Chomsky tries to understand why US has become the only remaining superpower in the world from the aftermath of the Cold War. He explores the presence of US as a ruthless policing power in the face of international chaos and conflicts. He tries to explain why public opinion is so varied where the Cold War is concerned, and he digs into the collective criticism of the Soviet Union and other communist states. He criticizes the stance of the US during the war, expressing his view that despite its stance, it still supported authoritarian regimes. His book presents his evocative distaste for regimes which seek to mark their desire for resources and geopolitical power through claims of supporting freedom.