The Scott Horton Show from The Libertarian Institute

Grant Smith talks to Scott about Israel's nuclear weapons program, which the United States steadfastly pretends does not exist. Four presidential administrations in a row, he explains, have signed letters promising they will not admit the existence of Israel's nukes, partly because to do so would be to admit that the U.S. is in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. So why doesn't Israel just own up to its nuclear program and sign the treaty? Smith thinks it's because that would undermine their hysterical claims about how dangerous other Middle Eastern countries, like Iran, would be if they got nukes.

Discussed on the show:

"NSC Swears US policy on Israel’s Nukes Is Legit" (antiwar.com)

Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

"The President Executive Order 13526" (National Archives)

2005 CIA interrogation videotapes destruction

Arms Export Control Act

Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America and Divert!. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

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Sheldon Richman talks about his latest in the TGIF series, "America’s War Culture." He brings up the disturbing phenomenon that presidents are praised the most when they bomb another country, and that in lists of America's supposed greatest presidents, those who presided over major wars usually adorn the top. This is obviously a bad incentive from a humanitarian perspective, because anytime the president gets into hot water he knows he can start or escalate a war and immediately receive praise from the media and a jump in popularity. This has been true so far of President Trump as well, although he seems surprisingly eager to pull the U.S. out of Syria and Afghanistan. In general, Richman says this blind opposition to Trump among democrats has come to totally dominate their party, and may haunt them when one of their own eventually takes power, with republicans then empowered to use the same tactics they deployed against Trump.

Discussed on the show:

"TGIF: America's War Culture" (The Libertarian Institute)

"Paul on Syria: 'I'm very proud of the president'" (CNN Video)

"Agonizing over Afghanistan" (Project Syndicate)

"Democratic Party Voters Are Becoming More Pro-war Than Republicans" (The Intercept)

"Russia-gate Evidence, Please" (Consortiumnews)

"The Manafort Revelation Is Not a Smoking Gun" (The Nation)

Sheldon Richman is the executive editor of the Libertarian Institute and the author of America’s Counter-Revolution: The Constitution Revisited. Follow him on Twitter @SheldonRichman.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

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

Gareth Porter talks Trump, Syria, and America's relationship with Israel. Porter says there are quite a few instances so far in Trump's presidency where he's made a public announcement about his plans, and then his aides work behind his back to thwart him. In many of those cases the aides are successful. Porter believes that in the case of withdrawal from Syria, however, Trump is serious about making this happen, and despite an initial delay he's telling his generals to get it done in about six months. Getting out of Syria, explains Porter, is in the interest of the American people, Syrians, Russia, and Turkey. Even the Kurds will be able to make an alliance to preserve their safety. The only player that can't stand U.S. withdrawal is Israel, basically because it would give Iran a symbolic victory, which they absolutely cannot tolerate.

Discussed on the show:

"How Trump Thwarted Calculated Israeli Effort to Keep U.S. in Syria" (The American Conservative)

"Mike Pompeo to Newsmax TV: US Troops 'Are Coming Out' of Syria" (Newsmax.com)

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Jewish Museum of Belgium shooting

"Seymour M. Hersh · The Vice President’s Men · LRB 24 January 2019" (London Review of Books)

Iran–Contra affair

"Vice Squad" (The American Prospect)

Gareth Porter is an investigative historian and journalist on the national security state, and author of Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare. Follow him on Twitter @GarethPorter and listen to Gareth’s previous appearances on the Scott Horton Show.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

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

Dr. Ron Paul joins the show for an assessment of President Trump's foreign policy so far, about half way into his first term. Paul says that compared with Bush and Obama, Trump doesn't look too bad. His instincts are better, especially in the way he questions why America even has troops in some of the countries it does, but Paul points out that despite good instincts, most of the bad policies remain in place and there's been very little troop drawdown so far. President Trump has, however, reiterated in the last several days that he's serious about withdrawal from Syria and Afghanistan, even after some of his Republican allies contradicted the story.

Discussed on the show:

"Trump’s Neocons Reverse His Syria Withdrawal Plan" (antiwar.com)

Former congressman and American hero Ron Paul is the host of the Ron Paul Liberty Report and director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity. Dr. Paul is the author of numerous books, including Swords into Plowshares and The Revolution: A Manifesto. Follow him on Twitter, @RonPaul.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

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

Daniel Lazare comes on the show to talk about Hillary Clinton and her staff's role in America's latest wars in the Middle East. He says the story really goest back to Bill Clinton, who broke with Democratic Party tradition by supporting generally right-wing positions on issues like foreign policy, the war on drugs, and Wall Street. Hillary continued to do this, and became one of the most hawkish people in Washington. Where Bill was able to garner centrist popularity, however, Hillary could not, and it may have cost her the presidency in both 2008 and 2016.

