The Oil Drum

Hi Pitt,

Abundantly clear would read:

--Noam Chomsky, author of Hegemony or Survival, who is described by the New York Times as "arguably the most important intellectual alive." (sloppy writing by the publisher or ?, anyway not of all that much importance I would agree).

I notice that my prime question, or request, for access to, the full review by Noam has not been addressed.

I have had only a slight chance to look at Mr. Vail's book (took a look at chapter 5 on but what I have read so far I find interesting in its variance with my thoughts in this area. A book which I have been reading lately might be of use to Mr. Vail:

Plant Technology of the First Peoples in British Columbia, Royal British Columbia Museum Handbook, by Nancy J. Turner.,1947-. UBC press Vancouver

About Mr. Vail's views and involvement in the war in Iraq I would expect more transparency here in the form of a direct statement. I have a hard time with agreeing to any censorship other than that which involves children, and do not wish at all to muzzle Mr. Vail and even *if* his views and aims were to prove morally or ethically reprehensible. I would still accept him as a commenter, in that case, but I do not think being 'elevated' to a position of authority would be appropriate. This is merely my view and nothing to get too excited about. I hope we can have reasonable discussion here.