Bruce Fein, author of American Empire: Before the Fall, discusses his article “President Obama’s Political Sepulcher” on HuffingtonPost; why Libya may be a step too far for Obama’s “unconstitutional unilateral presidential war making;” taking State Department legal adviser Harold Koh‘s definition of “hostilities” to its absurd logical conclusion; Congress’s eagerness to forfeit its obligation and responsibility to check the power of the Executive branch; and why a sustainable democratic...
07/07/11 – Chase Madar – The Scott Horton Show
Chase Madar, member of the National Lawyers Guild, discusses his article “Bradley Manning, American Hero” on tomdispatch.com; why the US government is in dire need of direct supervision/occasional outing by insiders; media campaigns designed to make dissidents and whistleblowers appear crazy (evidenced by Manning hit pieces); and what happened to our free market of ideas – a cornerstone of America’s founding philosophy.
07/07/11 – Lew Rockwell – The Scott Horton Show
Lew Rockwell, founder and Chairman of the Ludwig von Mises Institute, discusses the consistently excellent moral and political record of Ron Paul throughout the years; why a foreign policy “Golden Rule” works best; the wisdom of cutting war spending before domestic entitlements during an economic crisis; the essentially (soft) fascistic US economic system of today; and whether or not public office can be the mechanism to reign in government excesses (in case of a successful 2012 Ron Paul...
07/06/11 – Scott Horton – The Scott Horton Show
The Other Scott Horton (no relation), international human rights lawyer, professor and contributing editor at Harper’s magazine, discusses his confidence in his Guantanamo “Suicides” expose in Harpers magazine despite a barrage of criticism; the Department of Justice giving a wink and a nod at the Bush torture program; how John Durham’s investigation of CIA torture was hamstrung by limitations imposed by the Obama administration; the CIA’s heavy redaction (to save face, not protect national...
07/06/11 – Kevin Zeese – The Scott Horton Show
Kevin Zeese, Executive Director and co-founder of VotersForPeace, discusses his article “Is a Broader Peace Movement Finally Here?” on Antiwar.com; the Come Home America letter signed by luminaries from the Left, Right and libertarian crowd; bringing together the most politically diverse and potentially most effective antiwar movement since before WWII; why military spending cuts are off the table for Congress, despite the ailing economy; the mirage of US democracy; and why Congress’s refusal...
06/28/11 – Philip Weiss – The Scott Horton Show
Philip Weiss, investigative journalist and author of the blog MondoWeiss, discusses surviving as an alternative media outlet since the internet revolutionized the form and revenue streams became scarce; the US State Department’s long history of supporting Israel’s right to “defend herself” against unarmed American peace activists, from Rachel Corrie to Furkan Dogan; the hypothetical tipping point where American Jews will no longer support Israel; and the outdated and racist (in practice)...
06/28/11 – Andrew Bacevich – The Scott Horton Show
Andrew Bacevich, Professor of International Relations at Boston University and author of Washington Rules: America’s Path to Permanent War, discusses his article “War Fever Subsides in Washington” at tomdispatch.com; Robert Gates on excessive war costs and the end of “wars of choice;” why the US should eliminate the unnecessary and counterproductive military bases in Europe and the Middle East, respectively, while maintaining those in Japan and South Korea; the failure of militaristic “hard...
06/27/11 – Jesse Walker – The Scott Horton Show
Jesse Walker, managing editor of Reason magazine, discusses the history of US interference in Somalia since the Cold War (with his 2009 article as background); why US interest has less to do with oil than with keeping the military busy; how the successes and failures of minimally-governed Somalia fueled debate on the viability of libertarianism; and the post-9/11 US backing of proxy Ethiopian forces to upend the relatively stable Islamic Courts Union government (with predictably disastrous...
06/24/11 – Gareth Porter – The Scott Horton Show
Gareth Porter, independent historian and journalist for IPS News, discusses his article “Obama Leaves Door Open to Long-Term US Afghan Combat;” the “lunatic warmonger” Republicans who reversed course after hearing the “end the wars” demands of their constituents; how Obama essentially traded the domestic Democratic political agenda for the Afghan surge; how, despite the minimal drawdown, David Petraeus got almost everything he wanted; the hubris of Robert Gates, who had no idea the US national...
06/24/11 – Paul Larudee – The Scott Horton Show
This interview is from the KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles broadcast of June 24th. Paul Larudee, a human rights volunteer and a founder of the Free Gaza and Free Palestine Movements, discusses his involvement in the latest Gaza aid flotilla; MSM news coverage of previous efforts tilted drastically in Israel’s favor; the US State Department warning about likely Israeli violence against non-violent American human rights activists (yet providing no protection or punishment of Israeli actions after the...
06/23/11 – Eric Margolis – The Scott Horton Show
Eric Margolis, foreign correspondent and author of War at the Top of the World and American Raj, discusses the extent of his experience in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation; taking on John McCain’s assertion that 9/11 could have been prevented if the US had stayed engaged after the Soviet withdrawal; the Taliban’s rise in mid-1990s, supported by Pakistan to fight against the northern Communists; and why bin Laden’s trap (of luring the US halfway around the world to bleed itself dry)...
06/23/11 – John Glaser – The Scott Horton Show
John Glaser, new Assistant Editor at Antiwar.com, discusses Obama’s minimal drawdown of US troops in Afghanistan; how COIN doctrine is falling out of favor as its failures mount; Congress beginning to reflect public opinion on ending the wars in Afghanistan and Libya; the countercurrent in the Obama administration and major party leadership determined to carry on no matter what the people think; and a lesson Obama has learned from Libya: conduct secret wars with drone strikes so oversight,...
06/23/11 – Joe Meadors – The Scott Horton Show
Joe Meadors, a crew member of the USS Liberty during the infamous Israeli attack in 1967, discusses his decision to join the current aid flotilla to Gaza; Israel’s defenders who claim there are other means to supply Gaza – with Israel as intermediary – though those supplies never seem to get in; the US government taking Israel’s side in all matters, in 1967 as well as now; the hardships endured by Gazans subject to blockade; and the conspicuously missing US rhetoric for democratic regime...
06/22/11 – Jason Ditz – The Scott Horton Show
Jason Ditz, managing news editor at Antiwar.com, discusses the Italian Foreign Minister’s call for an end to the Libya War after NATO airstrikes killed many civilians; how Italy’s abstention from the war would remove strategic air bases currently used in NATO’s bombing campaign; questions of legality on Obama’s Libya War, relating to the War Powers Act; how Obama shopped for a favorable legal opinion – and got one from State Department legal adviser Harold Koh; and how NATO is already tired of...
06/22/11 – Adam Morrow – The Scott Horton Show
Adam Morrow, journalist with IPS News, discusses his articles “Experts Fear Israeli Design to Balkanise Arab States” and “Gaza Crossing Lets Trickle Through;” how Egypt’s Rafah border crossing with Gaza is technically open, but fails to function as a typical international border with regard to commercial traffic; why the US and Israel retain significant influence in Egypt’s military – which still runs the country; and how Balkanization is used as an imperial divide-and-conquer...
