I take this opportunity to recommend this excellent article from Kavita Krishnan which she published in early December. (see below).
Noam Chomsky could afford terrible statements about the systematic mass murders and genocidal wars in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Syria. Even during the Russian mass terror against the Ukrainian people, he raised more understanding of the aggressor than the attacked population.
His support for Epstein reveals the same pattern. The Indian feminist Marxist Kavita Krishnan puts his behaviour into the broader context.
This email from Chomsky to Epstein proves that he wasn’t just giving his friend the benefit of doubt, not knowing the full nature and extent of his crimes. He was actively colluding with Epstein, strategising about how to deal with the revelations about those crimes in the press.
It’s not that Chomsky was incapable of empathy – he was, but he had empathy only for the unfortunate predator, victimised by a journalist who was nuisance enough to put faces and voices to a gaggle of female accusers generating a ‘hysteria’ of solidarity.
What Chomsky calls ‘horrible’ treatment of Epstein by the press, was the November 2018 piece in the Miami Herald, ‘Perversion of Justice’ – Julie Brown’s stellar investigative journalism exposing the secret deal struck a decade ago that betrayed scores of children trafficked and abused by him, who had found the courage to help police build a cast iron case.
This email must go on his tombstone, it must feature in every obituary when he passes, it is not just a stain on his political legacy, it IS integral to his legacy. His collusion with Epstein is a result of the same abstract geopolitical doctrine that passed for his politics, one that allowed him to deny the humanity of victims of horrific mass crimes against humanity – in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, Syria, Ukraine, China.
(Edited the post for accuracy, people pointed out he was calling his accusers hysterical, not the girls. He does use hysteria again, to refer to the public response to accusations of abuse of women.)
On 1 March 2025, the family uploaded “Puppets on a Kremlin String,” about the betrayal of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy by Donald Trump and JD Vance to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, to the tune of Coldplay’s song “Viva La Vida“. The Marshes write, “Our version takes the sense of history, the pain, the trauma, and the notion of world rule, and applies it to the most disgusting media spectacle to date – with already several to choose from – of the new US administration. Like many around the world, as well as disheartened friends in the US, we watched the undignified ambush of Zelensky’s trip to the White House with dismay and pity. It was a very unbecoming sight – just at a human level – even without all the higher stakes, deals, implications, and nightmares unfolding as another win is handed to Putin, and more pressure placed on Ukraine. Like many we are hoping for a miraculous path forward that can somehow turn Trump’s intensity into an outcome that can transform into a lasting peace – but given how misdirected the fury and energy and narrative is at the moment, it’s quite hard to see it turning out other than a quickfire US withdrawal of support. If that happens, we’re in a cowardly new world.”
Most left-wing forces in Ireland favour a foreign policy called Neutrality
This is inaccurate language.
Most Irish people understand Neutrality to mean opposition to military alliances such as NATO, opposition to Irish participation in imperialist adventures abroad, and opposition to general imperialist rearmament.
This policy is 100 per cent correct.
But this policy is not “Neutrality”.
Neutrality – A Clear Definition
The state of being neutral or of being unengaged in a dispute or contest between others; the taking of no part on either side; in international law, the attitude and condition of a nation or state which does not take part directly or indirectly in a war between other states, but maintains relations of amity with all the contending parties.
is the quality or state of being neutral, particularly in the context of not participating in a conflict or war between other parties. It involves maintaining an impartial stance and not favoring any side in a dispute.
A chicken comes home to roost in connection with approving a loan to Ukraine (See below).
The left must not be “neutral” when imperialist powers attack smaller nations
“Ukraine, Palestine, Occupation is a Crime”.
We should, for example be
For Palestine and Ukraine – Against USA and Russian Imperialism.
For Greenland against USA, Russian and Danish imperialism
For Iran against USA Imperialism
For Venezuela Against USA imperialism..
In all these cases using the words Irish neutrality is nonsense – and there are plenty of similar cases.
That means the left in Ireland should say it favours a policy of “Non-Alignment” – as opposed to a policy of “Neutrality”.
It is better to use honest language.In fact, it is my understanding that exactly this observation was made by a tiny band of leftists in Ireland during World War 2. It meant, in those far-off days, saying Yes to Irish Neutrality, and Yes to Anti-fascism (concretely : in favour of political asylum in Ireland for victims of the German Nazis).
We reproduce two important posts issued by UNDI – Ukrainian Diaspora of Ireland.
John Meehan February 1 2026
Protest in Dublin: Solidarity with the People of Iran Against the Ayatollah Regime
Friends, Ukrainians and Irish people!
Our Iranian friends are organizing a peaceful solidarity protest with the people of Iran, who are now bravely fighting against the inhuman regime of the ayatollahs. We call on everyone to join and show that freedom will not be left without support.
For weeks, the regime has been shutting down the internet to hide the mass killings of peaceful protesters. Hospitals are being terrorized, and people are being shot simply for shouting: “Woman, Life, Freedom!” Over the past weeks, thousands have been killed — one of the largest crimes against a country’s own population happening in the world today.
