The Scott Horton Show from The Libertarian Institute

Ray McGovern joins the show to talk about Colin Powell and Mike Pompeo: two credentialed, respected members of the foreign policy establishment that have both been hugely damaging to American interests. McGovern first responds to the claim that Powell unwaveringly and heroically stood against the Bush administration's desire to invade Iraq, succumbing only at the last minute due to new, more persuasive intelligence and the pressures of being overwhelmingly outnumbered. In reality, says McGovern, Powell not only should have known the whole time that Saddam Hussein didn't have weapons of mass destruction—even after the final intelligence report, which was doubted at the time by his closest associates—but also didn't ever resist the idea of the invasion very hard, being pretty much willing at the time to go along with Bush, Cheney, Wolfowitz and the other neocons in the administration. Only more recently has he tried to depict himself as the man many Americans wanted him to be: a principled iconoclast who only relented in his steadfastness at the very last moment. In the current administration, Mike Pompeo presents dangers of a different kind in the form of a fervid quest to gin up hostilities between the U.S. and China. McGovern reminds us how disastrous the consequences of that war could be, and how much both countries benefit by a peaceful, cooperative relationship.

Discussed on the show:

"RAY McGOVERN: Powell & Iraq—The Uses and Abuses of National Intelligence Estimates" (Consortium News)

"Presumptuous Pompeo Pushes Preposterous ‘Peking’ Policy" (Consortium News)

"Colin Powell Still Wants Answers" (The New York Times)

"'To Start a War' Robert Draper: Bad intelligence led Bush into Iraq" (Business Insider)

"CIA Director Mike Pompeo "We Lie, We Cheat, We Steal" - Texas A M University April 2019" (YouTube)

"Schumer to Trump: Intel officials have ways to strike back" (Washington Examiner)

"Meet the Steele Dossier's 'Primary Subsource': Fabulist Russian From Democrat Think Tank Whose Boozy Past the FBI Ignored" (Real Clear Investigations)

"Breaking the Silence: Truth and Lies in the War on Terror" (YouTube)

"Scott Ritter in Tokyo" (CounterPunch)

Ray McGovern is the co-creator of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity and the former chief of the CIA’s Soviet analysts division. Read all of his work at his website: raymcgovern.com.

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; 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=3pJQqHUAZcU

Branko Marcetic discusses a recent move by the Trump administration that will grant unprecedented powers to the CIA to conduct cyber attacks against foreign countries. This highlights a persistent trend throughout Trump's precedency that has seen him become perhaps the most hawkish president toward Russia since the end of the Cold War. Scott and Marcetic talk about the stubborn persistence of the "Russiagate" narrative, which has lingered long after its underlying premises have been dispelled. Marcetic says this is the way all conspiracy theories work—their adherents can always assimilate new facts into the theory no matter how contradictory they really are. All this, of course, is nothing but deleterious to America's relationship with Russia, probably the most important geopolitical issue facing the world today.

Discussed on the show:

"Trump the “Putin Puppet” Just Dramatically Escalated the Undeclared War Against Russia" (Jacobin)

"Secret Trump order gives CIA more powers to launch cyberattacks" (Yahoo News)

Branko Marcetic is a writer for Jacobin Magazine, a fellow at In These Times, and host of the 1/200 podcast. He is the author of Yesterday's Man: The Case Against Joe Biden. Follow him on Twitter @BMarchetich.

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; 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=ja1R9aNh8v8

Scott interviews Greg Mitchell about The Beginning or the End, his new book that tells the story of the making of the 1947 film of the same name. The movie was conceived as an exposé on the horrors of America's use of the nuclear bomb against Japan, partly at the urging of former Manhattan Project scientists. But it was quickly co-opted by the U.S. government, forcing many changes to the film's structure, and eventually resulting in what amounted to a piece of pro-military propaganda. Mitchell's book explores much of the history of this period, revealing the true circumstances of Japan's potential surrender and America's real motives for deploying the bomb.

