Antiwar Radio with Scott Horton » Israel

Ray McGovern

Scott Horton — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:20:15 +0000

Former CIA senior analyst Ray McGovern discusses his article “Applying the Six-Day War to Iran;” neoconservative Charles Krauthammer’s revisionist history on the war – recounting it as a pre-emptive strike against imminent Arab attack instead of a long-planned land grab; former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin’s candid honesty about Israel’s “war of choice” in 1967; disagreement among Israeli government officials on whether or not Iran poses an existential threat; and how President Obama’s timid negotiating style has complicated his effort to dissuade Netanyahu from attacking Iran.

MP3 here. (20:02)

Ray McGovern works with Tell the Word, the publishing arm of the ecumenical Church of the Saviour in inner-city Washington. In the Sixties he served as an infantry/intelligence officer and then became a CIA analyst for the next 27 years. He is on the Steering Group of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS).

Kevjn Lim

Scott Horton — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:00:35 +0000

Kevjn Lim, independent writer and humanitarian professional, discusses his article “Israel’s Reluctant Friend;” the alleged high-level leak within the US government that supposedly exposed Azerbaijan’s offer of airstrips for an Israeli attack on Iran; Azerbaijan’s uncertain motivation for doing such a thing – if it’s true – since it has no real enmity with neighboring Iran and would face serious military consequences; and how Azerbaijan shares Turkey’s role as a bridge between the Muslim world and the West.

MP3 here. (16:34)

Kevjn Lim is an independent writer and humanitarian professional. He is also a contributing analyst at Open Briefing: The Civil Society Intelligence Agency. From 2007-2011, he served as delegate with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the Palestinian Territories, Darfur, Iraq, Ghaddhafi’s Libya and Afghanistan, specializing in protection and analysis. Prior to that, he taught modern languages at both Trinity and Queens’ Colleges, University of Melbourne (2004-2006), and served as intelligence officer with the Singapore Armed Forces (2001-2004).

Kevjn holds a BA Honours (First Class) in political science and Jewish-Islamic studies from the University of Melbourne, and submitted his thesis on Israeli politics (co-supervised by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem). His work has appeared in a number of publications including Israel Affairs, Jerusalem Post, The Diplomat, openDemocracy and Asia Times Online. Besides English, he is fluent in Arabic, French, Hebrew, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Persian, Romanian and Spanish.

Born and raised in Singapore, he is currently based in the Middle East.

Philip Weiss

Scott Horton — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:55:12 +0000

Philip Weiss, investigative journalist and author of the blog MondoWeiss, discusses how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu consolidated his political support and avoided early elections; why the centrist Kadima Party’s inclusion in Netanyahu’s coalition could make war with Iran more likely; how liberal Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz coordinated the sycophantic standing ovations during Netanyahu’s speech to Congress; President Obama’s inability to make tough decisions in the face of adversity; Pat Buchanan’s contrary take on WWII, The Unnecessary War; a simple visual of life as a Palestinian in an open-air prison; and why the peaceful protests in the Occupied Territories fail to garner any press coverage.

MP3 here. (38:00)

Philip Weiss is an investigative journalist who has written for The Nation, New York Times Magazine, The American Conservative, Jewish World Review and other publications. He is the author of American Taboo: A Murder in the Peace Corps.

Gareth Porter

Scott Horton — Mon, 07 May 2012 04:13:45 +0000

Gareth Porter, investigative historian and journalist specializing in U.S. national security policy, discusses his article “US-Afghan Pact Won’t End War or Night Raids;” President Obama’s stealthy press conference/campaign event in Afghanistan, where he pretended that the war is coming to an end; why an Iraq-model transition to self-governance won’t work in Afghanistan; the Afghan Army’s high turnover rate and general lack of purpose; why the decade-long continuing US occupation can best be described as “Operation: enduring hatred;” the “budget Armageddon” soon coming to the Pentagon, no matter who wins the 2012 election; and why the “Iran is an existential threat to Israel” line isn’t working anymore.

MP3 here. (34:35)

Gareth Porter is an investigative historian and journalist specializing in U.S. national security policy. The paperback edition of his latest book, Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road to War in Vietnam, was published in 2006.

Robert Parry

Scott Horton — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:08:44 +0000

Robert Parry, founder and editor of ConsortiumNews.com, discusses the many Israeli officials who are downplaying the “Iranian threat” and speaking out against Prime Minister Netanyahu‘s extremism; the pro-Netanyahu Americans who heckled former PM Uhud Olmert during his insufficiently-hawkish speech in New York; Israeli criticism of Netanyahu as “messianic” and not serious about a Palestinian peace; and why the initial P5+1 talks with Iran are good for Obama’s reelection bid, gas prices, and peace in the Middle East.