Discussed on the show:

"The Memo That Helped Kill a Half Million People in Syria" (Consortium News)

Nicaraguan Contras

"Is Saudi Arabia the Middle East’s Next Failed State?" (Consortium News)

Daniel Lazare is the author of The Frozen Republic: How the constitution is Paralyzing Democracy and a regular contributor at Consortium News. Find all of his work at his website and follow him on Twitter @dhlazare.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

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

Hunter DeRensis talks about his recent article on Bill Kristol's new publication, The Bulwark, which he sees as a direct successor to the Weekly Standard, and a new home for the "Never Trump" movement. The Standard made a name for itself by pushing for the invasion of Iraq, and more recently has supported America's other wars in the Middle East. Because the publication opposes President Trump on basically every issue, they've been on the wrong side of his recent plans to withdraw troops as well.

Discussed on the show:

"Does The Bulwark Mean the Neocons Are Staging A Comeback?" (The National Interest)

"Don’t blame Trump for the demise of the Weekly Standard" (Spectator USA)

Project for the New American Century

"What The Weekly Standard Has Wrought" (The American Conservative)

Hunter DeRensis, formerly of The American Conservative magazine, is a writer for The National Interest. Find him on his website or on Twitter @HunterDeRensis.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

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

Mike Swanson joins the show for an update on the U.S. economy. He says that some investors think the recent 20 percent drop in the stock market was the needed "correction," and that the economy is now healthy. But Swanson warns that we're far from out of the woods, and he believes the real crash is yet to come, even after the temporary rally we're seeing now. This is exactly what happened in 2000 and 2007. Finally, he cautions against being fully invested in stocks, despite the advice of some mainstream advisers.

Discussed on the show:

"Be Wary of Dead Cat Bounce Stocks and Look For New Leaders" (WallStreetWindow.com)

This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly

"Current Account Deficit" (Investopedia)

"Overnight Rate" (Investopedia)

"Quantitative Easing" (Investopedia)

Big Debt Crises

Mike Swanson provides investment advice at wallstreetwindow.com and is the author of The War State: The Cold War Origins Of The Military-Industrial Complex And The Power Elite. He also works with the Neopolis Media Group, a group of historians, educators, authors, researchers, and free speech advocates who endeavor to provide original and engaging content, including The Ochelli Effect, and The Lone Gunman Podcast.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

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

Winslow T. Wheeler explains earmarks in the federal budget, a process by which representatives can subtly direct money away from what it's actually been requested for, often into projects that will go straight contractors in their districts. These firms then make political contributions to help the representatives get and stay elected. Wheeler says these earmarks divert over $19 billion per year, and the phenomenon is only getting worse.

Discussed on the show:

"Those Porky Pentagon Earmarks Never Really Went Away" (The American Conservative)

Winslow T. Wheeleris the Director of the Straus Military Reform Project of the Project On Government Oversight. He worked in the senate and the Government Accountability Office for many years, and is the author of Wastrels of Defense: How Congress Sabotages U.S. Security.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

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

Gareth Porter comes back on the show to respond to claims that he's an apologist for Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. In explaining his 1975 book, Cambodia: Starvation and Revolution, he identifies a dangerous trend surrounding American wars abroad, which he himself fell victim to: The propaganda from U.S. war planners is often so egregious that dissenters are inclined to take precisely the opposite position, even when that position is also wrong. Scott cites the example of claiming Saddam Hussein was not responsible for the war crimes he did in fact commit, simply because the Bush Jr. administration painted him as almost comically threatening in order to justify the invasion of Iraq. Although Porter admits he got it wrong in Cambodia, the experience has made him a much more careful journalist since then, striving always to understand and take seriously every major argument on all sides of an important issue.Gareth Porter is an investigative historian and journalist on the national security state, and author of Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare. Follow him on Twitter @GarethPorter and listen to Gareth’s previous appearances on the Scott Horton Show.This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

Gareth Porter tells Scott why he's optimistic that the war in Yemen will soon be coming to an end. For one thing, says Porter, the War Powers resolutions in both congress and the senate have created political pressure to end America's backing of the Saudis, even if they don't legally stop President Trump. The killing of Jamal Khashoggi also seemed to provide impetus that wasn't there before, because it brought the war sharply into focus for Americans. Porter explains that the military and logistical support for the Saudis wouldn't even need to end—simply stopping the sale of parts for their American planes would completely ground their air force, and that alone would effectively end the war.

Discussed on the show:

"Is the End of the Brutal War in Yemen Finally at Hand?" (Antiwar.com Original)

"S.J.Res.54" (Library of Congress)

"H.Con.Res.138" (Library of Congress)

Jamal Khashoggi

"In Strategic Shift, U.S. Draws Closer to Yemeni Rebels" (WSJ)

Northwest Airlines Flight 253

"Inside Yemen's secret prisons: 'We could hear the screams'" (AP News)

"12/17/18 Nasser Arrabyee on the Ceasefire in Hodeidah" (The Libertarian Institute)

"Bolton’s Hawkish Syria Plan Backfired, Pushing Trump to Get Out" (The Daily Beast)

Gareth Porter is an investigative historian and journalist on the national security state, and author of Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare. Follow him on Twitter @GarethPorter and listen to Gareth’s previous appearances on the Scott Horton Show.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Kesslyn Runs, by Charles Featherstone; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; Zen Cash; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and LibertyStickers.com.

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