Globetrotting Asia Times journalist Pepe Escobar discusses his recent article "'War on chemical weapons': Obama traps himself into Syrian combat;" Secretary of State John Kerry's "Colin Powell moment;" the folly of Obama's "red line" on chemical weapon use in Syria; why incompetent National Security Advisor Susan Rice should have been fired long ago; and why Saudi Prince "Bandar Bush" may be responsible for supplying Syria's rebels with chemical weapons.

Independent political journalist Joe Lauria discusses the United Nations' surprising interference with the US/UK push for military strikes in Syria; shades of pre-war Iraq as UN ambassador Samantha Power insists weapons inspectors aren't needed to investigate the Damascus chemical attack after all; and why the White House seeks only "to attack just strongly enough not to be mocked."

Eric Margolis, journalist and author of American Raj, discusses the imminent US entry into Syria's civil war; the questionable evidence that Syria's government used chemical weapons on civilians; parallels to the Bush administration's propaganda campaign before the 2003 Iraq War; the possibility of Russia entering the conflict; and escalating violence in Lebanon including car bombs outside Sunni mosques.

Major Todd E. Pierce, a former JAG defense attorney at Guantanamo, discusses the history of martial law (or rather, rule by military decree) in the US; why the First Amendment no longer guarantees citizen oversight of government; and why the war on terror and Civil War-era precedents don't justify the presidential powers dreamed up by Bush and Cheney's legal counsel.

Andrew Cockburn, author of Rumsfeld: His Rise, Fall, and Catastrophic Legacy, discusses his article on "The ferocity and failure of America's sanctions apparatus;" why US sanctions against Germany continued even after WWII was over; the decimation of Iraq's economy due to 20 years of sanctions; how US domination of the world's financial system prevents Iran from trading with other countries; and LBJ's elephant-squashing-mosquito style of US foreign policy.

Former Congressman Ron Paul discusses his video interviews on the Ron Paul Channel; why the US has no business telling Egyptians what to do with their own country; lessening the terrorism threat with non-interventionist foreign policy; how Obama's "red line" on Syria bypasses Congress's duty to declare war; the incentive for Syrian rebels to conduct false flag chemical weapons attacks; and the selective prosecution of whistleblowers and war criminals.

Independent journalist Alexa O'Brien discusses her post-sentencing interview with Bradley Manning's attorney David Coombs; the government's failure to prove damage to national security from Manning's leaks; the role of the FBI and State Department in his investigation and prosecution; the fertile grounds for appeal; and how Adrian Lamo worked with the feds to set Manning up.

Gareth Porter, an independent investigative journalist and historian, discusses his article taking issue with ProPublica journalist Sebastian Rotella's report on the alleged 2008 Iranian bomb plot against the Israeli embassy in Azerbaijan; Gareth's upcoming book on the web of lies about Iran's nuclear program; and why the US government had no problem seeing the economic case for nuclear power in Iran during the Shah's reign.

Col. Morris Davis, former Guantanamo chief prosecutor, discusses his resignation after "torture memo" author Jim Haynes took over command; how much time Bradley Manning is likely to serve of his 35 year sentence; the chilling effect on potential government whistleblowers; and why the war on terror is really a war on information.

Sheldon Richman, vice president of The Future of Freedom Foundation, discusses his article "The Phony Trade-off Between Privacy and Security;" how the ruling class maintains the acquiescence of the masses; and the money creation scam run out of the Federal Reserve since 1914.

Eric Margolis, journalist and author of American Raj, discusses the Obama administration's refusal to call Egypt's military coup by name; the imminent return of Hosni Mubarak; how American military aid to Egypt violates the law; and why Saudi Arabia's monarchy hates and fears the Muslim Brotherhood's Islamic governance style.