Tonight at the McCormick Tribune Center, editor of The New Left Review Tariq Ali is speaking about imperialism in the Middle East and South America. The room is slowly filling up, mostly older individuals coming in to watch the lecture. It’s a fairly large crowd.

Someone takes the podium, and begins to speak. Silence. A representative from the department of French and Italian is introducing the event, and she goes on to thank several departments and groups in bringing Ali to NU. There will be a question-and-answer ssession, and a reception, where the speaker may sign a copy of his book. She goes on about why she is thrilled to have him here; the speaker gives a brief overview of his career. Apparently, the Rolling Stones were inspired by this guy. He may be best known for several articles, and his latest work “Pirates of the Carribean: Axis of Hope.” And the lecture begins.

Ali walks up to the podium. He talks about Paul Wolfowitz, specifically about what he said regarding the situation in Iraq. Ali says the United States should have accepted a resistance from Iraqis, and that people don’t like being occupied (gets laughs). He talks about 9/11 and how he warned the U.S. government that it shouldn’t get involved in the Middle East, but rather focusing on stopping recruits from entering the ranks of terrorist groups. His recomendations included lifting sanctions put on Iraq and “really exercising maximum pressure on Israel” in order to let some pressure off Palestine. Ali says the U.S. did the complete opposite.

He says the entire situation is an incredible failure of intelligence. The Iraqis prepared for an American occupation, and a resistance formed accordingly, he says. “Iraq is in a total state of disorder.” Ali says that, according to a study, more than 600,000 Iraqi civilians have died since the occupation began. He touches on the Abu Gharib torture photos, and notes that torture is an every-day occurrence in Iraq, and not just by American troops, but other nation’s soldiers as well.

Ali says leaving Iraq would, contrary to what some say, be a great benefit to the nation. He also says Iran will definitely emerge the power of the Middle East, unless the United States “pulls some other trick.” For example, if they put Saddam back in power (great laughter). Actually, 60 percent of Iraq feels life was better under Saddam. Ali makes a George W. Bush joke.

He just said the leader of Afghanistan should be a fashion model. Laughs all around.

Ali says things have only gotten in worse in Afghanistan as well. He says it really isn’t being covered in the media. He moves onto Israel-Palenstine. Israel’s mission to destroy Hezbollah backfired big time, and now things aren’t going so swimmingly in Israel. Ali says the country should of know things would have gone wrong, because Hezbollah was supported heavily by Lebanon. Even the Christians in Lebanon support Hezballah apparently. “This whole episode has, for the first time, created a Lebanese nationalism.” This is, in his opinion, the only good thing to come out of the whole Israel-Hezbollah debacle.

Palestine is even worse. “It’s a really messy situation.” The nation is being punished for electing a specific group opposed to Israel. “All that will be permitted by the Israelis are tiny little strips here and there.” He says this in reference to Palestine ever becoming it’s own state. Ali believes the only way the Middle East’s problem will be solved is via a single-nation state where people of all religions can get along. He admits it is a bit utopian, but he says it is the only solution:

“In these three regions, the occupation can not last permanently.” He says the Palestinian situation is a little different, and will be solved differently. Ali wonders how Palestinians and Jews will live together. He believes one will have to be found.

Now we move to Latin America, which we won’t hear as much about. In Latin America, the problem facing the U.S. is a social movement. Hugo Chavez will probably be reelected, and Ali wants to know why people vote for him. The answer: the leaders did some things, but are working on other things they promised. He compares the reforms in South America to the New Deal. Venezuela is challenging American power, and that is polarizing Latin America politics. Ali says the U.S. should be pleased with these movements, but America doesn’t because they are hated.

In every single Latin American country, there are social changes. Except Mexico, where the election was rigged. America should understand the plight of Latin Americans coming into the U.S. because they just want work, and the United States is a nation of migrants. Ali says hope is being renewed in Latin America. He also says that people in the Arab world love Hugo Chavez.

He goes into the conclusion, a quote from the wee-days of America. The quote states that America will eventually become a superpower and that the United States will become tyranical. Ali says that all empires rise and fall, and that the U.S. is in decline already. Big applause.

Q and A follors. First question: what can individuals do to make things better? Ali says third parties would be great, and that the U.S. should follow the examples set in Latin America. He believes the entire political system is messed up. Next question: what advice would you give journalsits? He says too much focus on not presenting both sides, especially in matters regarding Israel. He says journalists should fight back. The next question is “when will the U.S. empire fall?” He says nothing will happen immediately, but it will eventually happen, just give it time after big developments in Western Europe or if something happens in China. Maybe the end of the century, 50 to 70 years.

Several more questions are asked. Ali says stability would probably not come out of troop withdrawal in Iraq, but there is still no reason to have troops in the country. He says the Axis of Hope centers in Latin America after being asked if Iran is included in said axis. Enron joke.

And it ends. Nice round of applause.