Thomas C. Mountain, an independent journalist based in Eritrea, discusses the UN's "murder and mayhem" in Africa; how US-friendly governments in Uganda and Rwanda are making matters worse in Darfur and Mogadishu; why Africa's so-called economic miracles and democratic elections are more fiction than fact; Saudi funding for radical Wahabbis in Mali; how Al-Qaeda is both an ally and enemy of the US; and journalist Gary Webb's exposure of the CIA's drug running.

Jonathan Landay of McClatchy Newspapers discusses the Afghan government's draft peace plan; why the Taliban has no incentive to negotiate or make political concessions; the many factions vying for power in Afghanistan and within the Taliban itself; why there are no good outcomes possible - whether the US withdraws or not; and India's political and financial interests in Afghanistan.

Former CIA officer Philip Giraldi discusses how the Council for the National Interest plans to counter the Israel Lobby and Islamophobia hucksters in 2013; Chuck Hagel's unlikely shot at Secretary of Defense; the 6000-page Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA torture; and how the US is descending into national barbarism.

James Bovard, policy advisor to The Future of Freedom Foundation, discusses his new book Public Policy Hooligan; asserting individual rights in response to arbitrary authority; honing the craft of writing; doing journalism behind the Iron Curtain; US farm policy; the myth and reality of "fair trade" products; and investigations of Ruby Ridge and Waco.

Will Grigg, blogger and author of Liberty in Eclipse, discusses the Sandy Hook school massacre; Barack Obama's ability to shed tears for murdered schoolkids in Newtown while he authorizes drone strikes that kill children in Yemen, Afghanistan and Pakistan; and why most Americans think murder is moral when the government does it.

Patrick Cockburn, journalist with The Independent, discusses Syria's "descent into Holy War;" why the Assad government isn't on the verge of collapse; the very few competent Western media figures reporting on Syria; the Al-Qaeda style public beheadings scaring minority Alawites and Christians; and how US-NATO support motivates the rebels to keep fighting and reject peaceful compromise.

Philip Giraldi, a former CIA officer and executive director of the Council for the National Interest, discusses how CNI counters the pro-Israel lobby's endless propaganda; Obama's declaration that Syria's rebels are the legitimate representatives of the Syrian people; the consequences facing the US for toppling Middle Eastern secular governments; and why the neoconservative super-couple Kim and Fred Kagan think the US should occupy Afghanistan forever.

Jacob Hornberger, founder and president of the Future of Freedom Foundation, discusses FFF's year-end fundraising drive; the history of US-Cuba relations (or lack thereof); why the US should get its own house in order instead of being "a force for freedom" abroad; and the neoconservatives who believe all those ungrateful Vietnamese, Iraqis and Afghans should pay up for their "liberation."

Michelle Richardson, legislative counsel with the ACLU, discusses the imminent re-authorization of the 2008 FISA Amendments Acts (when warrantless wiretaps were legalized) and how you can tell the Senate to Fix FISA before it's renewed.  

John Knefel, radio host and political writer, discusses his article "They Can Do That?! 10 Outrageous Tactics Cops Get Away With;" America's descent into an authoritarian police state; why the courts can't be counted on to protect our Constitutional rights; and how the War on Drugs allows the cops to do just about anything they want.

Charles Goyette, author of The Dollar Meltdown and Red and Blue and Broke All Over, discusses the government's fiscal cliff; why the proposed "austerity" budget cuts are ludicrously small; how Republicans conveniently forget their own history of profligate spending; the Freedom & Prosperity newsletter; the synchronous decline of all the world's fiat currencies; why a US economic recovery (if it ever happens) will be accompanied by serious price inflation; and the remarkable resilience of...

Peter Hart from Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) discusses the media hype on Syria's supposedly imminent use of chemical weapons against the rebels; the prominent journalists who "sold" the Iraq War in 2003 that are attempting to do so again with Syria; and why the NY Times doesn't think Bradley Manning's trial is newsworthy.

Flynt Leverett, author of Going to Tehran: Why the United States Must Come to Terms with the Islamic Republic of Iran, discusses why Iran - contrary to popular belief - isn't a nation composed of suicide-bombers and "Mad Mullahs;" the difficulty of debunking 33 years of anti-Iran propaganda; applying a Nixon-goes-to-China model for US-Iran reconciliation; and the numerous wasted diplomatic opportunities in the Bush and Obama administrations. Scott Horton Interviews Flynt Levertt December 10,...

Sheldon Richman of the Future of Freedom Foundation discusses the "individualist collectivism" in a real free market system; reasons that good-faith liberals should be receptive to libertarian-style economics; why profit isn't necessarily theft from labor; the "sources of privilege" enabling corporate protectionism; and the pros and cons of inflation.

Robert Stinnett, author of Day Of Deceit: The Truth About FDR and Pearl Harbor, discusses the evidence that FDR provoked the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor (8-point plan), had forewarning that the attack was coming (radio intercepts, code-breaking), and willingly sacrificed thousands of sailors to get isolationist America into WWII. Transcript Scott Horton: All right, y’all. Welcome back to the show. I’m Scott Horton, and our next guest is Robert Stinnett from The Independent Institute at...