Many of society’s greatest concerns, including the Middle East and the economy, were addressed Tuesday night by Noam Chomsky, professor of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Chomsky’s presentation, which was part of the World Affairs Series funded by the Government of the Student Body, drew a crowd of several hundred people, leaving many to stand for the entire speech.

The audience greeted Chomsky with a standing ovation when he entered the room.

The renowned academic spent a great deal of time addressing Iraq and Iran, which are the public’s greatest concerns, according to recent Gallup polls.

He returned several times throughout the speech to the idea of American exceptionalism, which exempts America from the responsibility of obliging to certain treaties and regards its actions as noble and misunderstood by others.

Chomsky said there is a lot of commentary on Iraq, but very little reporting because of the reporters’ locations in Iraq and the framework of discussion taking place.

“The reporting is equivalent to a high school reporting on their football team,” he said.

Chomsky compared the invasion of Iraq and threats against Iran to historical attacks made by Russia and other global powers, noting that only American attacks are regarded as noble and others are solely for an extension of power or, in the case of the Middle East, for the oil supply.

He presented historical examples regarding Saddam Hussein, as well, including former ties with the Reagan administration and recent charges brought against Hussein in trial.

“Forgetting is a luxury for those who hold the clubs [the United States], but the victims cannot forget,” he said.

Chomsky’s solutions to many of today’s problems include the elimination of threats to Iran and other countries posing nuclear threats, reintegrating Iran within the global community and for the United States to oblige to global treaties regarding nuclear weapons.

Although the Middle East was of most concern to the public, Chomsky said he personally felt that a nuclear war was the greatest threat, and that the risk is increasing.