Kelley B. Vlahos, featured Antiwar.com columnist and contributing editor for The American Conservative magazine, discusses the periodic, ritualistic exercise of claiming progress in the Afghanistan War, wherein US generals tell bland lies to Congress and nobody asks follow-up questions; the 300,000+ member Afghan army that is always right around the corner from competency; the end of patriotic breast-beating pro-war fervor in the military and government; and why congressional staffers would...
03/22/12 Lawrence Wittner: Trying a Little Nuclear Sanity
Lawrence Wittner, Professor of History at the State University of New York/Albany, discusses his article “Try a Little Nuclear Sanity;” the “SANE” legislation introduced by Congressman Edward Markey that would cut the budget and scope of the US nuclear weapons program; how Russia is threatened by “missile defense,” that supposedly exists to protect Europe from Iran but actually gives the US an unanswerable first-strike capability; why the Cold War military budget and mindset persist even...
03/22/12 – Robert P. Murphy – The Scott Horton Show
Robert P. Murphy discusses the standard arguments against the gold standard, many of which were used by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke during his speech at George Washington University, how paper fiat money begets big government; why the Fed will continue doubling down, using the same failed strategy until their luck turns around or the dollar breaks; and why the "end game" crash may be an intentional transition to a single global currency.
03/21/12 – Peter Certo – The Scott Horton Show
Peter Certo, editorial assistant at Right Web and the Institute for Policy Studies, discusses his article “U.S. Government Finally Catching up With MEK Boosters Like Ed Rendell;” the shocking development that the rule of law might actually apply to former high-level US government officials; the usual suspects – humanitarian activists and Muslims who upload videos on YouTube – who face “material support” of terrorism charges under the PATRIOT Act; and the connection between the MEK’s...
03/21/12 – Kevin Zeese – The Scott Horton Show
Kevin Zeese, Executive Director of VotersForPeace and Co-Chair of Come Home America, discusses his article “Dismissal Is the Only Option in Bradley Manning Case;” the prosecution’s withholding of government damage-assessment reports, which could help disprove Manning’s “aiding the enemy” charge; statements from President Obama and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey (last paragraph) that bolster an “unlawful command influence” defense; and whether Judge Col. Denise Lind will rule fairly,...
03/21/12 – Dimi Reider – The Scott Horton Show
Israeli journalist Dimi Reider discusses his article “Israeli-Iranian solidarity exchange sweeps Facebook;” how a simple friendly gesture got Israelis and Iranians talking about peace; bypassing the mainstream media’s filter with Facebook, where real people can express themselves directly; and the Israeli peace movement’s influence (or lack thereof) on Bibi Netanyahu.
03/21/12 – James Bamford – The Scott Horton Show
James Bamford, author of The Shadow Factory: The Ultra-Secret NSA from 9/11 to the Eavesdropping on America, discusses his article “The NSA Is Building the Country’s Biggest Spy Center (Watch What You Say)” and his follow-up response to NSA chief Gen. Keith Alexander’s testimony to Congress; details on the immense new Utah data center; the NSA’s many telecom switch eavesdropping posts, extending far beyond the AT&T San Francisco facility revealed in 2006; whistleblower William Binney’s...
03/19/12 – Barbara Slavin – The Scott Horton Show
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...
03/19/12 – Delphine Halgand – The Scott Horton Show
Delphine Halgand, Washington DC Director for Reporters Without Borders, discusses the RWB report “Beset by online surveillance and content filtering, netizens fight on;” the list of countries that are “enemies of the internet” or on the verge; the Obama administration’s persecution of WikiLeaks and whistleblowers in general; how social media helped spread the Arab Spring revolutions; why China won’t allow bloggers to use pseudonyms; and why internet filtering and censorship ultimately can’t...
03/19/12 – Umar Farooq – The Scott Horton Show
Umar Farooq, intern at The Nation, discusses his article “Our immoral drone war;” why the media pursues a cause-and-effect rationalization when an American commits an atrocity, but not when a Muslim does; the cycle of violence and radicalization in the US and Pakistan; why billions in US aid to Pakistan aren’t enough to offset the War on Terror’s destructive force; and whether Stanley McChrystal’s “insurgent math” applies to Pakistanis as well as Afghans.
03/19/12 – Gabriel Kolko – The Scott Horton Show
Gabriel Kolko, historian and author of World in Crisis: The End of the American Century; discusses his article “Creating a Warrior State: The Enigma of Israel;” why Zionism and democracy cannot coexist; how Israel’s demographic changes are marginalizing secular Jews; and how the will of the people in Israel is reflected – both in Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination and Bibi Netanyahu’s electoral success.
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 – 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...
03/14/12 – 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.
