Download Episode.

Scott interviews Iraqi journalist Dana Taib Menmy about an article he wrote on the possibility that cleric Muqtada al-Sadr may return to Iraqi politics after a nearly three-year withdrawal. Scott and Menmy discuss who Sadr is, why he left, why it seems he may return and how that will impact both Iraqi politics and the stability of the whole region.

Discussed on the show:

• “Will Iraq’s Muqtada al-Sadr end his political quarantine?” (The New Arab)

Dana Taib Menmy is The New Arab’s Iraq Correspondent, writing on issues of politics, society, human rights, security, and minorities. Follow him on Twitter @danataibmenmy

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

Get Scott’s interviews before anyone else! Subscribe to the Substack.

Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjY

Sheldon Richman is interviewed for his new article for the Libertarian Institute, “TGIF: Are We Sure It Can’t Happen Here“. Richman discusses the abuses of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union and the parallels that are breaking in our society today.

Sheldon Richman is the executive editor of the Libertarian Institute and the author of America’s Counter-Revolution: The Constitution Revisited. Follow him on Twitter @SheldonRichman.

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.; Zen Cash; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and TheBumperSticker.com.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Patrick Cockburn is interviewed on the Basra protests and discontent that’s detailed in his article “The Major Uprising in Basra and Southern Iraq that the world should be worrying about in the Middle East right now“. Cockburn talks about the motivation of the Sunnis in the area to revolt, their living conditions, and how they’ve been cut out of the government. The protesters have burned government buildings, including the Iranian consulate, in their anger.

Patrick Cockburn is the Middle East correspondent for The Independent and the author of The Age of Jihad and Chaos & Caliphate.

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.; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; LibertyStickers.com; and ExpandDesigns.com/Scott.
Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Peter Ford is a former UK ambassador to Syria and Bahrain before beginning work at the UN. Ford is interviewed on his article “Is a Syrian Suez Approaching“. Ford talks about the setup of the pretexts for the escalation of the conflict, up to and including American intervention and the provocations that are occurring to accelerate it.

Peter Ford is the co-chairman of the British Syrian Society.

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.; Zen Cash; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and TheBumperSticker.com.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Larry Wilkerson, former army Colonel and Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, is interviewed on his new article at LobeLog “The Neoconservative Comeback” on the growing influence of neoconservatism in the Trump Administration. Trump’s Syria and Afghanistan policy are discussed, as well as the old axiom, personnel is policy.

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.; Zen Cash; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and TheBumperSticker.com.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Journalist Christina Goldbaum gives an update on the U.S. drone bombings in Somalia, which have increased over the last year under President Trump. Godbaum explains that President Obama enforced relatively strict rules for drone strikes in Somalia, but Trump has now relaxed them, leading to more strikes and more civilian casualties. Of course, as with America’s many other drone wars, the bombing does little to increase stability or dissuade the rebel groups, and may even embolden them and increase their numbers.

Discussed on the show:

• “A Trumpian War on Terror That Just Keeps Getting Bigger” (The Atlantic)
• Ethiopian invasion of somalia
• “Cameroon: Killings, Destruction in Anglophone Regions” (Human Rights Watch)

Christina Goldbaum is a freelance journalist based in east Africa. Follow her on Twitter @cegoldbaum.

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.; Zen Cash; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and TheBumperSticker.com.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Jason Ditz comes on the show to give an update about the war in Afghanistan in light of the recent peace talks in Qatar. Involving the Afghan government in the negotiations will be critical to success, he explains, and since they were not involved in these talks, they’re unlikely to amount to anything. Scott adds that since the Taliban has already essentially won the war, there’s nothing to negotiate anyway. They also discuss the real reasons for American military presence in Afghanistan, admitted by some officials, which is to prevent China from occupying the country and building trade routes that they control.

Discussed on the show:

• “Taliban Prepares Delegation for New Peace Talks With US” (Antiwar.com)
• Tet Offensive

Jason Ditz is the news editor of Antiwar.com. Read all of his work at news.antiwar.comand follow him on Twitter @jasonditz.

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.; Zen Cash; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and TheBumperSticker.com.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Sheldon Richman is interviewed for his new article for the Libertarian Institute,”TGIF: Trump, Spinoza, and the Palestinian Refugees.” Richman talks about the Trump Administration’s action to end aid to the Palestinians, close offices, and put the squeeze on the PLO. The situation of the Palestinians is discussed, including the Israeli blockade and how the aid cuts affect the Palestinians. This tactic is because the Trump Administration wants the Palestinians to agree to their “Deal of the Century”, which is a bad deal for the Palestinians.

Sheldon Richman is the executive editor of the Libertarian Institute and the author of America’s Counter-Revolution: The Constitution Revisited. Follow him on Twitter @SheldonRichman.

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.; Zen Cash; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and TheBumperSticker.com.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Grant F Smith Institute for Research Middle East Policy and author of Big Israel, about the Israel lobby in Washington DC, is interviewed on the results of his FOIA request of the Treasury Department. The office of Terrorism Finance and Development, a relatively new office, and has leveled sanctions for the Israeli government.

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.; Zen Cash; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and TheBumperSticker.com.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download