Chris Floyd, author of Empire Burlesque – High Crimes and Low Comedy in the Bush Imperium, discusses his article “What Lies Beneath: The Essence of Modern America in Somalia’s Blood-drenched Soil;” the US “dual track policy” of simultaneously funding the weak central government and the warlords – guaranteeing some influence no matter who carries the day; how imperial hubris has convinced American politicians they have the right to decide who is and isn’t suitable to rule Somalia; and a...
09/14/11 – Richard Silverstein – The Scott Horton Show
Richard Silverstein, writer of the Tikun Olam blog, discusses his article “Secret trial revelations prompt US-Israeli diplomatic storm” about the Israeli agenda revealed by FBI translator and whistleblower Shamai Leibowitz; why a DOJ prosecution should be anticipated, despite the First Amendment protection of journalists publishing classified information; why government employees interested in protecting the US should be prepared to pay a steep price for patriotism; how the media spun the...
09/14/11 – Mark Sheffield – The Scott Horton Show
Mark Sheffield of the Policy on Point blog discusses his post “Arab Spring, Israeli Fall;” how Hosni Mubarak’s departure has freed Egyptians to protest against Palestinian mistreatment; the Obama administration’s demand that Egypt crack down on protesters, making it clear democracy won’t be tolerated if it is used to criticize Israel; why the rift between Turkey and Israel, the major regional powers and former close allies, is a big deal; and indications that US pro-Israel policy is getting...
09/13/11 – Philip Giraldi – The Scott Horton Show
Former CIA officer Philip Giraldi discusses the CIA’s failure to disclose information on the 9/11 hijackers living in San Diego (before the deed) to the FBI; why government incompetence and inefficiency can explain events (like 9/11) that seem to be deliberately planned or allowed to happen; the major implications for US alliances over a possible veto on the Palestinian state UN resolution; why Israel is worried about (potential) Palestine’s creation along 1967 borders, as well as access to...
09/13/11 – James Bamford – The Scott Horton Show
James Bamford, author of The Shadow Factory: The Ultra-Secret NSA from 9/11 to the Eavesdropping on America, discusses his article “Post-September 11, NSA ‘enemies’ include us” at Politico.com; the continuing debate on “why they hate us,” exemplified by the Ron Paul/Rick Santorum debate; how the US took Osama bin Laden’s bait by rushing into the Afghan quagmire and bleeding the empire dry; and how digital communications have expanded NSA capabilities exponentially in the last few decades while...
09/12/11 – Jason Ditz – The Scott Horton Show
Jason Ditz, managing news editor at Antiwar.com, discusses why Afghanistan continues to be a quagmire, despite claims of impending victory by NATO and the Taliban; failures in nation building and in staffing an Afghan Army – the two core justifications for staying on; killing suspected terrorists (or whomever) with drone missile strikes in Pakistan; inundating 9-1-1 operators with “if you see something, say something” false alarms; and the recent bombing in Quetta, Pakistan.
09/12/11 – Thomas E. Woods – The Scott Horton Show
Tom Woods discusses the advent of Super PACs for essentially unlimited political fundraising, including Ron Paul's rather modest Revolution PAC; why Wall Street only pretends to want unregulated Capitalism and free markets (just look who they contribute the most money to); and how election rules and regulations help protect incumbents and the two party monopoly.
09/12/11 – Patrick Cockburn – The Scott Horton Show
Patrick Cockburn, Middle East correspondent for The Independent, discusses his article “Iraq cleric says his forces could attack US troops” on the dangers Muqtada al-Sadr poses for an extended US occupation; Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s ability to play all sides against each other while his grip on power tightens; how the abundant foreign influences in Iraq create divisions along religious and sectarian lines and make a political settlement impossible; and why we’ll have to wait and...
Liberty Fest NYC 2011 Scott Horton Against the Terror War, 9/10/11
Scott Horton explains the roots of the terrorism problem and the solution.
09/09/11 – Glenn Greenwald – The Scott Horton Show
Glenn Greenwald, Salon.com blogger and author of With Liberty and Justice for Some: How the Law Is Used to Destroy Equality and Protect the Powerful, discusses a 9/11 retrospective alternative to the mainstream media’s distorted coverage; how the national security state has eroded our freedoms and eliminated government accountability; the surprising near-majority of Americans who recognize the root cause of terrorism and don’t believe in trading freedom for security; why a “free press” doesn’t...
09/09/11 – Sheldon Richman – The Scott Horton Show
Sheldon Richman, senior fellow at The Future of Freedom Foundation, discusses his article “9/11 and the National Security Scam;” why top government officials must know their policies provoke more terrorist attacks, rather than prevent them; hearty cheers at the GOP debate for Rick Perry’s record-setting execution pace as Texas Governor; the cynical use of 9/11 casualties to justify an increasingly ruthless foreign policy; why “macro measures” like GNP and the unemployment rate are poor...
09/08/11 – Michael Scheuer – The Scott Horton Show
Michael Scheuer, 22-year veteran of the CIA and former head analyst at the CIA’s bin Laden unit, discusses why terrorism is a predictable response to an interventionist US foreign policy; how Osama bin Laden lured the US into Afghanistan and radicalized a good portion of the Muslim world; how al-Qaeda’s influence has spread into Western countries through media-savvy English speaking Muslims; the more-or-less representative Islamic governments likely to sprout up after the Arab spring – if the...
09/08/11 – John Glaser – The Scott Horton Show
John Glaser, Assistant Editor at Antiwar.com, discusses his discovery of a WikiLeaks State Department cable about US soldiers who ordered an airstrike to coverup their massacre of an Iraqi family in 2006; how this revelation may complicate a deal to extend US occupation beyond the 2011 SOFA deadline; the nearly 30,000 trainers, advisers and mercenaries slated to remain in Iraq – too small for fighting wars, but plenty big to administer yet another client state; the ongoing protests in Bahrain,...
09/08/11 – 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 “Post-9/11: All Eyes on You;” the International Spy Museum’s obnoxious advertising campaign that makes a joke out of all-too-real government intrusions into our privacy; how incremental increases of government power go largely unnoticed by the American “sheeple;” and the Washington Post’s noteworthy “Top Secret America” project on the national security state’s...
09/07/11 – Jason Ditz – The Scott Horton Show
Jason Ditz, managing news editor at Antiwar.com, discusses the evolving Libyan war; the mistreatment of black Africans by Libya’s rebels; NATO, US and UN plans for their newly conquered North African country; why Libya’s crippled oil infrastructure may create cash-flow problems for a few years; and the WikiLeaks cable on the 2006 massacre of an Iraqi family by US soldiers.
