Grant Smith returns to the show to discuss his upcoming conference "The Israel Lobby and American Policy" and the recent Al Jazeera documentary "The Lobby," which he wrote about in a recent article for Antiwar.com "Will Al Jazeera Air The Lobby Before AIPAC Meets?" Smith also gives a detailed breakdown of the list of great speakers who will be presenting at the conference on March 2nd. You can buy your tickets to see Grant, Scott, and more through Eventbrite. Grant F. Smith is the author of a...
2/12/18 Jodie Evans on CodePink’s “Divest From The War Machine”
Code Pink's Jodie Evans returns to the show to discuss CodePink's "Divest from the War Machine" campaign. Evans details the confluence of congress, corporations, and civic institutions all of which support and profit from war and Code Pink's role in raising awareness and creating a robust divestment movement. Then she lets you know how you can be a part of the solution. Jodie Evans is the co-founder and director of CodePink. To find out more about what you can do to help divest from the war...
2/12/18 Peter Van Buren explains why he’s optimistic about diplomacy with North Korea
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...
2/9/18 Andy Worthington on Trump’s plans for Guantanamo and the rehabilitation of George W. Bush
Investigative journalist Andy Worthington returns to the show to discuss the absurd rehabilitation of George W. Bush by the left. Worthington recalls the early days of the Bush-Cheney administration and the crimes committed at Guantanamo and the murder of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan. Worthington then breaks down the various elements of the U.S. torture network and the long draw down of Guantanamo starting in the Bush days, but which has never reaching its conclusion. Finally Worthington...
2/9/18 Michael Bell on police reform in Wisconsin following the shooting of his son
Police-reform activist Michael Bell returns to the show to discuss his efforts to reform police conduct and receive justice for his son's killing. Bell details the tragic events that led to his son's shooting in 2004 and the subsequent cover up and political masquerade. Ultimately the Bell family was awarded with a record civil rights settlement—which they used to fund their mission to change the law. In April 2014, thanks to Bell's efforts and on the back of immense public pressure, the state...
2/9/18 Brian Saady on NSA spying on Americans under 2017 FISA reauthorization
Author Brian Saady returns to the show to discuss his article "With the Shutdown Over, the Government Can Go Back to Suppressing Your Rights." Saady explains in laymen's terms FISA 702, which allows the NSA to monitor any American in communication with foreign targets concerning any foreign intelligence. Saady then turns back the clock and recalls how the history of the national security state has led to the current mass surveillance programs. Brian Saady is the author of the three-part series...
2/6/18 Eric Margolis on America’s permanent presence in Syria
Veteran journalist Eric Margolis returns to the show to discuss his latest article, "The Syrian Madhouse Gets Even Crazier." Margolis explains why Rex Tillerson's recent decision to maintain a long-term presence in eastern Syria has created an even bigger mess and how the Turkish-Kurdish conflict has come to a head. Scott then details the long history of U.S. support for and betrayal of the Kurds. Eric Margolis is a foreign affairs correspondent and author of “War at the Top of the World” and...
2/6/18 Elijah Magnier on Iran’s waning influence in Iraq
Veteran war correspondent Elijah Magnier returns to the show to discuss his latest article, "Iran is Losing Influence in Iraq: Is Qassem Soleimani the Right Person?" Magnier breaks down the degree to which Iraq and Iran see eye to eye about policy, the political climate in the lead up to elections in Iraq, and explains how it came to be that the Iraqis rejected the aid of their long-term ally Soleimani. Magnier then returns to the Sunni insurgency in Iraq over a decade ago and describes the...
2/6/18 Tom Cooper on the war in Yemen from above
Author and illustrator Tom Cooper joins Scott to discuss his article for War is Boring, “A New State is Emerging in Yemen.” Cooper outlines how North and South Yemen were united under Ali Abdullah Saleh, the surprising nuances in the political alliances within Yemen, and the similarities and differences between the situation in Yemen and Syria. Cooper also details the many varied fighting forces in Yemen and the general consensus among them all against Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Tom Cooper is a writer...
2/5/18 Gilbert Doctorow on Bob Parry and Russia-Ukraine tensions
Consortium News' Gilbert Doctorow returns to the show to discuss his latest article, "A Coming Russia-Ukraine War?" Doctorow also shares his memories of legendary journalist Bob Parry who died this week, explains why understanding Russian political goals is essential to good diplomacy, and describes the rising tensions between Russia and the Ukraine. Doctorow then details the many different sanctions placed on Russians by the United States, and makes the case why sanctions constitute an act of...
2/5/18 Mark Perry on Donald Trump’s new Nuclear Arms Plan
Reporter Mark Perry returns to the show to talk about his latest piece for the American Conservative Magazine on Donald Trump's nuclear posture review, "Trump’s Nuke Plan Raising Alarms Among Military Brass." According to Perry there's considerable skepticism within the military about the new Trump plan. Perry then details the U.S.-Russia nuclear relations and the extreme danger of any kind of nuclear escalation. Finally Perry discusses what Trump could do to ameliorate the situation with...
2/2/18 Major Danny Sjursen on the Vietnam War’s legacy in Iraq and Afghanistan
U.S. army major Daniel A. Sjursen joins Scott to talk about his experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq, the supposed military tactics of "The Surge," and his latest piece on the legacy of the Vietnam War, "The War That Never Ends (for the U.S. Military High Command)." Sjursen draws parallels between the Vietnam War and the Iraq and Afghan Wars and makes the case that misconceptions about the Vietnam War have persisted into the tactical approach to the forever wars of the present. Finally Sjursen...
2/2/18 May Jeong on the latest murderous U.S. drone strike in Afghanistan
May Jeong returns to the show to discuss her article for The Intercept, "Losing Sight" about a four-year-old Afghan girl, Aisha Rashid, who was the sole survivor of a drone strike in a remote village in Afghanistan. Aisha miraculously survived. Then she disappeared. Jeong goes in depth into her reporting, the horrors of drone warfare, and details the ISIS presence in Afghanistan. Scott and Jeong then talk about the paradox of humanitarian aid and the satellite charity organizations. May Jeong...
1/31/18 MSF’s Ghassan Abou Chaar updates the situation in Yemen
Ghassan Abou Chaar, Doctors Without Borders' head of missions in Yemen, joins Scott to discuss the situation in Yemen. Chaar says that the cholera outbreak has improved as the dry season has limited the spread of the infection, but that cases of diarrhea remain prevalent. Chaar explains that while seasonal changes have helped, many of the awful conditions that led to the cholera outbreak in the first place remain in place. Chaar then updates the water situation in Yemen and the degree to which...
1/26/18 Joey Lawrence on the Turkish assault on Syrian Kurdistan
Joey Lawrence returns to the show to discuss the latest developments in northeast Syria, where the Kurds and Turks are facing off—with the U.S. potentially caught in the middle. Lawrence breaks down the Turkish strategy in the battle against the Kurds, gives his thoughts on the new American bases in Syria, and explains how the Kurds negotiate their relationship with the U.S. and what their longterm goals are. Lawrence then details the Turkish bombing of Syrian Kurdistan. Finally Scott asks...
