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Grant F. Smith, the director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy, discusses the influential American-Israel Public Affairs Committe (AIPAC). Smith has written several books on AIPAC. which was started with $6 million in foreign funding, largely from Israel, but eluded U.S. efforts to register it as a foreign agent. While it's treated as a domestic lobbying organization, Smith says AIPAC today continues to act as a foreign agent for Israel, employing campaign contributions, covert pressure campaigns and espionage in collusion with Israel to advance policies that serve the state of Israel but not the United States or the public good.
Download Episode. Scott is joined by Grant F. Smith to talk about some documents he recently acquired through the Freedom of Information Act that reveal the Anti-Defamation League's role in teaching FBI agents how to define genocide and civil disobedience. He and Scott discuss the ADL's history of defining both terms very dishonestly to contemplate what FBI agents are learning. Discussed on the show: “ADL defines genocide and civil disobedience within the FBI” (IRmep) “The Anti-Defamation League: Israel's Attack Dog in the US” (The Nation) Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel's Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is the director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Moon Does Artisan Coffee; Roberts and Robers Brokerage Incorporated; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; Libertas Bella; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott. Get Scott's interviews before anyone else! Subscribe to the Substack. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjY
Scott is joined by Grant F. Smith to talk about some documents he recently acquired through the Freedom of Information Act that reveal the Anti-Defamation League's role in teaching FBI agents how to define genocide and civil disobedience. He and Scott discuss the ADL's history of defining both terms very dishonestly to contemplate what FBI agents are learning. Discussed on the show: “ADL defines genocide and civil disobedience within the FBI” (IRmep) “The Anti-Defamation League: Israel's Attack Dog in the US” (The Nation) Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel's Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is the director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Moon Does Artisan Coffee; Roberts and Robers Brokerage Incorporated; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; Libertas Bella; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott. Get Scott's interviews before anyone else! Subscribe to the Substack. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Download Episode. Scott talks with Grant F. Smith about an article he recently wrote on the major blow the Saudis dealt Israel by reengaging with Iran. Scott and Smith assess the damage this has done to Israel's plans for the region. They then discuss whether this major development makes a war against Iran more or less likely. Discussed on the show: “Israel and its US lobby Dealt Major Blow by China Saudi Iran Peace Initiative” (Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy) How Israel Made AIPAC Podcast Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel's Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is the director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott. Get Scott's interviews before anyone else! Subscribe to the Substack. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjY
Scott talks with Grant F. Smith about an article he recently wrote on the major blow the Saudis dealt Israel by reengaging with Iran. Scott and Smith assess the damage this has done to Israel's plans for the region. They then discuss whether this major development makes a war against Iran more or less likely. Discussed on the show: “Israel and its US lobby Dealt Major Blow by China Saudi Iran Peace Initiative” (Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy) How Israel Made AIPAC Podcast Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel's Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott. Get Scott's interviews before anyone else! Subscribe to the Substack. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this edition of Parallax Views, Richard Silverstein of the Tikun Olam blog returns to discuss the latest eruptions of violence in Israel/Palestine starting with the massacre in the Palestinian Jenin refugee and then the deadly attack on Israelis outside a Synagogue in East Jerusalem shortly thereafter. In addition to this, we talk about the anti-government protests in Israel against Netanyahu's government and the fears within Israel over Netanyahu's judicial reforms which some are arguing would be a fascistic judicial coup by the Israeli far-right. Moreover, Richard and I discuss President Joe Biden and U.S. foreign policy with regards to Israel and specifically Secretary of State Antony Blinken visit to Israel and meeting with the deeply dysfunctional and corrupt Palestinian Authority's President Mahmoud Abbas. Additionally Richard and I will delve into Netanyahu's cozying up with America's evangelical Christian right, background on Richard's own evolution of thought in regards to Israel/Palestine, Israeli messianism and the end times, the potential for a Third Intifada to erupt, the Israeli economy and big tech start-up companies in Israel, the former Shin Bet (domestic Israeli intelligence chief) calling for a General Strike in Israel, Rabbi Meier Kahane and the Israeli far-right, Israeli ministerial position figures Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, Itamar Ben Gvir's vision for Israel and the Temple Mount, the "toxic brew" that is effecting Israeli politics right now, religious violence and conflict escalation, cycles of violence in Israel/Palestine, secular politics and conflict resolution/compromise, the permanent banning of the anti-Zionist/non-Zionist Mondoweiss media outlet from TikTok, the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism, the attacks on UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese's and her work on the situation of human rights in the occupied territories, and more! In the second half of the program, Grant F. Smith of the Institute for Research: Middle East Policy returns to discuss New York Times op-ed columnist Thomas Friedman and his reporting on Israel/Palestine over the years. Grant's recent article on Friedman is entitled "Thomas L. Friedman's Israel: The krytron and the cholent heater". Recently, Friedman commented that he fears the two-state solution is dead in a conversation with Peter Beinart and penned an op-ed pleasing with President Joe Biden to save Israel from losing it's democracy and sliding into becoming “illiberal bastion of zealotry”. In the second half of the program, Grant F. Smith of the Institute for Research: Middle East Policy returns to the program to discuss his critique of New York Times op-ed columnist Thomas Friedman's reporting on Israel/Palestine over the years. Grant recently penned a piece at irMEP on the subject entitled "Thomas L. Friedman's Israel: The krytron and the cholent heater". In a recent conversation with Peter Beinart, Friedman expressed fear that the two-state solution is dead and has also written an op-ed imploring Joe Biden to save Israel from becoming “illiberal bastion of zealotry”. In other words, Friedman has been critical of Israel as of late. Grant, however, believes the criticism is mild and undermined by his previous writings especially in regards to Israeli spy and movie mogul Arnon Milchan, nuclear weapons and smuggling operations, and Benjamin Netanyahu in the 1980s. Among the topics covered in the course of our conversation: - Nuclear smuggling and Israel's "Project Pinto" - Saudi Arabia, the Abraham Accords, Israel's WeWork boondogle, and the private Israeli salmon farming Project Jonah that funded by large sums of taxpayer dollars/government funding - The NUMEC Affair and Israeli nuclear weapons smuggling - Critiques of Thomas Friedman's writings on globalization (see: The World is Flat and The Lexus and the Oliver Tree) and his "Golden Arches Theory of War" (ie: no two countries with a McDonald's would go to war with each other) - And more!
