The Scott Horton Show from The Libertarian Institute

Daniel Davis, Matthew Hoh, and Danny Sjursen reflect on America's war in Afghanistan in light of the Washington Post's publishing of a trove of formerly confidential documents on the war. The report, which is being hailed as this generations Pentagon Papers, details the ways officials in the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations have lied about the progress being made in Afghanistan and the need to keep troops there. Even though lots of people like Davis, Hoh, and Sjursen have been speaking out for years about America's forever wars, they say that it's embarrassing for top brass to admit that lower level officers could see strategic failures that the war planners could not—and so voices like theirs mostly just don't get heard. At some point all three guests had moments that convinced them they couldn't keep contributing to this lost cause in good conscience, and have since striven to show the world what's really going on. We need to bring back a healthy skepticism, they say, of the idea that America's military is a wise force for good in the world.

Discussed on the show:

"U.S. officials misled the public about the war in Afghanistan, confidential documents reveal" (Washington Post)

War Is a Lie

"Potemkin Patrols: Performing the (Afghan) War" (Antiwar.com Original)

"Casablanca (1942)" (IMDb)

The One Percent Doctrine: Deep Inside America's Pursuit of Its Enemies Since 9/11

Obama's Wars

The Promise

The Best and the Brightest

A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam

About Face: The Odyssey of an American Warrior

Daniel Davis did multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan during his time in the army. He writes a weekly column for National Interest and is the author of the reports “Dereliction of Duty II: Senior Military Leaders’ Loss of Integrity Wounds Afghan War Effort” and “Go Big or Go Deep: An Analysis of Strategy Options on Afghanistan.” Find him on Twitter @DanielLDavis1.

Matthew Hoh is a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and formerly worked for the U.S. State Department. Hoh received the Ridenhour Prize Recipient for Truth Telling in 2010. Hoh is a member of the Board of Directors for Council for a Livable World and is an Advisory Board Member for Expose Facts. He writes on issues of war, peace and post-traumatic stress disorder recovery at matthewhoh.com.

Danny Sjursen is a retired U.S. army major and former history instructor at West Point. He writes regularly for TomDispatch.com and he’s the author of “Ghost Riders of Baghdad: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Myth of the Surge.” Follow him on Twitter @SkepticalVet.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Washinton Babylon; Liberty Under Attack Publications; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfh7-AJEiuo

Bill Law talks about the need for Americans to support those in foreign countries peacefully demonstrating for political reform against oppressive regimes, and the hypocrisy surrounding America's so-called support for democracy. Really, says Law, our government and its allies support the regimes they like and overthrow the ones they don't, and call it "democracy" no matter what.

Discussed on the show:

"How the death of a president shed light on Egypt's brutal dictatorship" (Middle East Eye)

"U.S. officials misled the public about the war in Afghanistan, confidential documents reveal" (Washington Post)

Bill Law is an award-winning journalist formerly of the BBC. He is editor of Arab Digest and runs The Gulf Matters. Follow him on Twitter @BillLaw49.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Washinton Babylon; Liberty Under Attack Publications; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeFKSJmtaW8

Scott talks to Eli Clifton about the billionaire "megadonors" who control the Republican party. Although Trump started his campaign touting his status as an independent billionaire who couldn't be bought, Clifton explains how even if that's true, someone needs to fund all the senate and congressional campaigns of the candidates to support Trump during his term. Since these donors are almost universally zionist neocons, Trump's foreign policy ends up being directed toward Israel's interests, meaning toward war with Afghanistan.

Discussed on the show:

"2¾ Cheers for the New Quincy Institute" (Antiwar.com Original)

"Trump Stuck Between Ending Endless Wars and his Hawkish Megadonors" (Responsible Statecraft)

Eli Clifton is an investigative journalist working with the Quincy Institute and a contributing editor for Lobe Log. Follow him on Twitter @EliClifton.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Washinton Babylon; Liberty Under Attack Publications; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U19dsMMlt4

Tom Collina tells Scott about the "nuclear sponge", a collection of land-based nuclear weapons in America's upper midwest, whose real purpose is just to absorb the strikes of a nuclear attack by a hostile power rather than to actually be used in an attack of their own, which would most likely be done by submarine. Needless to say this is utterly crazy. Collina reminds us that there are enough nukes between just the U.S. and Russia to destroy the world's population centers many times over, not to mention the nuclear winter that would follow and could wipe out almost all life on the planet.

Discussed on the show:

"Why Are We Rebuilding the ‘Nuclear Sponge’?" (The National Interest)

"Welcome to America’s ‘Nuclear Sponge’" (Defense One)

Able Archer 83

Tom Collina is Director of Policy for the Ploughshares Fund, a nonprofit combatting the spread of nuclear weapons. Collina writes for The National Interest, The Independent, Defense One, and many other publications. Find him on Twitter @TomCollina.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Washinton Babylon; Liberty Under Attack Publications; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cTNpOufzfo

Scott talks to Ted Carpenter about the NATO secret no one wants to admit, which is that part of the alliance involves America promising to enter a nuclear war in the defense of its allies, including the Baltic states right on Russia's border. It hardly needs to be said how dangerous this is. Carpenter reminds us of the original promise not to extend NATO eastward, which has since been broken many times, even to the extent that some want Ukraine added to the organization. He says this would be like a hostile power adding Canada to its alliance. Carpenter advocates disbanding NATO and allowing European powers to figure out more reasonable defense arrangements for themselves.