Discussed on the show:

"The Beginning or the End (1947)" (IMDb)

First Into Nagasaki: The Censored Eyewitness Dispatches on Post-Atomic Japan and Its Prisoners of War

"The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003)" (IMDb)

"A Magazine Story Opened Eyes to Hiroshima’s Horror. White House Allies Plotted to Shut Them Again" (Mother Jones)

"Hiroshima" (The New Yorker)

"Terms of Surrender, by Henry Lewis Stimson" (Harper's Magazine)

Atlas Shrugged

"Mozart Was a Red" (Mises Institute)

Greg Mitchell is the former editor of Editor & Publisher and author of thirteen books, including Tricks, Lies, and Videotape: Obama vs. Romney and Campaign 2012 and The Beginning or the End: How Hollywood―and America―Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Follow him on Twitter @GregMitch.

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; 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=keKmnXKLVdE

Daniel Davis talks about the questionable Russian bounties story that is being used as an excuse to stop President Trump from pulling U.S. troops out of Afghanistan. Never mind the fact that America's intelligence agencies have come out to publicly disavow the story, the internal logic summoned by those opposed to withdrawal is inconsistent—if American troops really are in harm's way in Afghanistan because of Russian bounties, wouldn't the natural move be to pull them out even faster? Davis is adamant that the war in Afghanistan has for all intents and purposes already been lost, and the sooner the U.S. can withdraw, the better. Scott and Davis also discuss American troops in Germany and U.S.-China relations.

Discussed on the show:

"Iran-China deal shows 'getting tough' doesn't solve the US's problems" (Business Insider)

"America's Military Should Not Be Used as an Auxiliary Force to Defend Berlin" (Military.com)

"Russia Secretly Offered Afghan Militants Bounties to Kill U.S. Troops, Intelligence Says" (The New York Times)

SIGAR Quarterly Report July 30 2020

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.

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; 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=gwTNaBNcHFo

Scott interviews Sheldon Richman about his new book, What Social Animals Owe to Each Other, a collection of essays exploring libertarian political philosophy, particularly as it relates to ancient Greek philosophy and the roots of liberalism. Libertarians sometimes think too narrowly, says Richman, giving in to the stereotype of libertarians as rugged individualists who reject cooperation and community altogether. In reality, of course, libertarianism not only allows for these things, but also sees them as vitally important for the division of labor, free trade and the improvement of economic prospects for everybody.

Discussed on the show:

LibertarianInstitute.org/Books

"What Social Classes Owe Each Other" (Mises Institute)

Economic Harmonies

Myths of Rich and Poor: Why We're Better Off Than We Think

"Human Action" (Mises Institute)

"Left and Right: The Prospects for Liberty" (Mises Institute)

"Rothbard's 'Left and Right': 40 Years Later | Roderick T. Long" (YouTube)

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

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; 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=8OCsH3auKZM

Gareth Porter discusses the 1994 Buenos Aires Jewish community center bombing, and in particular the allegation that Hezbollah was behind the attack. Porter has written a piece based on testimony by an Argentinian undercover police officer that paints a different story. Porter's theory—one that adheres much more closely to historical fact and personal testimony—is that it was really Argentinian neo-Nazis in the police force along with veterans of Argentina's Dirty War that were responsible for the bombing, exposing anti-semitic trends that had long been simmering in the country. As has often been the case, the story about Iran was simply created in order to deflect blame toward a convenient enemy.

Discussed on the show:

"How a police spy’s stunning testimony threatens the official US-Israeli AMIA bombing narrative" (The Grayzone)

Argentina's Dirty War

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: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; 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=5zR87oPvjXU

Scott talks to Sheldon Richman about the dawning realization that a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians is never going to happen. Although Prime Minister Netanyahu recently backed down from his official plans for annexation of the West Bank, Richman says that for all practical purposes these territories were annexed years ago. And the current military occupation and subjugation of their Palestinian residents is unlikely to change in any meaningful way. Scott and Richman's hope, echoed by a growing anti-Zionist movement in America, is that by acknowledging the false promise of the two-state solution, Palestinians might someday simply be granted equal rights under a single state.

