Podcast Summary: Part Of The Problem – Episode Featuring Scott Horton

Release Date: December 23, 2024
Host: Dave Smith
Guest: Scott Horton
Podcast Network: GaS Digital Network

Introduction

In this compelling episode of Part Of The Problem, host Dave Smith engages in an in-depth discussion with renowned libertarian author and activist Scott Horton. The conversation delves into Scott's latest book, "Provoked," exploring its impact, reception, and the broader implications of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

Book Promotion and Reception

Promoting "Provoked": Scott Horton begins by sharing his experiences on the book tour for "Provoked," highlighting the extensive interviews and debates he has participated in to promote his work. He emphasizes the anticipation surrounding the audiobook release, mentioning that chapters on figures like H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton are nearing completion.

Reception and Criticism: Scott addresses the overwhelmingly positive reviews his book has received, contrasting them with the negative one-star reviews on platforms like Amazon. He attributes the poor reviews to "angry trolls" and "Russian talking points," pointing out the lack of verifiable purchases in these negative comments. “None of the one star reviews have a verified purchase under their name. They’re all clearly just angry trolls from Twitter who came to lie,” Scott asserts ([03:42]).

U.S. Foreign Policy and Its Consequences

Impact on Middle Eastern Conflicts: The conversation shifts to the U.S. involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts, particularly focusing on Iraq and Syria. Scott critiques the U.S. government's strategies, arguing that policies like supporting the Kurds and engaging with Israel have exacerbated regional tensions. He states, “America is the most powerful government in the history of the world. They can do a lot more bad than other people could,” emphasizing the disproportionate impact of U.S. actions ([05:25]).

Supporting Adversarial Groups: Scott highlights the unintended consequences of U.S. alliances, such as the support for Kurdish forces in Syria, which has strained relations with Turkey and hindered the U.S.’s ability to extricate itself from the region. He also critiques the support for Israel, suggesting that it often comes at the expense of broader American interests. “You think Joe Biden's America? I mean, just because the moneyed interests of Delaware decided they wanted him to be their Senator back in 1973 doesn’t really mean anything,” Scott remarks ([14:42]).

Critical Examination of Terrorism Definitions

Moral Equivalence and Double Standards: A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the concept of "moral equivalence" in defining terrorism. Scott and Dave argue that Western governments often apply different standards when labeling groups as terrorists based on political alliances. Scott points out the hypocrisy in how certain acts are condemned when perpetrated by adversaries but ignored or justified when committed by allies. “Moral equivalence… You’re morally equivalent to a bunch of suicide bombing, head chopping scum,” Dave interjects, underscoring the inconsistency in threat perceptions ([66:36]).

Noam Chomsky’s Perspective: The hosts reference Noam Chomsky's view that terrorism is often defined based on proximity and political alignment, not on objective criteria. This leads to a broader critique of how U.S. foreign policy selectively targets threats while ignoring similar or worse actions by allied nations.

Historical Context and Propaganda

Iraq War and Al Qaeda: Scott provides a historical analysis of the Iraq Wars, explaining how U.S. policies contributed to the rise of extremist groups like Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). He details the role of leaders like Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and the flawed justifications used to engage in prolonged military interventions. “America took the Shiite revolution to Baghdad. They didn’t just kick out Saddam; they de-Shiitened it,” Scott explains ([27:06]).

Media and Propaganda: The discussion also touches on the manipulation of media narratives to justify military actions. Scott criticizes how figures like Colin Powell propagated false connections between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda to garner support for the Iraq invasion. “They needed Zarqawi to still be alive,” Scott asserts, highlighting the strategic use of propaganda to sustain military efforts ([27:15]).

Modern Implications and Ongoing Conflicts

Syria’s Fragmentation: Scott analyzes the current state of Syria post-Assad, describing the fragmentation and the rise of various militant groups. He critiques the swift actions of nations like Israel in seizing territories, labeling such moves as opportunistic and destabilizing. “It’s manifest destiny, baby. Let’s do it,” he remarks on Israel’s immediate colonization efforts following Assad's fall ([22:14]).

Enduring U.S. Presence: The conversation underscores the challenges in withdrawing U.S. forces from the Middle East. Scott questions the necessity of maintaining American bases in Syria, given the changing dynamics and the reduction of direct threats. “Why do we need Americans at the Altam base to sit on that highway to prevent the weapons coming in?” he questions ([20:03]).

Debate Highlights and Future Topics

Debate with Kathy Young: Dave recounts Scott’s debate with Kathy Young, praising Scott's performance and highlighting the strong impact of his arguments. “It was pretty funny that in the final vote she only got the guy she came with,” Dave notes, emphasizing Scott's effective dismantling of opposing viewpoints ([40:33]).

Upcoming Discussions: The episode concludes with a preview of future topics, including shock therapy and color-coded revolutions, promising listeners more insightful analysis in subsequent episodes.

Conclusion

This episode of Part Of The Problem offers a thorough critique of U.S. foreign policy, spotlighting the unintended consequences of military interventions and alliances in the Middle East. Through Scott Horton’s analysis, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the complexities and moral ambiguities inherent in international relations and the pervasive impact of propaganda. The conversation serves as a call for consistent and objective standards in defining and addressing terrorism, advocating for a more principled and less interventionist approach to global conflicts.

Notable Quotes:

• Scott Horton on Amazon Reviews: “None of the one star reviews have a verified purchase under their name. They’re all clearly just angry trolls from Twitter who came to lie.” ([03:42])

• Scott Horton on U.S. Power: “America is the most powerful government in the history of the world. They can do a lot more bad than other people could.” ([05:25])

• Dave Smith on Moral Equivalence: “You’re morally equivalent to a bunch of suicide bombing, head chopping scum.” ([66:36])

• Scott Horton on De-Shiitening Iraq: “America took the Shiite revolution to Baghdad. They didn’t just kick out Saddam; they de-Shiitened it.” ([27:06])

• Scott Horton on Syria's Fragmentation: “It’s manifest destiny, baby. Let’s do it.” ([22:14])

For those interested in a critical examination of U.S. foreign policy and its ramifications, this episode provides valuable insights and thought-provoking discussions.