Washington, D.C.-based freelance reporter Kelley B. Vlahos discusses her article "Another Thanksgiving in Afghanistan;" why the David Petraeus/Paula Broadwell scandal really matters; the US-trained Afghan thugs who will take over if and when the US ever withdraws; the underwhelming slate of candidates for CIA director; and the racism of the drone war.  

IPS News journalist Adam Morrow discusses the real story behind Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi's so-called power grab; how Egypt's judicial apparatus - largely a relic from the Mubarak era - is sabotaging representative government; Mursi's shortcomings on IMF loans and Syria policy; and how Egypt's new leadership prevented another Israeli "Operation Cast Lead" in Gaza.

Gershon Baskin, founder of the Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information, discusses "Israel's Shortsighted Assassination" of Hamas military chief Ahmed al-Jabari; why Israel can't be blamed for creating Hamas (in its current form); and why Israel needs to negotiate with Hamas or risk a more radicalized government in its place.

Michael Hirsh, chief correspondent for National Journal, discusses his article "Susan Rice: Benghazi May Be Least of Her Problems;" how Rice's critics focus on personality politics and completely miss her cozy relationship with mass murdering African dictators; and how Rice's real record could be revealed during Secretary of State confirmation hearings.

Sheldon Richman of the Future of Freedom Foundation discusses the new and improved fff.org website; the death of adversarial journalism; US failures in Afghanistan; and the David vs. Goliath conflict in Gaza (and Israel sure isn't David).

Shane and Amy Bugbee, authors of the book (and movie) The Suffering and Celebration of Life in America, discuss their year-long road trip documenting how Americans think and live.

Max Blumenthal, author of Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement that Shattered the Party, discusses the latest Israeli precision strikes against schools and journalists in Gaza; the Twitter-dominated media coverage; genocidal rhetoric from Israeli government officials; the Israeli state's descent into corruption and fascism; the politics of maintaining a Jewish demographic majority; and why top Israeli officials wear their "war criminal" credentials proudly.

John Heuer of Veterans for Peace discusses last weekend's School of the Americas protest in Georgia; why the Catholic church reduced support for the annual SOA gathering (despite the history of attacks against clergy and laymen by SOA graduates in Latin America); how to argue with politicians steadfastly opposed to military budget cuts; ideas for effective local activism; how to humanize Gazans for brainwashed Americans; and The Gospel of Rutba (a story of good samaritans in Iraq.)

IPS News journalist Gareth Porter discusses the glaring deficiencies in David Petraeus' professional career; why history will remember Petraeus as the first general to wage a full scale PR campaign on the media and public opinion; Gareth's upcoming series of Petraeus articles at Truthout; how Petraeus abandoned his own COIN doctrine in Afghanistan; and the Taliban's success at infiltrating US-supported security services.

Stacy Langley from Dagney and Lane skin and hair care discusses the Men's Face Care Kit, success in advertising on the show so far, and the 15% discount for promo code Scott15 on all Dagney and Lane products at checkout. Thank you for supporting this show's sponsors.

Ryan Dawson, author of Welcome to the USSA: Corruption in the Government and Media, discusses why the superstorm Sandy damage on Hatteras Island, NC is the government's fault; foreign aid going to Iraq, Afghanistan and Israel while American states are neglected; how the current conflict in Gaza really started; and how the Israeli government has sabotaged peace deals with the Palestinians for decades.

Philip Giraldi, Executive Director of The Council for the National Interest, discusses Israel's attack on Gaza; the collective punishment of Gaza's majority under-aged population; how Israel created Hamas in the first place; the whirlwind of unpredictable blowback caused by interventionist foreign policy; and why David Petraeus is just another puffed-up armchair warrior. SCOTT HORTON INTERVIEWS PHILIP GIRALDI SCOTT HORTON SHOW, NOVEMBER 16, 2012 TRANSCRIPT SCOTT HORTON: For KPFK 90.7 in Los...

Joey King of Veterans for Peace discusses the School of the Americas protest this weekend (Nov. 16-18) at Fort Benning, GA; the 200-year history of interventionist US foreign policy in Latin America; and how the War on Drugs is giving the US military a foothold in Guatemala and elsewhere.

Joe Lauria, journalist for The Wall Street Journal, discusses the IDF's assassination of Hamas military chief Ahmed Jaabari; the Palestinian bid for non-member observer state status at the UN, and the legal rights conferred if successful; the similar political timing of Israel's current aggression and Operation Cast Lead in 2008; US ambassador Thomas Pickering's threat to "bring down the entire UN" in 1989 when Palestine last sought observer state status; and why Israel's government is...

Asia Times journalist Pepe Escobar discusses the credentials of Sheikh Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, the newly elected Syrian opposition leader;  how non-vetted videos and news sources drive the mainsteam media's coverage of Syria; talk of a Western-imposed no-fly zone and more weapons for Syria's rebels; Kurdish autonomy movements that transcend national borders; and why a partial rebel victory/secession in Syria is really no victory at all.