Discussed on the show:

"What Social Animals Owe to Each Other" (The Future of Freedom Foundation)

"Opinion | For Israel and Palestine, Equality in a One-State Solution" (The New York Times)

"Yavne: A Jewish Case for Equality in Israel-Palestine" (Jewish Currents)

Beinart's Final Solution: End Israel as Nation-State of the Jewish People" (Newsweek)

"The Single-state Solution Is Already Here" (Haaretz)

"Prophetic Anti-Zionists" (Antiwar.com Original)

"Finkelstein: Israel will pretend that illegal annexation is a compromise" (The Grayzone)

Oslo Accords

Killing Gaza

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

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; 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=rCCczi1IW4s

Scott talks to Gareth Porter about the idea of a war with Iran. Certain hawkish figures in the U.S. government have been slowly and steadily pushing for such a war for a long time, and have gained even more prominence during the Trump presidency, as he has shown unprecedented support for the Israeli government. Israel's prominence in the Middle East, says Porter, is of course what the tensions with Iran have always been about; Iran is in no way a threat to the actual interests and safety of Americans—but it is a threat to America and Israel's aspirations of dominating the Middle East.

Discussed on the show:

"Russia Secretly Offered Afghan Militants Bounties to Kill U.S. Troops, Intelligence Says" (The New York Times)

"Long-Planned and Bigger Than Thought: Strike on Iran’s Nuclear Program" (The New York Times)

"Pompeo and Netanyahu paved a path to war with Iran, and they’re pushing Trump again" (The Grayzone)

"When the Ayatollah Said No to Nukes" (Foreign Policy)

"NATO officials were briefed on Russian bounties on US soldiers" (Business Insider)

"Israel hoping for Iran confrontation before November election: sources" (Business Insider)

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: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; 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=eDNVkGbo-GU

Greg Shupak discusses America's horrible "maximum pressure" sanctions campaign against Syria, and the media's total willingness to cheer it along. Shupak reminds us that despite what policymakers claim, sanctions really only hurt the regular citizens of a country, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable, while leaving the wealthy and powerful more or less untouched. In theory, say the Madeleine Albright types, if the U.S. and its international allies can exert enough pressure on a country's populace—meaning making life miserable enough for them—they will rise up and depose their governments. In reality, of course, the results of sanctions can be thousands of civilian deaths and cruel economic hardship for the rest of the population, while almost never achieving the desired result of regime change anyway. Unfortunately, the corporate media seem totally willing to carry water for the sanctions regime, helping to deceive the American people about inexcusable tragedies like Syria.

Discussed on the show:

"Media Conceal—or Celebrate—Depriving Syrians of Food and Medicine" (FAIR)

"Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act" (United States Department of State)

"Syria's Brutal Dictatorship Suffers a Severe Setback" (Washington Post)

"Sanctions on Syria Can Help Stop Assad’s Atrocities" (Foreign Policy)

Humanitarian Impact of Syria-Related Unilateral Restrictive Measures" (United Nations)

"Syria: ICRC adapts to combat COVID-19" (The Red Crescent)

"U.S. Hits Assad Family With ‘Caesar Act’ Sanctions" (Wall Street Journal)

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020

"The United States Used Depleted Uranium in Syria" (Foreign Policy)

Greg Shupak teaches media studies at the University of Guelph in Canada. He is the author of The Wrong Story: Palestine, Israel, and the Media. Find him on Twitter @GregShupak.

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; 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=LeehUEvhtMw

Scott talks to Giorgio Cafiero about the devastating catastrophe facing the people of Yemen in the form of the coronavirus pandemic. Cafiero describes the way that a virus—or indeed any natural disaster—has the potential to decimate a country like Yemen, where it's hard to count on the distribution of even basic necessities like food, water and medicine. To make matters worse, the divided powers in Yemen seem unwilling to temporarily put aside their differences in the name of fighting the pandemic. Scott reminds us that the U.S. has just as much responsibility for this war as Saudi Arabia and the UAE do, and perhaps even more, since the President could end it almost instantly with a phone call. Until the American people decide to make this an important issue, however, things are unlikely to change.

Discussed on the show:

"COVID-19: Yemen’s ‘unprecedented calamity’" (Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft)

"The Houthis Are Not Hezbollah" (Foreign Policy)

Giorgio Cafiero is the CEO and founder of Gulf State Analytics, a geopolitical risk consultancy based in Washington, DC. He writes regularly for the Middle East Institute, The National Interest, and LobeLog. Find him on Twitter @GiorgioCafiero.

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; 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=th7f4BpUw5I