Barbara Slavin, author of Bitter Friends, Bosom Enemies: Iran, the U.S. and the Twisted Path to Confrontation, discusses her article “Subtle Signs Obama Diplomacy May Work on Iran;” who was really at fault for Iran’s failed uranium fuel-swap deal in 2009; growing concern with Iran’s 20% enrichment process that yields medical isotopes and a “breakout” capability; and why the Treasury Department’s investigation of MEK shills like Edward Rendell may be Obama’s way of reaching out to...
03/16/12 – Reza Marashi – The Scott Horton Show
Reza Marashi, Research Director for the National Iranian American Council, discusses his article “Money vs. Facts: The Mujahedin-e Khalq Is a Terrorist Organization;” the chorus of voices turning the tables on the MEK’s latest PR campaign; the Treasury Department investigation of Ed Rendell (and other prominent ex-politicians who are paid to speak on MEK’s behalf – a.k.a. providing “material support” to terrorists); and why Israel is the most likely source of MEK funding – meaning the “only...
03/15/12 – John Cook – The Scott Horton Show
John Cook, editor at Gawker.com, discusses his article “How the FBI Monitored Crusty Punks, ‘Anarchist Hangouts,’ and an Organic Farmers’ Market Under the Guise of Combating Terrorism;” the Bush administration’s obsession with animal-rights and environmental activists, who were the primary focus of post-9/11 domestic terrorism policy; how the FBI quickly expanded their “Seizing Thunder” operation beyond federal criminal investigations, devoting resources to staking out farmers’ markets and...
03/14/12 – John Feffer – The Scott Horton Show
John Feffer, co-director of Foreign Policy In Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, discusses his new book Crusade 2.0: The West’s Resurgent War on Islam; how the Obama administration is “bribing Israel” with offers of bunker buster bombs and long range aircraft if Israel will wait until after the election to attack Iran; looking at the pros and cons – for Iran – in pursuing a nuclear weapon; and the lack of resolve in US policy on Syria.
03/14/12 – Jason Leopold – The Scott Horton Show
Jason Leopold, lead investigative reporter of Truthout and author of News Junkie, discusses his article “US Subjected Manning to Cruel, Inhuman, Degrading Treatment, UN Torture Chief Concludes;” how Manning’s treatment highlights the State Department’s stunning hypocrisy when they finger-wag at other countries for human rights violations; why most Americans think Manning is a traitor and deserves whatever punishment he got in custody, even though he hasn’t been convicted of anything; and UN...
03/14/12 – Jasmin Ramsey – The Scott Horton Show
Jasmin Ramsey, an Iranian-born journalist and editor of Lobe Log, discusses her article “10 Myths About Iran — And Why They’re Dead Wrong;” making it clear that Iran is a nation of 70 million individuals, not some great amorphous threat signified by lines drawn on a map; US hypocrisy on international monitoring – demanding that Iran comply with intrusive IAEA inspections while refusing the UN torture chief’s request to interview Bradley Manning privately; why Iran is not a military threat to...
03/13/12 – Peter Hunt – The Scott Horton Show
Peter Hart, activism director at Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting, discusses how pro-Israel media watchdogs like CAMERA control the narrative by making the NY Times print seemingly minor retractions (although the Foreign Agents Registration Act marks the difference between an “Israel lobbying group” and a “pro-Israel lobbying group”); why the media won’t stick their necks out on an issue that Democrats and Republicans agree on; Hart’s media advisory “After Afghan Massacre, War Gets Victim...
03/13/12 – Will Grigg – The Scott Horton Show
Will Grigg, blogger and author of Liberty in Eclipse, discusses his article “The Resistance Rises: Restoring the ‘Castle Doctrine;’” why the passage of Indiana’s Senate Bill 1, restoring the right to defend your own home, won’t mean it’s “open season on law enforcement;” how the War on Drugs hastened the demise of both the castle doctrine and Fourth Amendment; how infamous former LAPD chief Daryl Gates helped militarize police forces, pioneering SWAT and DARE; and why, if you legally must...
03/13/12 – Jason Ditz – The Scott Horton Show
Jason Ditz, managing news editor at Antiwar.com, discusses the possibility of another Israeli ground invasion of Gaza, like Operation Cast Lead in 2009; the unequal exchange of fire between rocket-toting Gazans and Israel’s formidable, US-supplied military; dropping the pretense of Yemeni government cooperation and foreknowledge of US drone strikes in Yemen; struggling to understand why the US is so intent on killing people in rural, agricultural tribal regions (Yemen, AfPak), whose...
03/12/12 – Saul Landau – The Scott Horton Show
Saul Landau, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, discusses his article “Malice v. Nobility: Scooter Libby v. Bradley Manning;” how Libby managed to “out” Valerie Plame, instigate the Iraq War, and get convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice without spending a day in prison (thanks to Bush’s commutation); why Manning would now be a free man if he had massacred Iraqi civilians instead of (allegedly) leaking classified information exposing the dirty deeds of the US...
03/12/12 – Brian Cloughley – The Scott Horton Show
Brian Cloughley, author of War, Coups and Terror: Pakistan’s Army in Years of Turmoil, discusses his article “System Failure: Training the Afghan Army;” why it’s difficult enough to field an army of countrymen who are literate and share a common language – and near impossible to cobble one together in Afghanistan; the new low of US-Afghan relations following the recent massacre; and expectations that US withdrawal will plunge the country into civil war, like when the Soviets departed in...
03/09/12 – Sheldon Richman – The Scott Horton Show
Sheldon Richman, senior fellow at The Future of Freedom Foundation, discusses his article “No to AIPAC, No to Israel, and No to War;” President Obama’s disappointing speech at the AIPAC conference, where he refused to take “options off the table” in dealing with Iran; why Iran’s modest military capability poses no real threat to Israel or the US; refuting the “mad mullah” image of Iran’s leadership – which is in fact composed of rational actors who aren’t eager to see their 2500 year old...
03/09/12 – Daniel Larison – The Scott Horton Show
Daniel Larison, writer for The American Conservative Magazine, discusses the TAC-type of conservatives who oppose interventionist foreign policy and wars of aggression; how the never ending War on Terror increases the size and scope of government; the secret panel of government insiders passing for “due process” in the Obama administration; why the “Libyan model” of easy, from the air, regime change won’t work in Syria; and why, John McCain’s bluster aside, most Republicans really don’t want...
03/09/12 – Jason Ditz – The Scott Horton Show
Jason Ditz, managing news editor at Antiwar.com, discusses the very low militant-killing success rate of drone strikes in the Afghanistan/Pakistan tribal border region; the US’s agreement to hand over Afghan prisoners in 2014 and refusal to end night raids; the Egyptian Freedom and Justice Party’s attempt to oust their military-imposed government; and the Western NGO workers freed from Egyptian custody.
03/09/12 – Pepe Escobar – The Scott Horton Show
Globetrotting journalist Pepe Escobar discusses why the Academy Award winning movie “A Separation” should be required viewing for Americans; how the Western powers will have trouble enforcing sanctions on Iran’s oil exports; the European Union’s weakness on foreign policy; how sanctions hurt the Iranian people much more than the government; and the IAEA’s conversion from impartial observer to political attack dog.
