Peter Van Buren returns to the show to discuss the American diplomatic tensions with North Korea and his article “Don’t Be Cynical About An Olympics Detente With North Korea.” Van Buren explains why he thinks that the United States is not moving towards war with North Korea, how the Koreans created a serious window for diplomacy with their Olympic delegation, and reflects on his time living in South Korea in the late 1990s. Van Buren then makes the case that the U.S. is in constant search of an enemy, and why North Korea is the perfect foil.

Peter Van Buren worked for 24 years at the Department of State including a year in Iraq. He is the author of “We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People” and the novel “Hooper’s War.” He is now a contributing editor at The American Conservative magazine. Follow him on Twitter @WeMeantWell.

Discussed on the show:

• Kim Yo-jong
• Kim Yong-nam
• “U.S. Opens Door to North Korea Talks, a Victory for South’s President” (The New York Times)
• Walter Duranty
• Agreed Framework
• “1/21/18 Gareth Porter on Donald Trump’s Bluff Towards North Korea” (The Scott Horton Show)
• “North Korea Says It Might Negotiate On Nuclear Weapons. But The Washington Post Isn’t Reporting That.” by John Schwarz (The Intercept)
• “A grand bargain with China could remove North Korea’s nuclear threat — but it would destroy America’s global influence” (Los Angeles Times)
• “War with North Korea would be ‘catastrophic,’ Defense Secretary Mattis says” (CBS)

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Zen Cash, The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; LibertyStickers.com; TheBumperSticker.com; and ExpandDesigns.com/Scott.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

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