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies [pdf]</title><url>https://www.cia.gov/library/abbottabad-compound/52/526D2E781AC9EBBB13346BDF7693E1BB_CHOMSKY_Noam_-_Necessary_Illusions.pdf</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>esafak</author><text>This is just part of Bin Laden&amp;#x27;s files, seized during the Abbottabad raid.&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https:&amp;#x2F;&amp;#x2F;www.cia.gov&amp;#x2F;library&amp;#x2F;abbottabad-compound&amp;#x2F;index.html&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow noreferrer&quot;&gt;https:&amp;#x2F;&amp;#x2F;www.cia.gov&amp;#x2F;library&amp;#x2F;abbottabad-compound&amp;#x2F;index.html&lt;/a&gt;</text></comment>