Download Episode.

Eric Margolis returns to the show to talk about the war in Ukraine. Scott reflects on some of his early interviews with Margolis about Ukraine back in 2014. Just as he had said back then, Margolis sees some disturbing parallels between the modern tension in Eastern Europe and the build-up to World War One. Scott and Margolis talk about the mission creep happening with the West agreeing to send more and more provocative weapons while Russia claims sovereignty over territory it doesn’t even control. Notably, the two talk about how Crimea may be the big flashpoint. Margolis also points out that Washington is making all the same mistakes over Taiwan. 

Discussed on the show:

• “Halt This Crazy Rush to All Out War” (EricMargolis.com)
• Scott’s early interviews with Margolis about Ukraine
• “America’s Pacific Century” (Foreign Policy)
• War at the Top of the World by Eric Margolis
• American Raj by Eric Margolis
• Scott’s debate with Bill Kristol

Eric Margolis is a foreign affairs correspondent and author of War at the Top of the World and American Raj. Follow him on Twitter @EricMargolis and visit his website, ericmargolis.com.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; 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

Globetrotting journalist Pepe Escobar discusses the invasion of Iraq, 10 years on; the events leading to the height of sectarian violence in 2006-2007; Iran’s willingness to supply military aid to allied governments under threat in Syria and Iraq; how the US unintentionally made Muqtada al-Sadr Iraq’s most influential religious leader; and why Israel’s formal apology to Turkey for the flotilla massacre may indicate a new unity on Syrian regime change.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Philip Giraldi, executive director of the Council for the National Interest, discusses Obama’s recent visit to Israel and Palestine; why Israel really apologized to Turkey for the flotilla massacre; Obama’s speech calling on Israelis to push their government toward peace; and why Obama won’t seriously pursue diplomacy with Iran, even though he doesn’t want war.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Mark Thornton, Senior Fellow at the Ludwig von Mises Institute, discusses the Cypriot banking crisis; how a loss of faith in deposit insurance could spark a global run on banks; how currency wars lead to shooting wars; and Austrian economics applied to the housing bubble and inflation.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Jeffrey Tucker, publisher of Laissez Faire Books, discusses the pathology of nationalism and war; the movie Copperhead– about northern opponents of the Civil War; technological changes that are taking mindshare away from traditional media outlets; and the rise of bitcoin – a decentralized electronic currency.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council, discusses NIAC’s report on why sanctions on Iran aren’t working; how Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been backed into a political corner where he can’t make concessions; why the US doesn’t need a “Nixon goes to China” diplomatic breakthrough (as advocated by Flynt and Hillary Mann Leverett) to avert war; and how the US’s all stick, no carrot sanctions policy has given influential Iranians little incentive to push for change.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Daniel McAdams, foreign policy advisor for Rep. Ron Paul, discusses how Congressmen are often manipulated by their staffers; the hardcore jihadists leading Syria’s resistance fighters; why the neoconservatives aren’t helping Israel by promoting Syrian regime change; Obama’s affinity for secret wars, killing with drones and special forces; and how Ron Paul is continuing to educate on peace, liberty and freedom in his retirement.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Sheldon Richman, vice president of The Future of Freedom Foundation, discusses laissez-faire radical Frederic Bastiat and his theory on the socialization of wealth; why Bill Clinton deserves much of the blame for the housing bubble that popped in 2007-08; and why the Glass-Steagall Act’s repeal didn’t cause the financial crisis.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Peter Hart, activism director at Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), discusses the media’s Iraq War retrospective on the 10-year anniversary of the US invasion; why NY Times reporter Michael Gordon – who certainly “got it wrong” about Iraq’s WMD in 2003 – is still cited as an “expert journalist” on Iraq today; and President Bush’s tasteless jokes about WMD during a 2004 White House press event.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download