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Connor Freeman was on Antiwar Radio this week to talk about two big stories in the news. The first was the press conference Trump’s campaign called where they claimed the intelligence community had told them that Iran has teams trying to assassinate the former president. Scott and Freeman then discuss the pager attack in Lebanon and the subsequent bombings carried out by the IDF on Lebanese neighborhoods. They end with a quick discussion of the latest coming out of the West Bank.

Discussed on the show:

• Kamala launches belligerent new Cold War ad blitz
• The Terror Factory by Trevor Aaronson
• “Israeli bulldozers tear up ‘mile after mile’ of roads, sewage lines in West Bank towns” (The Cradle)

Connor Freeman is the Assistant Editor of the Libertarian Institute, primarily covering foreign policy. He is a co-host on Conflicts of Interest. His writing has been featured in media outlets such as Antiwar.com and Counterpunch, as well as the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity. You can follow him on Twitter @FreemansMind96

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Roberts and Robers Brokerage Incorporated; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; Libertas Bella; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott.

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Scott talks to Gareth Porter about war with Iran. Porter is still convinced most people realize that such a war would be so costly in lives and dollars that it’s not even worth considering, but worries about National Security Advisor John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who have been able to get their hooks into President Trump in the past.

Discussed on the show:

• “The Right May Finally Get Its War on Iran” (Truthdig)
• Center for Strategic and International Studies

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. Follow him on Twitter @GarethPorter and listen to Gareth’s previous appearances on the Scott Horton Show.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.

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Pieter Friedrich joins the show to talk about the recent bombing attack in Kashmir’s Pulwama district. He explains some of the history of India and Pakistan, which has been rife with conflict between Hindus and Muslims for centuries.

Discussed on the show:

• “Pulwama: A Present Moment in the Longer Kashmir Story” (Antiwar.com Original)
• Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act

Pieter Friedrich is an author and public speaker specializing in analysis of historical and current affairs in South Asia. He is the author of Gandhi: Racist or Revolutionary?. Follow him on Twitter @FriedrichPieter.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.

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Ben Freeman explains the ways that lobbies, particularly foreign ones, can influence politicians in Washington by disguising where their money is coming from. Despite safeguards against this type of influence, the money is rampant.

Discussed on the show:

• “Following the foreign-policy money trail in Washington” (Salon.com)
• The Foreign Policy Auction
• Homepage
• Jamal Khashoggi
• “Foreign Agents Registration Act” (Department of Justice)

Ben Freeman is director of the Foreign Influence Transparency Initiative with the Center for International Policy. Read his work at AntiWar.com and follow him on Twitter @BenFreemanDC.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.

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Gilbert Doctorow talks about the potential for a hot war with Russia, which the neocons, he says, seem to think would actually be possible without the use of nuclear weapons. He and Scott both emphatically agree, however, that that is not the case. Given that each country (along with several others) has the capacity to destroy all of civilization several times over, the greatest possible caution and diplomacy are called for.

Discussed on the show:

• Does Russia Have a Future?: Collected (Nonconformist) Essays on Russian, American and European Relations, 2013-15
• “Vladimir Putin on national defense in his Annual Address to a joint session of the Russian parliament: threats or a bid to negotiate on arms control?” (gilbertdoctorow.com)
• “Are Trump and Putin Opening Pandora’s Box?” (The New York Times)

Gilbert Doctorow is an independent political analyst and was the European Coordinator of The American Committee for East-West Accord. He writes regularly for Consortium News. His latest book is Does the United States Have a Future?

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.

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Grant Smith joins the show to talk about his upcoming event, The Israel Lobby & American Policy Conference 2019, which will be held in Washington, D.C. on March 22. The conference features many prominent guests and will explore the lobby’s powerful influence over American politics.

Discussed on the show:

• The Israel Lobby & American Policy Conference
• Playgrounds for Palestine
• “Watch the film the Israel lobby didn’t want you to see” (The Electronic Intifada)
• Israel’s Armor: The Israel Lobby and the First Generation of the Palestine Conflict
• Defense for Children

Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America and Divert!. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.

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M.J. Rosenberg discusses the controversy over representative Ilhan Omar’s recent comments about AIPAC, which caused everyone in and around the Israel lobby to lose their collective minds. The main problem with the outrage, explains Rosenberg, is that she’s basically correct; AIPAC really does wield enormous influence over both parties in Washington, only it has more to do with political power and the United States’ greater relationship with Israel than with actual campaign contributions.

Discussed on the show:

• “This Is How AIPAC Really Works” (The Nation)
• “2/15/19 Daniel McAdams on the Death of Congressman Walter Jones” (The Libertarian Institute)
• Meir Kahane
• “Netanyahu Just Invited Israel’s Equivalent Of The KKK To Join The Government” (The Forward)
• “Combating BDS Act of 2019” (Library of Congress)
• “This Is What the Beginning of a Real Israel Debate Looks Like” (The New Republic)
• IfNotNow
• “Watch the film the Israel lobby didn’t want you to see” (The Electronic Intifada)

M.J. Rosenberg is a former Senior Foreign Policy Fellow at Media Matters Action Network, before which he worked on Capitol Hill for 15 years for various Democratic members of the House and Senate. You can find him on Twitter @rosenberg_mj.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.

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Chas W. Freeman talks about the recent history of China, which, after the communist regime gave way to a softer form of mixed-market fascism thanks in part to negotiations during the Nixon administration, has become the world’s leading manufacturer and a major consumer market. Some Americans think this is a bad thing because it makes China a competitor with the United States for global hegemony. Freeman worries that this fear could lead to real conflict, and in the worst case, retaliatory nuclear conflict.

Discussed on the show:

• “After the Trade War, a Real War With China?” (Antiwar.com Original)

Chas W. Freeman was Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs from 1993-94 and served as U. S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Follow him at his website, chasfreeman.net.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.

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Matthew Hoh talks about why ending the war in Afghanistan has been so difficult. For one thing, even though many of the soldiers on the ground realize the war is both immoral and unwinnable, the war planners don’t necessarily know that. For another, generals and other military advisers to the president will pretty much always counsel in favor of war, and how to fight a war effectively, since that’s their craft. For this reason Hoh stresses the necessity of civilian oversight of the military, since civilians are better positioned to decide whether war is a good idea in the first place.

Discussed on the show:

• “Time for Peace in Afghanistan and an End to the Lies” (Counterpunch)
• “1/4/19 Matthew Hoh and Danny Sjursen on the Consequences of America’s Wars in the Middle East” (The Libertarian Institute)
• Costs of War Project
• “‘Irritated’ by Russia, US Admiral Sends Warship to Black Sea” (Antiwar.com)
• An Enemy We Created: The Myth of the Taliban-Al Qaeda Merger in Afghanistan
• Obama’s Wars
• “Ryan Crocker: “I was ambassador to Afghanistan. This deal is a surrender. ” (Washington Post)

Matthew Hoh is a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and formerly worked for the U.S. State Department. Hoh received the Ridenhour Prize Recipient for Truth Telling in 2010. Hoh is a member of the Board of Directors for Council for a Livable World and is an Advisory Board Member for Expose Facts. He writes on issues of war, peace and post-traumatic stress disorder recovery at matthewhoh.com.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1KGye7S3pk7XXJT6TzrbFephGDbdhYznTa.