Patrick Cockburn is interviewed on the Basra protests and discontent that’s detailed in his article “The Major Uprising in Basra and Southern Iraq that the world should be worrying about in the Middle East right now“. Cockburn talks about the motivation of the Sunnis in the area to revolt, their living conditions, and how they’ve been cut out of the government. The protesters have burned government buildings, including the Iranian consulate, in their anger.

Patrick Cockburn is the Middle East correspondent for The Independent and the author of The Age of Jihad and Chaos & Caliphate.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Zen Cash; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; LibertyStickers.com; and ExpandDesigns.com/Scott.
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Peter Ford is a former UK ambassador to Syria and Bahrain before beginning work at the UN. Ford is interviewed on his article “Is a Syrian Suez Approaching“. Ford talks about the setup of the pretexts for the escalation of the conflict, up to and including American intervention and the provocations that are occurring to accelerate it.

Peter Ford is the co-chairman of the British Syrian Society.

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 TheBumperSticker.com.

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Larry Wilkerson, former army Colonel and Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, is interviewed on his new article at LobeLog “The Neoconservative Comeback” on the growing influence of neoconservatism in the Trump Administration. Trump’s Syria and Afghanistan policy are discussed, as well as the old axiom, personnel is policy.

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 TheBumperSticker.com.

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Journalist Christina Goldbaum gives an update on the U.S. drone bombings in Somalia, which have increased over the last year under President Trump. Godbaum explains that President Obama enforced relatively strict rules for drone strikes in Somalia, but Trump has now relaxed them, leading to more strikes and more civilian casualties. Of course, as with America’s many other drone wars, the bombing does little to increase stability or dissuade the rebel groups, and may even embolden them and increase their numbers.

Discussed on the show:

• “A Trumpian War on Terror That Just Keeps Getting Bigger” (The Atlantic)
• Ethiopian invasion of somalia
• “Cameroon: Killings, Destruction in Anglophone Regions” (Human Rights Watch)

Christina Goldbaum is a freelance journalist based in east Africa. Follow her on Twitter @cegoldbaum.

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 TheBumperSticker.com.

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Jason Ditz comes on the show to give an update about the war in Afghanistan in light of the recent peace talks in Qatar. Involving the Afghan government in the negotiations will be critical to success, he explains, and since they were not involved in these talks, they’re unlikely to amount to anything. Scott adds that since the Taliban has already essentially won the war, there’s nothing to negotiate anyway. They also discuss the real reasons for American military presence in Afghanistan, admitted by some officials, which is to prevent China from occupying the country and building trade routes that they control.

Discussed on the show:

• “Taliban Prepares Delegation for New Peace Talks With US” (Antiwar.com)
• Tet Offensive

Jason Ditz is the news editor of Antiwar.com. Read all of his work at news.antiwar.comand follow him on Twitter @jasonditz.

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 TheBumperSticker.com.

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Sheldon Richman is interviewed for his new article for the Libertarian Institute,”TGIF: Trump, Spinoza, and the Palestinian Refugees.” Richman talks about the Trump Administration’s action to end aid to the Palestinians, close offices, and put the squeeze on the PLO. The situation of the Palestinians is discussed, including the Israeli blockade and how the aid cuts affect the Palestinians. This tactic is because the Trump Administration wants the Palestinians to agree to their “Deal of the Century”, which is a bad deal for the Palestinians.

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.; Zen Cash; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and TheBumperSticker.com.

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Grant F Smith Institute for Research Middle East Policy and author of Big Israel, about the Israel lobby in Washington DC, is interviewed on the results of his FOIA request of the Treasury Department. The office of Terrorism Finance and Development, a relatively new office, and has leveled sanctions for the Israeli government.

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 TheBumperSticker.com.

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Jacob Hornberger is on the show to talk about his article “Legalize Drugs, All Drugs” for the Future of Freedom Foundation. The history of the war on drugs is discussed, as well as efforts back to Milton Friedman, who tried to get drugs legalized, are detailed.

Jacob Hornberger is the founder and president of the Future of Freedom Foundation. He’s written numerous books on freedom, peace, and the JFK assassination. Follow him on Twitter @JacobHornberger.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Zen Cash; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; LibertyStickers.com; and ExpandDesigns.com/Scott.
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Journalist Alice Speri explains what the Israeli justice system is like for Palestinians who resist Israel’s soldiers and protest its illegal settlements. Instead of the usual court system, Palestinians are tried in what amount to military courts, often after grueling interrogations to extract confessions. Defendants, including hundreds of minors, are frequently convicted on the basis of these confessions alone, which can turn out to have been fabricated under duress. Unfortunately, American support for Israel only makes the problem worse, since the Israeli government knows there will be little pushback if the U.S. doesn’t lead the charge.

Discussed on the show:

• “The Homecoming: How Ahed Tamimi Became the Symbol of Palestinian Resistance to Israeli Oppression” (The Intercept)
• “A Palestinian Bedouin Village Braces For Forcible Transfer As Israel Seeks To Split The West Bank In Half” (The Intercept)
• Khan al-Ahmar
• Ahed Tamimi
• Oslo Accords

Alice Speri writes about justice, immigration, and civil rights for the Intercept. Follow her on Twitter @alicesperi.

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 TheBumperSticker.com.

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Cato’s Doug Bandow discusses the recent anonymous op-ed in the New York Times, which claims that a devoted resistance movement inside the White House works to undermine President Trump’s agenda at every turn. Bandow explains how troubling it is to have an unelected cabal within our government that wields this much power, especially one that opposes all the aspects of Trump’s presidency we should actually be applauding, namely his willingness to negotiate with Russia and North Korea.

Discussed on the show:

• “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration” (New York Times)

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: 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 TheBumperSticker.com.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

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