Asia Times journalist Pepe Escobar discusses Israel's opportunistic aggression in Gaza while the news cycle is fully occupied with other things; the Arab Spring counterrevolutions led by Persian Gulf monarchies; how the US could be weaned from Middle East oil (and politics) within ten years; and the ongoing developments in the Benghazi/CIA/Petraeus scandals.

Jeffrey Kaye, a psychologist and regular writer for Truthout, discusses his article "The Forgotten History of David Petraeus;" the media's fawning adoration of Petraeus despite his record of failure and links to torture and death squads; the legal system's failure to constrain the US government from waging aggressive warfare and torturing at will; and indications that Petraeus was ousted by his own agency.

Emptywheel blogger Marcy Wheeler discusses how David Petraeus' resignation scandal is related to the Sept. 11 Benghazi attack that killed the US ambassador; Paula Broadwell's claim that the CIA was holding prisoners in Benghazi; numerous theories about who wanted Petraeus out, and why; and the US's nation-building failures from Iraq to Libya.

Alfred W. McCoy, author of Torture and Impunity, discusses his article "Beyond Bayonets and Battleships: Space Warfare and the Future of U.S. Global Power;" the integration of killer drones, cyber-surveillance and global biometric identification; and why the US continues to lose wars despite having enormous (yet unsustainable) military and technological advantages.

Anthony Gregory of The Independent Institute discusses Murray Rothbard's 1965 essay "Left and Right: The Prospects for Liberty;" why Libertarians have more in common historically with the Left than the Right; how the political spectrum has been redefined over time; and how government regulation helps big corporations and punishes potential competitors.

William S. Lind, coauthor of The Next Conservatism, discusses his article "Why Conservatives Hate War;" how war damages social and cultural continuity while increasing the state's power; conservative opposition to the World Wars and the Cold War (beyond the 1960s); a living wage for single-income family men; and the challenges of fighting fourth generation warfare.

IPS News journalist Gareth Porter discusses how the media got it wrong about Israel being "on the verge" of war with Iran in 2010; former Mossad chief Meir Dagan's warnings about Benjamin Netanyahu's reckless bluster; why Israel's military can't possibly go-it-alone on Iran; and the obstacles preventing a diplomatic solution with Iran during Obama's second term.

http://dissentradio.com/radio/12_11_07_giraldi.mp3 Former CIA officer Philip Giraldi discusses the progress (or lack thereof) in the 11-year old war on terrorism; how Dick Cheney's "One Percent Doctrine" continues to define US foreign policy; the defeat of Mitt Romney and his neoconservative advisors; and why Chas Freeman would be a great replacement for Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. Transcript Scott Horton: All right. You guys don't want to talk about the election. Neither do I....

Clive Stafford Smith, author of The Injustice System, discusses how the US and UK colluded to commit war crimes in the illegal detention of Yunus Rahmatullah; the misleading recidivism rate of ex-Guantanamo prisoners; how the "noble corruption" of well-intentioned police and prosecutors is destroying the justice system; and why retired high-level US politicians had better think twice about vacationing in Europe.

Jeremiah Goulka, a TomDispatch regular, discusses "The Urge to Bomb Iran;" the power and influence of neoconservatives; war-and-peace policy differences between Obama and Romney; a partial list of Romney's foreign policy advisors; the fevered dreams of pro-MEK regime change hawks; and why it's no fun arguing with intellectually dishonest people.  

Eric Margolis, journalist and author of American Raj, discusses why the US and France are so interested in Mali, of all places; the North African al-Qaeda affiliate borne from the brutal Algerian war; how Africa's vast size and numerous conflicts give the Pentagon an excuse to stay "globally engaged;" the questionable US alliances with shady militants in Libya and Syria; the CIA's love-hate relationship with Muammar Gaddafi and Bashar al-Assad; and why puppet governments aren't as easy to...

Muhammad Sahimi, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Southern California, discusses "the unfolding human catastrophe in Iran" from US-imposed sanctions; the Obama administration's lies about "smart, targeted" sanctions that hurt the Iranian government, not the people; why the US's real goal is regime change, not curtailing Iran's nuclear enrichment program; what General Martin Dempsey really meant when he said "I don't want to be complicit" if Israel...

Constitutional attorney and author John Whitehead discusses the US government's authorization of drone aircraft for domestic law enforcement and surveillance (public and private); the estimated 30,000 drones of all shapes and sizes that will be in service by 2020; the fate of former Marine Brandon Raub, who was forcibly institutionalized for controversial Facebook postings; the many veterans being pestered by FBI and DHS for exercising their First Amendment rights; The Rutherford Institute's...

Bruce E. Levine, a clinical psychologist and author, discusses how TV makes Americans passive and accepting of authority; how producers use "technical events" to biologically attract a viewer's attention; the mental health issues and social isolation caused by watching television; and how the corporate state has essentially colonized Americans who cannot effect political change and feel helpless.

McClatchy Newspapers journalist Mel Frykberg discusses the September 11th attack on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi and why it remains a hot-button election issue; the revenge-minded Misrata militias attacking in Bani Walid; the stumbling blocks preventing Libya from forming a viable central government; the al-Qaida linked militants moving back and forth across the Libya-Egypt border; the huge cache of missing Gaddafi-regime weapons; and why the West is mostly silent on human rights...