The Chomsky and the Tomahawk

"Historical analogies are never exact but sometimes useful. If they are to be useful, then the precedent needs at a minimum to be stated accurately" (Oliver Kamm)

It was too much to hope that Gnome Chomsky would restrain his outlandish analogies in the wake of Bin Laden's assassination:

"We might ask ourselves how we would be reacting if Iraqi commandos landed at George W. Bush’s compound, assassinated him, and dumped his body in the Atlantic."

And another quote, from the same putrid mind that produced the above::

"Same with the name, Operation Geronimo. The imperial mentality is so profound, throughout western society, that no one can perceive that they are glorifying bin Laden by identifying him with courageous resistance against genocidal invaders. It’s like naming our murder weapons after victims of our crimes: Apache, Tomahawk… It’s as if the Luftwaffe were to call its fighter planes “Jew” and “Gypsy.”

Is it? Does the great linguistic expert of MIT -- decipherer of the secrets of all mythologies, Universal Grammar -- really NOT get it?

According to wikipedia:

Apache:

"The Apachean tribes were historically very powerful, opposing the Spaniards and Mexicans for centuries. The first Apache raids on Sonora appear to have taken place during the late 17th century. In 19th-century confrontations, the U.S. Army found the Apache to be fierce warriors and skillful strategists."

Tomahawk: " type of axe made and used by several Native American tribes."

Geronimo: "After an attack by a company of Mexican soldiers killed many members of his family in 1858, Geronimo joined revenge attacks on the Mexicans and later against the United States. He became known for bravery and daring feats and was revered by the Apaches as a warrior with spiritual powers."

So why do you think the US military likes to name its weapons after these mythological figures symbolizing fierce resistance, bravery and sheer force? Is it because they loath and despise them, or because they admire and assimilate them into the great American narrative?

Based on this simple, basic, straightforward knowledge and understanding of history and its meaning in our modern culture, is there any reason why the Luftwaffe would call its fighter planes “Jew” and “Gypsy” , both of which names have become synonymous with the ultimate defencelessness and weakness of victims who were stripped of any dignity, power or even the minimum of moral agency?

The only time I ever saw a Jew wield an tomahawk in the company of an apache against his enemy was in Quentin Tarantino's revenge-fantasy film "Inglorious Basterds":

"Lt. Aldo Raine:

* Now I'm the direct descendant of the "Mountain Man", Jim Bridger, that means I got a little Ingen in me, and our mission will be that of the Apache Resistance.

* Thats Sergeant Donny Donowitz. But you might know him better by his nickname... the Bear Jew... Now, if you heard of Aldo the Apache, you gotta heard about the Bear Jew."

So why would a venerable super-intelligent professor suggest such a ridiculous, impossible and empty analogy? Might it be that he lives in a fantasy universe?