MP3 here. (18:13)

Robert Parry is an investigative journalist who won the George Polk Award in 1984 for reporting on the Iran-Contra affair and uncovering Oliver North’s involvement in it. He is the founder and editor of ConsortiumNews.com and author of Neck Deep: The Disastrous Presidency of George W. Bush, Trick or Treason: The October Surprise Mystery and Secrecy & Privilege: Rise of the Bush Dynasty from Watergate to Iraq.

Gareth Porter

Scott Horton — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 04:22:49 +0000

Gareth Porter, investigative historian and journalist specializing in U.S. national security policy, discusses Washington Post writer David Ignatius’s claim that a deal has already been made on Iran’s nuclear program and that ongoing talks are scripted; why the US and Iran can’t just “make a deal and shut up already;” how Benjamin Netanyahu’s bluff about attacking Iran is influencing US policy and helping the GOP win election; why it’s still unlikely NATO will drag the US into war in Syria, like Libya before; and the US-Afghan Strategic Partnership Agreement that envisions US involvement through 2024.

MP3 here. (24:38)

Arash Norouzi

Scott Horton — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 05:57:37 +0000

Arash Norouzi, artist and co-founder of The Mossadegh Project, discusses the Washington Post’s much-delayed admission that Iranian President Ahmadinejad didn’t say Israel should be “wiped off the map;” the context of Ahmadinejad’s speech and the origin of the quote – which compared Israel’s potential collapse to the fall of the USSR, the Shah’s regime and Saddam Hussein; putting an end to the seven year old anti-Iran talking point; and why we shouldn’t hold our breath waiting for other media outlets to admit their mistake.

MP3 here. (28:51)

Arash Norouzi is an artist and co-founder of The Mossadegh Project.

Peter Jenkins

Scott Horton — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 12:36:27 +0000

Peter Jenkins, the UK’s Permanent Representative to the IAEA from 2001-06, discusses his article “Iran Nuclear Talks Offer Opportunity If The US Wants It;” the mainstream media’s sudden truth-telling on Iran’s nuclear program; Obama’s apparent interest in good-faith negotiations that recognize Iran’s NPT rights; why excessive US demands (close Fordow facility, give up 20% uranium) don’t necessarily preclude reasonable compromises later on; Ray McGovern’s theory that a Jundullah terrorist attack scuttled the 2009 fuel swap agreement; why Israel is the main hindrance to better US-Iran relations; IAEA claims that the “alleged studies” documents are corroborated by other sources, and that Iran at least pursued knowledge (if not production) of nuclear weapons before 2003; and a comparison of IAEA chief Yukiya Amano and his predecessor Mohamed ElBaradei.

MP3 here. (32:10)

Peter Jenkins was the UK’s Permanent Representative to the IAEA in 2001-06 and is now a partner in ADRg Ambassadors.

Gareth Porter

Scott Horton — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 12:36:21 +0000

Gareth Porter, investigative historian and journalist specializing in U.S. national security policy, discusses his article “Israeli Experts Mum on Iran Attack to Support Bibi’s Bluff;” Obama’s dangerous game, talking tough on Iran to appease Israel and Republican critics while trying to avoid war; how outrageous US demands on Iran’s nuclear program risk scuttling negotiations before they even begin; and how Israel-sponsored terrorism in Iran (using Jundullah or MEK as a proxy) could start a war if Iran counterattacks.

MP3 here. (20:17)

M.J. Rosenberg

Scott Horton — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 12:36:17 +0000

M.J. Rosenberg, journalist and former Senior Foreign Policy Fellow at Media Matters Action Network, discusses how his criticism of Israel made him a liability for his former employer; why members of Congress won’t take a risk on controversial issues, even when they have “safe seats;” why the Palestinian Authority risks losing US aid for giving an award to journalist Helen Thomas; billionaire Sheldon Adelson’s circulation-leading, money-losing, right-wing Israeli newspaper; the longtime friendship between Mitt Romney and Bibi Netanyahu; why Americans are free to badmouth US presidents and politicians, but risk being labeled an anti-Semite for criticizing Netanyahu; and the enigma of Alan Dershowitz.

MP3 here. (37:47)

M.J. Rosenberg was Senior Foreign Policy Fellow at Media Matters Action Network. He worked on Capitol Hill for various Democratic members of the House and Senate for 15 years. He was also a Clinton political appointee at USAID. In the early 1980s, he was editor of AIPACs weekly newsletter Near East Report. From 1998-2009, he was director of policy at Israel Policy Forum.