Gareth Porter rejoins the show to talk North Korea, the New York Times, and the insidious influence of arms contractors on United States foreign policy decisions. Porter explains how easy it is for journalists to make claims like “North Korea has an illicit nuclear program” without needing to provide hard evidence. Most people don’t pay close enough attention to be able to question claims like that, but they can easily be used as evidence for the need for military intervention. Much of the media, claims Porter, hates that President Trump might help to bring about peace in Korea because they’re unwilling to give him credit for anything positive. Scott and Porter shift to discussing the dangers of the military-industrial complex in general, an institution that has been empowered by the transition of the pentagon from a huge government bureaucracy, to really more of a business. And just like any rent-seekers, arms manufacturers lobby for policies that will make them the most money. In this case that means more war from the United States.

Discussed on the show:

• David E. Sanger
• “What the New York Times Got Wrong About North Korea” (National Interest)
• Joint ComprehensiveS Plan of Action
• “North Korea ‘Deception’: NYT Malpractice or Laziness?” (American Conservative)
• Center for Strategic and International Studies
• “America’s Permanent-War Complex” (American Conservative)
• Eisenhower’s Farewell Speech
• “US: Lockheed Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” (Corpwatch)
• Committee for the Liberation of Iraq
• “Top Secret America” (Washington Post)
• “10/17/18 Ben Freeman on the Saudi Lobby” (Libertarian Institute)
• “Yemen crisis: 85,000 children ‘dead from malnutrition'” (BBC)

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.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Podcast (thescotthortonshow): Play in new window | Download