Discussed on the show:

"NATO’s Dirty Little Secret Is Out" (The National Interest)

"Exploring the Role Nuclear Weapons Could Play in Deterring Russian Threats to the Baltic States" (RAND)

"NYET MEANS NYET" (WikiLeaks)

Ted Galen Carpenter is a senior fellow for defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute. Carpenter has written 10 books including America’s Coming War with China: A Collision Course over Taiwan and most recently NATO: Dangerous Dinosaur. He is a contributing editor at The American Conservative Magazine and the National Interest.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Washinton Babylon; Liberty Under Attack Publications; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGwEVHC922w

Kelley Vlahos discusses the latest with Julian Assange, who now will be testifying in a spying case involving the Spanish company UC Global, and which may implicate America's CIA and even top Republican donor Sheldon Adelson. Assange is being held in a London jail for missing bail, mostly in solitary confinement. His already weakened physical and mental state from seven years of isolation in the Ecuadorian embassy makes his health—and even his survival—a real concern. Meanwhile Chelsea Manning is also rotting in a cell for refusing to testify against Assange. Scott and Vlahos bemoan the very selective appreciation for whistleblowers of the American public, who are mostly indifferent about the plights of Assange and Manning.

Discussed on the show:

"Was Sheldon Adelson Acting As Bag Man For The CIA?" (The American Conservative)

Hate Inc.: Why Today’s Media Makes Us Despise One Another

Kelley B. Vlahos is the executive editor of The American Conservative. Follow her on Twitter @KelleyBVlahos.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Washinton Babylon; Liberty Under Attack Publications; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saDUjVOhiRM

Mark Perry discusses what he calls "the biggest breakdown in civil-military relations since Vietnam": the controversy over the war crimes trial of Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher. By refusing to allow the Navy to discipline Gallagher in the way they intended, Trump has essentially intervened in the military justice process as, Perry thinks, a move to curry favor with his base. Perry is adamant that we really do have a problem with special forces that run around the world without accountability, pretending to fight terrorism but really just terrorizing civilian populations and committing war crimes. Perry wonders whether this will finally force some of Trump's base in the military to abandon him in the upcoming election.

Discussed on the show:

"The Real Reason The Navy Stood Up To Trump" (The American Conservative)

"The Crimes of SEAL Team 6" (The Intercept)

Mark Perry is the author of Talking to Terrorists: Why America Must Engage with its Enemies, The Most Dangerous Man in America: The Making of Douglas MacArthur, and The Pentagon’s Wars. Read his work at The American Conservative Magazine and follow him on Twitter @MarkPerryDC.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Washinton Babylon; Liberty Under Attack Publications; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxRG2P8_TVw

Scott interviews Jeb Sprague about his work studying U.S.-backed coups in Latin America, particularly the current one in Bolivia. Support for democracy and the rule of law is one thing, say Scott and Sprague, but it is quite another to demand that the military rush in to upend the normal political process, which is essentially what is happening now. Sprague advocates letting countries sort out their own political affairs, even when it leads to results that aren't precisely what the political elite in the U.S. would have chosen.

Discussed on the show:

"Top Bolivian coup plotters trained by US military's School of the Americas, served as attachés in FBI police programs" (The Grayzone)

"11/29/11 – Jeb Sprague – The Scott Horton Show" (The Scott Horton Show)

Inside the Company: CIA Diary

Jeb Sprague is a Research Associate at the University of California, Riverside and previously taught at UVA and UCSB. He is the author of Globalizing the Caribbean: Political economy, social change, and the transnational capitalist class and Paramilitarism and the assault on democracy in Haiti and is the editor of Globalization and transnational capitalism in Asia and Oceania. Find him on Twitter @JebSprague.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Washinton Babylon; Liberty Under Attack Publications; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL12HCmIh14

Scott talks to Aaron Maté about the role John Brennan and the CIA might have played in the investigation into Trump's ties to Russia during the 2016 election. Although Maté is a progressive, he understands how dangerous it is to have intelligence agencies with the power to overturn the results of a democratic election. In fact, this is no different than what our CIA has done in lots of other countries when America supports a regime change in favor of democracy, but then the people of that country elect someone our government doesn't like. Maté recognizes what a dangerous precedent this sets for everyone involved.

Discussed on the show:

"The Brennan Dossier: All About a Prime Mover of Russiagate | RealClearInvestigations" (Real Clear Investigations)

The Apprentice: Trump, Russia and the Subversion of American Democracy

Aaron Maté is a former host and producer at The Real News and writes regularly at The Nation. Follow him on Twitter @AaronJMate.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Washinton Babylon; Liberty Under Attack Publications; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Stqa2fFvPSU

Doug Bandow explains why the pathological need for neocons and neoliberals in Washington to antagonize other powerful countries is so dangerous for America. Russia and China, he says, can both be our allies. It makes no sense for the U.S. military to be involved in every conflict everywhere in the world, and pretending to be the world empire will only endanger American interests by making future conflicts more likely.

Discussed on the show:

"Why The Hawks Are Wrong About China Too" (The American Conservative)

"The Berlin Wall: Its Rise, Fall, and Legacy" (Foundation for Economic Education)

Doug Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and a regular contributor at Forbes Magazine, the National Interest, and elsewhere. He’s on Twitter @Doug_Bandow.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Washinton Babylon; Liberty Under Attack Publications; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko_HcXoQFGs