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Scott is joined by Patrick MacFarlane, the Justin Raimondo Fellow at the Libertarian Institute, to discuss an article he wrote recently as well as the new direction he’s taking his podcast Vital Dissent. Scott and MacFarlane first dig into the growing tension between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan’s sovereignty. MacFarlane points out that some of the best opposition to both the policies that provoked Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and NATO’s subsequent response is from populist right-wingers. But those very same people throw all their logic out the window when the topic turns from Russia to China. 

Discussed on the show:

• “Nothing But Welfare Queens: American Aid to Zelensky and Tsai Ing-wen” (Libertarian Institute)
• Vital Dissent

Patrick MacFarlane is the Justin Raimondo Fellow at the Libertarian Institute where he advocates a noninterventionist foreign policy. He is a Wisconsin attorney in private practice. His work has appeared on antiwar.com and Zerohedge. Follow him on Twitter @patmacfarlane_

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and Thc Hemp Spot.

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Yousaf Butt, Research Professor and Scientist-in-residence at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation, discusses his article “Iran centrifuge magnet story technically questionable;” why the mainstream media continues to publish David Albright’s false and misleading anti-Iran stories; the IAEA’s duty to help – not obstruct – Iran with technical challenges in the production of civilian nuclear energy; and why countries that refuse to give up their nuclear programs (N. Korea) fare better than those that acquiesce (Libya).

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Patrick Cockburn, journalist with The Independent, discusses how the civil war in Syria is inspiring Iraq’s restive Sunni population; why Baghdad still has nonfunctional sewers and electricity even though billions of dollars have been spent; the Sunni protestors who are denied government representation and jobs; and the scant media coverage on Iraq after the US withdrawal.

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Andy Worthington, author of The Guantanamo Files, discusses the US’s very low standards for kidnapping and torturing suspects in the War on Terror; the continuing “colossal miscarriages of justice” for innocent victims; the Spanish courts taking action after the US failed to hold anyone accountable; the political cowardice preventing the release of Guantanamo prisoners cleared by Obama’s task force; and why indefinite detention without trial is the hallmark of dictatorships, not democracies.

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Christian Stork, a journalist with WhoWhatWhy, discusses his article “The Saga of Barrett Brown: Inside Anonymous And The War On Secrecy;” the federal criminal charges against Brown (who has been jailed since September 2012) that could amount to a life sentence; Brown’s research effort (ProjectPM) to crowdsource the 75,000+ Anonymous-procured emails from private security/intelligence contractor HBGary; and the law firms and front groups paid to damage the reputations of activists and journalists.

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Mondoweiss blogger Philip Weiss discusses the outcome of Israel’s election; Netanyahu’s strange coalition of centrists and right-wingers; the liberal American Zionists who have faith that Obama and/or the EU can make Israel’s government more moderate; why apartheid means the end of the Jewish Israeli state; the mainstream media’s newfound ability to question and criticize Israel; and how Chuck Hagel’s confirmation hearings have drawn needed attention to the Israel lobby.

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IPS News journalist Gareth Porter discusses his upcoming book Manufactured Crisis: A History of the Iranian Nuclear Scare; his article on the investigation of the July 2012 Israeli tourist bus bombing, “Bulgarian Revelations Explode Hezbollah Bombing ‘Hypothesis;'” how Israel and the US are scheming to get Hezbollah on the EU terrorist organization list; clues that point to Al-Qaeda involvement in the Bulgaria bus bombing; the significance of the 1996 Khobar Towers attack in Saudi Arabia; and former FBI Director Louis Freeh’s close working relationship with the Saudis.

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Nathan Fuller of the Bradley Manning Support Network discusses the upcoming international protests on February 23rd against Bradley Manning’s 1000 days locked in jail without trial; how Manning’s defense has been hurt by unfavorable pretrial rulings; the government’s unprecedented interpretation of “aiding the enemy;” and the persecution of whistleblowers and leakers of information unfavorable to the government (favorable leaks are A-OK).

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Kingston Reif, Director of Nuclear Non-Proliferation at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, discusses the cost effectiveness of the US missile defense system; the failure to test against ICBM’s, decoys and countermeasures; why Israel’s “Iron Dome” doesn’t prove missile defense works; and how a seemingly defensive strategy could be used offensively against US rivals – sparking a new nuclear arms race.

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