This is our shared struggle. The ayatollahs supply Putin with thousands of Shahed drones and military technologies used in the war against Ukraine, while Russian security services help them remain in power. Every act of solidarity sends a clear message: dictators will not go unpunished, and peoples will not be left alone in fear.
Why it is important to be there:
To support people who risk their lives for freedom.
To show that Ukrainians stand with those fighting against repression and terror.
To strengthen international pressure on a regime that commits violence against its own citizens.
To demonstrate unity against tyranny: the freedom of Iran is part of the global struggle for rights and dignity — a struggle Ukraine understands deeply.
Location: O’Connell Street Upper, Dublin
Date: 1 February 2026
Time: 12:00 – 13:00
Come with flags, posters, your voice and your heart. Every person present is a force of support for those fighting for life and dignity.
Glory to Ukraine!
Freedom for Iran!
Protest in Dublin, GPO: Solidarity with the People of Iran Against the Ayatollah Regime February 1 2026Protest in Dublin, GPO: Solidarity with the People of Iran Against the Ayatollah Regime, February 1 2026
Sinn Féin’s Dangerous Double Standards on Ukraine
The Ukrainian community in Ireland is watching closely how political parties respond to Russia’s war against Ukraine. Activist Garrett Mullan highlighted the issue in his post: https://www.facebook.com/share/1B5EoYFpoL/. Sinn Féin published pro-Russian statements for years, and only after the full-scale invasion in 2022 did they remove thousands of old articles from their website: https://www.independent.ie/…/sinn-fein…/41443385.html.
At the time, this was clearly embarrassing for the party, but even worse would have been if the public had seen Sinn Féin’s real positions. Mary Lou McDonald tried to align the party with the consensus supporting Ukraine and appeared at a few rallies outside the Russian embassy, but most party representatives stayed on the sidelines.
Now Pearse Doherty shows what Sinn Féin really represents today. According to his statement in the Dáil: https://www.thejournal.ie/eu-loan-to-ukraine-pearse…/, he wants to cut funding to Ukraine — even as 600,000 households in Kyiv remain without electricity in -20°C temperatures. He complains that EU funds are used for military purposes — but what else should they be used for when a neighboring country is bombing homes, schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure?
These are double standards, and they put Europe’s stability at risk. Supporting Ukraine is not charity — it is an investment in Europe’s security.
We thank Garret Mullan for speaking out clearly and courageously. Political parties must take a firm and consistent stance in support of Ukraine. Actions matter: financial aid, political advocacy, and countering Russian propaganda all strengthen Ukraine and defend Europe.
Silence or half-measures only help the aggressor. It’s up to all of us to stand on the side of freedom and justice. Ukraine’s fight is Europe’s fight, and every voice and action counts.
Dáil Éireann Supports Funding for Ukraine, January 27 2026
Pearse Doherty TD (Sinn Féin) is mistakenly implying that the funding is mostly for arms. The €210 billion allocation prioritizes industry integration (industry, of course, will include military production), financial stability and loan repayments.
Category
Amount
Purpose
Industry integration
€115 billion
Expand Ukraine’s manufacturing capacity and integrate into Europe’s, with “Buy European & Ukrainian” rules limiting non-EU/EEA/Ukraine components to 35%.
Macro-financial assistance
€50 billion
Direct budget support to cover financing gaps and maintain state functions.
G7 ERA loan repayment
€45 billion
Repay prior G7 loans using immobilized Russian asset revenues.
A Ukrainian veteran living in Ireland posted in reply to Sinn Fein’s new Ukraine position. Being anti-imperialist means opposing all imperialism, not just British, American and Israeli imperialism.
…………..
I am a veteran of the Ukrainian army. I was wounded on the front line, I lost my leg, my health and the life I once had. My hometown is 15 kilometers from the war zone, people are dying every day, houses are collapsing. Russia has turned our future into ruins. So when I hear Sinn Féin talking about cutting support for Ukraine, I don’t hear “neutrality” or “peace” – I hear betrayal and a direct gift to Putin. Undermining aid to Ukraine means continuing the war, more missiles on civilians, more children killed, more soldiers losing limbs, as happened to me. Supporting Ukraine is supporting the life and security of Europe, and anyone who plays with that is on the wrong side of history.
Excerpt from a reliable media source “Both the Labour Party and the Social Democrats asked for assurances that Ireland’s element of the loan would be aligned with our policy of military neutrality.
Junior Minister Marian Harkin said: ‘The Government will ensure the funding provided by Ireland is aligned with our well-established policy of military neutrality as has been the case to date.’
Sinn Féin voted against the motion, as did Independent Ireland TDs and People Before Profit and Aontú. The vote was carried by 92 to 38, with the Social Democrats and Labour Party voting with the Government.
According to the European Commission’s website, Ireland contributed €3.69billion to the overall EU budget in 2023, which stood at around $248billion for all 27 member states that year. This amounts to 1.48% of the EU budget. This would mean that should Ireland have to cover its portion of the loan to Ukraine, it would pay around €1.3billion.” – Irish Daily Mail