Robert Pallitto, professor of political science and contributor to Foreign Policy In Focus, discusses his article “Psychologists and Torture, Then and Now;” post-9/11 US interrogation practices, adapted from Cold War-era techniques used for extracting false confessions; the professional psychologists who aided the CIA in coercive interrogations and torture, disregarding ethical constraints; the failure of state regulatory agencies or the APA in stripping the licenses of torture enablers; and...
03/06/12 – Scott Horton – The Scott Horton Show
The Other Scott Horton (no relation), international human rights lawyer and contributing editor at Harper’s magazine, discusses Attorney General Eric Holder’s unpersuasive speech defending extrajudicial assassination; the new (government-friendly) definitions of “due process,” “imminent threat,” and “battlefield;” the minimal US effort in arresting and trying terrorism suspects living abroad; the geographical limitations of drone strikes (because collateral damage of Europeans is unthinkable,...
03/05/12 – Stephan Salisbury – The Scott Horton Show
Stephan Salisbury, author of Mohamed’s Ghosts: An American Story of Love and Fear in the Homeland, discusses his article “Weaponizing the Body Politic;” how the War on Drugs served as dress rehearsal for the current homeland security police state; the tanks and APCs providing “security” for the Republican National Convention in Tampa; how the freedoms of speech and assembly have become quaint notions from a bygone era; a cost-benefit analysis for the War on Terror (around 1 billion spent per...
03/05/12 – Glenn Greenwald – The Scott Horton Show
Salon.com blogger Glenn Greenwald discusses his article “The NYPD spying controversy: a microcosm for the 9/11 era;” the near-unanimous bipartisan support for spying on all Muslims in the NY City area – whether they are suspected of a crime or not; why there’s been little press coverage of the NYPD’s activities (since the issue can’t be framed as a Democrat v. Republican controversy); the eroding civil liberties of all Americans, including non-Muslims; Attorney General Eric Holder’s...
03/05/12 – Hillary Mann Leverett – The Scott Horton Show
Hillary Mann Leverett, former State Department official and co-founder of The Race For Iran, discusses President Obama’s interview with Jeffrey Goldberg – essentially a ploy to boost his pro-Israel credentials ahead of the AIPAC conference; why suffering Iranians are seen as a positive sign (to Obama) that sanctions are working as intended; the significance of defining the US “red line” on Iran’s nuclear program in terms of capability instead of action; the Obama administration’s fraudulent...
03/02/12 – Gareth Porter – The Scott Horton Show
Gareth Porter, investigative historian and journalist specializing in U.S. national security policy, discusses his article “Who Was Behind the Delhi Bombing;” the evidence that points to an Israeli false-flag operation instead of an Iranian revenge attack; US efforts to sabotage trade between Iran and India (the largest importer of Iranian oil); forever playing catch-up to lies that “travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes;” the seeming consensus between Mossad...
03/01/12 – Grant F. Smith – The Scott Horton Show
Grant F. Smith, director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy, discusses the “Occupy AIPAC” counter-summit in Washington, D.C. from March 2-6; his article “The Mossad Has Long Given Marching Orders to AIPAC;” the fine line between a domestic lobby and a foreign-controlled intelligence operation; and how constant warmongering and talk of “existential threats” gets AIPAC’s hardcore American donors to open their wallets.
03/01/12 – Andy Worthington – The Scott Horton Show
Andy Worthington, author of The Guantanamo Files, discusses his efforts to get the last two Kuwaiti prisoners released from Guantanamo; why no prisoners have left Gitmo in 14 months (except in body-bags), even though over half have been cleared for release; losing hearts and minds with arbitrary detentions and lack of habeas rights at Bagram prison in Afghanistan; and how the Bush administration’s above-the-law attitude has prevailed and “normalized” under Obama.
03/01/12 – Kathy Kelly – The Scott Horton Show
Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, discusses her article “The Ghost and the Machine” about the lack of accountability and morality in remote-control drone warfare; her recent visit to Afghanistan, where children are starving and freezing in refugee camps across the street from enormous, well-provisioned US military bases; the myth of humanitarian wars; and the coming arms race in unmanned drone aircraft.
02/29/12 – Philip Giraldi – The Scott Horton Show
Former CIA officer Philip Giraldi discusses the unusual NY Times headline acknowledging that Iran is not making nuclear weapons; the possible reasons why the Times ran James Risen’s piece instead of the usual scaremongering from David Sanger; next week’s AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington; the questionable wisdom of pushing regime change in Syria; and the politicians, think tanks and policy papers bankrolled by pro-Israel billionaire Sheldon Adelson.
02/29/12 – Doug Bandow – The Scott Horton Show
Doug Bandow, senior fellow at the Cato Institute, discusses North Korea’s acceptance of a deal to halt uranium enrichment and weapons testing in exchange for US food aid; why nobody should expect N. Korea to abandon their nuclear program or give up anything of military significance; closing US bases in S. Korea and Japan so the regional powers can resolve their own problems; and why China is more interested in trade than starting wars with its neighbors.
02/28/12 – Kelley B. Vlahos – The Scott Horton Show
Kelley B. Vlahos, featured Antiwar.com columnist and contributing editor for The American Conservative magazine, discusses her article “Do Afghan Riots Spell E-X-I-T;” the mainstream media’s sudden realization that the Afghan War effort is failing; increases in the frequency and severity of IED injuries to US soldiers (who are demoralized and have lost faith in their objectives); why the culture gap between US military trainers and Afghan army recruits is too great to be bridged, resulting in...
02/28/12 – Carol Moore – The Scott Horton Show
Carol Moore, author of The Davidian Massacre, discusses the 19th anniversary of the initial BATF assault against the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas; the BATF’s eagerness to put on a “big show” to demonstrate their militarized weaponry and justify their budget; the 9-1-1 call demonstrating some Davidians were on a first-name basis with the local sheriff – and by extension that negotiations were certainly possible; and how the trial of eleven survivors became a miscarriage of justice.
02/28/12 – Lew Rockwell – The Scott Horton Show
Lew Rockwell, founder and Chairman of the Ludwig von Mises Institute, discusses his classic speech “Down With the Presidency;” how state-worshiping Americans have allowed the office of the president to become an elected dictatorship; the spectacle of presidential travel, where entire cities are shut down during a visit from our “god-king” imperial president and his enormous entourage; how the Ron Paul Revolution is winning the hearts and minds of young people the world over; prospects for...
02/27/12 – Haroon Siddiqui – The Scott Horton Show
Haroon Siddiqui, editorial writer for the Toronto Star, discusses his article “Qur’an burning is a political, not a theological, issue;” making the connection between the Afghan peoples’ sensitivity to Qur’an burning and the ten year military occupation of their country; the political obstacles preventing the US and NATO from calling it quits; and Newt Gingrich’s laughable threat to “say good bye and good luck” to those ungrateful Afghans.
