193: Scott Horton Reprise

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna resumes his conversation with Scott Horton to examine the historical and contemporary applications of the Monroe Doctrine, tracing its shift from a defensive stance against European colonization to a tool for American imperial dominance in the Western Hemisphere. The dialogue focuses heavily on the complexities of regime change in Venezuela, analyzing the motivations behind US sanctions, the influence of political figures like Marco Rubio, and the interplay between corporate oil interests and geopolitical lobbies. Moving beyond Latin America, Horton offers a critical perspective on NATO expansion and the denial of a Russian sphere of influence in Eastern Europe, which he argues has fueled the conflict in Ukraine. The interview further uncovers the "business of intelligence" by discussing how NGOs and faith-based organizations can serve as covers for government operations, illustrated by a detailed anecdote about a failed coup in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Finally, the speakers reflect on the legacy of US involvement in Afghanistan and the flaws in established narratives regarding counter-terrorism and global interventionism. Scott Horton is director of the Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom director of the Libertarian Institute, editorial director of Antiwar.com and host of the Scott Horton Show from ScottHorton.org (https://scotthhorton.org). He is the author of four books. He has conducted more than 6,000 interviews since 2003. He has recently released The Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom.  Scott lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, Larisa Alexandrovna Horton.