Scott talks to Doug Bandow about the baffling failure of U.S. policymakers to learn from any of America’s recent foreign policy blunders. In particular, despite widespread consensus that the invasion of Iraq was a total calamity, politicians at the highest levels—and on both sides of the aisle—continue to advocate for the same pattern of meddlesome interference in the Middle East. During his presidential campaign, Trump occasionally said things that made it seem like he realized how foolish all of America’s recent foreign interventions have been, but during his time as president, he has fallen victim time and time again to arguments like the “safe haven myth” from those who want to keep America bogged down in these conflicts forever. Americans, says Bandow, should simply ask themselves how they would feel if another country were doing this to them, and then they will understand why the American project of policing the entire world can never succeed.

Discussed on the show:

• “Despite Military Resistance, Our Footprint In Iraq Is Finally Shrinking” (The American Conservative)
• “2/19/98 Albright Interview on the Today Show” (U.S. State Department)
• “‘We Think the Price Is Worth It’” (FAIR)

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: 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.

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