Joey Lawrence returns to the show to discuss the latest developments in northeast Syria, where the Kurds and Turks are facing off—with the U.S. potentially caught in the middle. Lawrence breaks down the Turkish strategy in the battle against the Kurds, gives his thoughts on the new American bases in Syria, and explains how the Kurds negotiate their relationship with the U.S. and what their longterm goals are. Lawrence then details the Turkish bombing of Syrian Kurdistan. Finally Scott asks...
1/26/18 Peter Lee on how Douglas MacArthur conspired to start a war with China
Peter Lee, aka @chinahand, returns to the show to discuss his new documentary General Douglas MacArthur's Conspiracy To Start A War With China. Lee describes the history of U.S.-China tensions dating back to the 1950s, MacArthur's trigger happy attitude toward nuclear weapons, and how MacArthur and the military almost provoked full-fledged war with China. Lee then details the looming tensions between the U.S. and China that may boil over into conflict and explains why, even with China, blame...
1/26/18 Daniel McAdams on Syria, Trump, and Twitter’s investigation into Russia-gate
Co-host of the Ron Paul Liberty Report Daniel McAdams returns to the show to discuss the latest developments in Syria where the Turkish government is threatening to confront American forces in eastern Syria. McAdams and Scott talk about Donald Trump's disappointing presidency (to put it mildly), how Ron Paul's anti-war views have become even more radical, and Twitter's latest policy of alerting its users who follow supposed Russian bots. Daniel McAdams is the executive director of the Ron Paul...
1/26/18 Andrew Bacevich on U.S. diplomacy under Trump and the rise of China
Retired army colonel Andrew Bacevich returns to the show to discuss the state of American diplomacy under Trump. Bacevich opens with a general background of his work and explains why he dissents frequently with the top brass of the U.S. military. Bacevich then discusses his latest article for The American Conservative, "Trump's National Defense Strategy Has The Pentagon Popping Champagne." According to Bacevich American concern with Russia is misplaced—especially in relation to the rise of...
1/24/18 Greg Shupak on the arrest of Palestinian 16-year-old Ahed Tahimi
University of Toronto professor Greg Shupak joins Scott to discuss his article "Slapping An Israeli Soldier More Newsworthy Than Shooting A Palestinian Child In The Face." Shupak details the events that led up to Ahed Tamimi's arrest after her cousin was shot in the face with a rubber bullet by an Israeli soldier. Shupak then describes the treatment of Palestinians in Israeli military prisons, where torture of children is well-documented and 16-year-olds are tried as adults. Shupak then...
1/24/18 Kelley B. Vlahos on Trump’s neocons
Kelley B. Vlahos, executive editor of the American Conservative Magazine, returns to the show to discuss her latest article, "Neoconning the Trump White House." Vlahos details her research into the neocon creep into the Trump administration and does a deep dive into the state of neoconservative politics and institutions in Washington. Vlahos also explains why, despite Donald Trump's lip service, the anti-war right and the realists are fighting an uphill battle for influence in Washington....
1/23/18 Reese Erlich on the brewing conflict in Northeast Syria
Reese Erlich joins Scott to discuss the latest developments in Iraq and Eastern Syria. Erlich details the growing tension between Turkey, a NATO country, and the United States and the Kurds who are getting caught in between. Erlich and Scott discuss the recent history of U.S. interventionism in Syria, how the Trump policy divulges from Obama's, and the current status of the Islamic State. Reese Erlich is a nationally syndicated columnist and the author of Inside Syria: The Backstory of Their...
1/21/18 Gareth Porter on Donald Trump’s Bluff Towards North Korea
Gareth Porter returns to the show to discuss his latest article "Why Trump's North Korea Bloody Nose Campaign Is A Big Bluff." Porter examines the Trump administration's approach to North Korea and explains why he thinks Trump's posturing about carrying out a preventative strike against North Korea is just that—posturing. Gareth Porter is an investigative historian and journalist on the national security state and author of Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare....
1/12/18 James Carden on the popularity of non-interventionism and the new Cold War
James Carden returns to the show to discuss his latest article "A New Poll Shows the Public Is Overwhelmingly Opposed to Endless US Military Interventions." Carden breaks down the different findings of the poll, including that a vast majority of people think military intervention should be used only as a last resort, that a preponderance of people think that military aid to foreign countries is counterproductive, and that there's particular antipathy directed at support for Saudi Arabia. Scott...
1/12/18 Dan Gifford on the truth and lies of Waco
Documentary film maker Dan Gifford joins Scott to discuss the new television show documenting the Waco massacre, recalls how he became interested in revealing the truth of what happened at Waco, and says if there's one thing people take away from the interview it's this: never talk to the police without a lawyer present. Gifford then explains the role that gun control and religion played in the standoff negotiations and raid and the subsequent destruction and corruption of evidence in the...
1/5/18 JP Sottile on the welfare/warfare state and Trump’s presidency
JP Sottile, editor of NewsVandal.com , returns to the show to discuss his latest article, "The US Military is the biggest Big Government" entitlement program on the planet." Sottile argues that the U.S. military has developed constituencies throughout the country by employing millions of Americans and that Donald Trump's presidential victory was the result of paradoxically promising to grow the military and reducing U.S. intervention around the globe. (Guess which promise he kept.) Sottile...
1/5/18 The UN’s Jamie McGoldrick on the state of affairs in Yemen
Jamie McGoldrick of the United Nations joins Scott to discuss the latest developments in Yemen. McGoldrick gives an overview of the Yemeni political, sociological, and economic situation, explains why the official death count is certainly too low, and outlines what needs to be done to alleviate the suffering of the people of Yemen. McGoldrick is the United Nations Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for the...
1/5/18 Elijah Magnier on U.S. occupation of eastern Syria following fight against ISIS
Middle east correspondent Elijah Magnier returns to the show to discuss the U.S. presence in eastern Syria. Magnier explains what the United States' goals are, why they won't leave without guaranteeing a political transition and how they've, for the time being, partitioned the country along the Euphrates river. Magnier then details how the United States is essentially acting as the undeclared protector of the Islamic State for the time being as they've stopped bombing the Northeastern region...
1/3/18 Peter Van Buren on the end of Iraq War 3—and the history of the Iraq War
Heroic whistleblower Peter Van Buren returns to the Scott Horton Show to discuss his latest piece for the American Conservative, "2017: The Year the Iraq War Truly Ended." Van Buren explains what he means by "the war is over" and why it doesn't mean there won't be continued conflict for locals in Iraq. Van Buren then discusses how he categorizes each of the different phases of the Iraq War, which has been going on for three decades. So what happens in Phase Four, once the shooting stops? Van...
1/3/18 Muhammad Sahimi on the protests in Iran
USC professor Muhammad Sahimi returns to the show to discuss the latest developments in the protests in Iran, describes how the current regime is responsible for the justified grievances of the people protesting, and explains why some people fear regime change given the opportunistic nature of .the Trump administration, the aftermath of post-Gaddafi Libya, and the role of the Iranian far right in fomenting the protests. Sahimi then explains how the Iran Deal has backfired for Rouhani who...
