Sheldon Richman, vice president of The Future of Freedom Foundation, discusses why the record-high DOW index does not indicate a recovering economy; how the Fed's low-interest-rate policy forces savers into risky investments (like stocks); the fudge-factor in economic measurements like CPI and the unemployment rate; and the nonsensical things Paul Krugman says.

Retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel Karen Kwiatkowski discusses her firsthand account of the Bush administration's backroom machinations to lie us into the Iraq War; the draft invasion plans that long preceded the push to war in 2003; the Bush officials who have never been held accountable for leaking classified information and outright lies to a compliant media; and the permanent global war philosophy of neoconservatives.

Eric Margolis, journalist and author of American Raj, discusses the Showtime documentary on Dick Cheney, who casually dismisses his responsibility for starting the disastrous war in Iraq; the African dictators who go to war crimes tribunals while Cheney goes fishing; the confusing US policy of simultaneously attacking and supporting "terrorists" in Iraq, Libya and Syria; and the French intervention in western Africa.

Stephen Zunes, Professor of Politics and International Studies at the University of San Francisco, discusses his article "Remembering Those Responsible on the 10th Anniversary of the Iraq War;" the know-nothing US occupation staffers brought in to remake Iraqi society; how US foreign policy has radicalized a generation of Muslims and greatly increased the chance of another major terrorist attack; and the many Democrats who supported the Bush administration's war effort.

Gary Gambill, Associate Fellow at Middle East Forum, discusses why "Bush Was Right" on ending US support for Middle East dictatorships (even the compliant ones); how pro-American autocracies breed Islamic extremism by closing all other avenues of political expression; restricting World Bank and IMF loans to democratic governments; what constitutes an Islamic moderate; and why the US should not get involved in Syria's ongoing "Lebanonization."

Investigative journalist Gareth Porter discusses the murderous rampage carried out by unknown Afghan forces (possibly CIA-backed) in Wardak province; Afghan President Karzai's belief that the US is backing the Taliban and intentionally creating "security concerns" to destabilize the country; how US foreign policy decisions were influenced by petty infighting between the White House and State Department; and why antiwar Leftists don't have a clue about power politics and the national security...

Kara Dansky, Senior Counsel at the ACLU Center for Justice, discusses the ACLU's nationwide investigation into police use of military technology and tactics; the unknown standards for SWAT raids; military weapons and equipment that are often gifted to local police departments; and the anecdotal evidence of overly aggressive policing.

Jeremiah Goulka, a writer, political analyst, scholar and lawyer, discusses the history of Congress's pork-barrel spending on Lockheed Martin's C-130 aircraft; the vast overproduction of C-130s that now sit idle at airports across the country; Lockheed's record-high projected profits despite sequestration "cuts" to military spending; and Lockheed's incredible return on investment rate for lobbying Congress.

Investigative journalist Dahr Jamail discusses the perpetual low-grade war that is daily life in Iraq; the destabilizing effect of Syria's civil war; and the massive "last chance" Friday protests against Prime Minister al-Maliki's government.

TomDispatch editor Nick Turse discusses his new book Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam; how researching PTSD in American soldiers led him to startling documents on US war crimes in Vietnam; and how Robert McNamara's "body count" war-fighting strategy motivated American soldiers to systematically and wantonly kill Vietnamese civilians.

Peter Van Buren, author of We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People, discusses how the US empire overreacted and self-destructed after 9/11; why the Iraq War was the biggest foreign policy blunder in US history; rewarding failure and incompetence in government officials, while whistleblowers are fired and prosecuted; losing the opportunity to partner with Saddam Hussein against Al-Qaeda; and why the Iraq War seems like ancient history to many...

John Feffer, co-director of Foreign Policy In Focus, discusses North Korea's threat to preemptively nuke the US in response to new UN Security Council-imposed sanctions; the capabilities and limitations of North Korea's nuclear weapons program; and why the State Department should learn a thing or two about diplomatic outreach from ex-basketball player Dennis Rodman.

Philip Giraldi, executive director of the Council for the National Interest, discusses the backlash against Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan for daring to lump Zionism together with fascism and anti-Semitism in the 'odious ideology' category; how Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's monocultural, irreligious nationalism continues to guide Turkish identity and the state; the Bush administration's opportunity to take custody of Osama bin Laden's son-in-law (who now faces charges in a federal court) ten years...

Thomas C. Mountain, an independent journalist based in Eritrea, discusses the French military incursion in Mali; why the Saudi royal family finances radical Wahabi movements in Africa; the Tuareg's legitimate claim to an independent homeland in the Sahel region; and why 60,000 foreign troops in Somalia can't defeat Al-Shabaab.

Blogger Marcy Wheeler discusses Attorney General Eric Holder's claim that the president can kill Americans on US soil with a drone if he so chooses - and Congress can't stop him; Rand Paul's filibuster of John Brennan's CIA director nomination; the Bush administration's deliberation on sending the military to arrest/kill the "Lackawanna 6" in 2002; and how drone assassinations in Yemen are turning entire villages against the US. Transcript: SCOTT HORTON: All right, y'all. Welcome back to the...