Scott interviews Pat Buchanan about his life in politics and the lessons we can apply to today. Buchanan was a committed cold warrior during the 1980s, but then advocated withdrawal of the U.S. from Europe after the Soviet Union collapsed, and urged that NATO not expand up to Russia’s border. Much of his advice has been ignored, and the consequences have been America’s catastrophic and endless wars. Today, he is optimistic that we will not have a war with Iran, since he believes that President...

Scott interviews Lyle J. Goldstein about what the "Russiagate" narrative means for America's relationship with Russia. Scott and Goldstein remind us that a hot war would probably mean the destruction of both American and Russian cities with tactical nukes, and possibly the devastation of human civilization all over the world. For that reason it's incredibly irresponsible of the media to push the narrative that the Russian government attacked our country during the 2016 election, and that any...

Jason Ditz updates Scott on the news from the Middle East. Recently, a missing Emirati tanker that some claimed had been seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz was revealed to have simply been towed there voluntarily for repairs. In other news, the UAE has announced the withdrawal of its troops from Yemen, probably realizing it can't win a ground war there, at least not without stretching itself too thinly and becoming exposed at home. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, seems content to keep...

Scott interviews Daniel McAdams about the influence of Mike Pompeo and John Bolton on President Trump’s foreign policy. Lately they’ve made sure to keep up a policy of maximum pressure through economic sanctions, and to avoid negotiations at all costs. It’s clear from their strategy that what they really want is a war. Trump’s good instincts on Iran may be the only thing that’s still keeping us at peace. Discussed on the show: “Rand Paul angles to become Trump’s emissary to Iran” (POLITICO)...

Mark Perry talks about the history of America’s near misses on war with Iran, starting with the 1983 Beirut barracks attack that almost led to an American bombing campaign against the Iranians. According to Perry, President Reagan realized that such an attack would be both ineffective, and also beneath the “dignity” of the United States military. The point of a strong military, says Perry, is to not use it, except against major powers in extreme circumstances. The excessive use of our military...

Scott talks to Reese Erlich about the demonstrations in Hong Kong against the country’s proposed extradition law. After a Hong Kong man brutally murdered his girlfriend in Taiwan, and then fled back to Hong Kong, knowing he couldn’t be extradited to the country where he had committed his crime, lawmakers thought it might be time to enact new extradition treaties, of which Hong Kong has very few with any countries. Even though the proposed law is fairly moderate in what it allows, protestors...

Gareth Porter explains the latest lie being used to promote a war with Iran. This time, the old story from the mid-2000s that Iran was responsible for a certain type of roadside bomb that killed about 600 U.S. soldiers in Eastern Iraq has new life, thanks to John Bolton and his allies. Gareth Porter and many other friends of the Scott Horton Show debunked this idea when it first arose more than ten years ago. An extra bit of irony is the recent Army study finding that Iran is the only country...

Independent journalist Suzie Dawson joins the show to talk about Julian Assange’s continued plight for his freedom and credibility. Dawson details the many strategies that have been used to discredit and imprison him, including now-dubious claims of sexual assault and the ever-present charges of working for the Russians against the United States. Dawson herself had to move to Russia after relentless attacks on her privacy and safety by the governments of New Zealand and Germany that included...

Daniel Lazare gives an update in the indictment of the Russain Internet Research Agency, who actually showed up in American court, contrary to the expectations of Robert Mueller. In Mueller’s report, he alleges that the firm conducted their activity on American social media sites at the behest of the Putin Government. The first part of that allegation is true, but there is no evidence that the firm has any connection to the Russian government. The judge in the case recently issued an order...

Mike Maharrey explains how the United States government uses the pressure of the dollar as the world’s reserve currency to get its way in foreign policy. One method is by forcing the global SWIFT payment system to lock out countries that don’t want to play ball with the American world order. For daring to utter this forbidden truth, Maharrey has been smeared by the mainstream media as an “isolationist”. In reality he just doesn’t want the U.S. military to intervene in everyone’s wars—a...

Stu Smallwood discusses the latest meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong-un, which has resulted in the possibility that the United States may offer to temporarily reduce economic sanctions in exchange for the start of the denuclearization process on the part of North Korea. This is essentially the opposite of what John Bolton has called “the Libya model”, i.e. complete denuclearization before any concessions are made. The problem, of course, is that everyone—including Kim—knows that...

Nasser Arrabyee discusses the news that UAE troops will soon be pulling out of Yemen. Arrabyee speculates that the Emirati government might realize the international stance on the war is finally turning against the Saudi coalition, and they want to get out in time to save some face. He also believes that Saudi Arabia won't be able to prosecute the war without the UAE, even with American support. Part of the shifting tide may have to do with the fact that the United Nations finally released an...

Scott interviews Arthur Holland Michel about his new book on the emerging drone surveillance technology capable of watching entire cities at once. The technology was first developed to help prevent IED attacks on American soldiers in Iraq, but researchers and intelligence officers soon realized they could apply the same technology to domestic surveillance. Today several American cities already deploy this terrifyingly powerful system against their own citizens. Discussed on the show: -...

Scott talks to Ali Abunimah of the Electronic Intifada about Jared Kushners “Deal of the Century” and the history of negotiations between Israel and Palestine. Some supporters of Israel have claimed that Kushner’s deal is just giving away free money to the Palestinians, but Abunimah points out that all the hardships addressed in the proposed deal are caused by the United States and Israel in the first place. If Israel simply ended its occupation, the Palestinians would be far better off than...

Andrew Bacevich talks about the Quincy Institute, a new think tank trying to bring support from the left and right together in opposition to foreign intervention. Funded by both George Soros and Charles Koch, the institute will seek to supplant the current bipartisan consensus that America must be the world’s police force with a more reasonable one that will not lead to the deaths of millions and the squandering of trillions of dollars from the productive economy. Discussed on the show: -...