On this edition of Parallax Views, Grant F. Smith of the Institute for Research: Middle East Policy returns to discuss his article "ADL files FBI 'Civil Rights Threat' conflating white nationalists with pro-Palestinian charities" as well the broader history of the ADL and its relationship with the FBI. Additionally, Grant gives his thoughts on the FBI probe into the death of Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and briefly summarizes his October 2022 article "Virginia Rejects Israel's Energix CdTe Solar Farm Panels". Some of the points we touch on include: - The ADL's infiltration of the Organization of Arab Students in the late 1960s - THE FBI, the Jewish Defense League, and the assassination of Palestinian activist Alex Odeh in 1985 - The murder of Mary Phagan, the lynching of pencil factory superintendent Leo Frank, and the formation of the Anti-Defamation League by B'nai B'rith - The ADL and Hollywood; Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and arms dealing - The ADL's relationship with the FBI in 1940s Hollywood; the FBI and the Red Scare over communist infiltration of Hollywood - The ADL, Dr. John Lechner, and the internment of West Coast Japanese Americans in WWII - Arms smuggling, pressure campaigns, and spying scandals - Israel affinity groups in America; the ADL and state/national law enforcement - The ADL's attempt to conflate the pro-Palestinian Friends of Sabeel North America and the American Muslim Alliance with the neo-nazi group Vanguard America; the FBI's dismissal of the conflation - The FBI's COINTELPRO program and J. Edgar Hoover - Israeli intelligence operative Rafael Eitan - The targeting of Jewish civil rights activist and University of Minnesota professor Matthew Stark - Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) documents obtained by IRmep - The Friends of Sabeel's pro-BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) stance and the anti-BDS movement - And much, much more!
Download Episode. Scott talks with Grant F. Smith about the work he's doing to track the ways Israel's government tries to affect American politics. First, they talk about the return of Benjamin Netanyahu and how this could signal a disturbing shift in Israeli politics. They then move on to the fruitful effort by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, AIPAC, to help pro-Israel candidates win elections last week. Lastly, they talk about some of the research Smith's organization has done into the Anti-Defamation League's influence over the FBI. Discussed on the show: site:irmep.org .pdf How Israel Made AIPAC Podcast Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel's Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and Thc Hemp Spot. Get Scott's interviews before anyone else! Subscribe to the Substack. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjYu5tZiG.
Scott talks with Grant F. Smith about the work he's doing to track the ways Israel's government tries to affect American politics. First, they talk about the return of Benjamin Netanyahu and how this could signal a disturbing shift in Israeli politics. They then move on to the fruitful effort by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, AIPAC, to help pro-Israel candidates win elections last week. Lastly, they talk about some of the research Smith's organization has done into the Anti-Defamation League's influence over the FBI. Discussed on the show: site:irmep.org .pdf How Israel Made AIPAC Podcast Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel's Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and Thc Hemp Spot. Get Scott's interviews before anyone else! Subscribe to the Substack. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjYu5tZiG. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this edition of Parallax Views, the Institute for Research: Middle East Policy's Grant F. Smith returns to discuss his new podcast documentary series How Israel Made AIPAC. Grant takes through the history of AIPAC, often simply referred to as the Israel lobby, from its earliest days vis-a-vis the figure of lobbyist Isaiah L. Kenen. Grant gives an overview about the origins of AIPAC and issues related to Israel in the 20th century including the Transfer Agreement and the Third Reich, Haganah arms smuggling, NUMEC and how Israel acquired nuclear weapons, the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), the U.S. State Department, Ze'ev "Vladimir" Jabotinsky and the Likud Party, and more. We'll also discuss the importance of this documentary series to current events and U.S. foreign policy today as well as the ways in which previous Presidents like the Pendergast Machine-affiliated Harry Truman could be compromised by private or foreign interests. Then, in a brief bonus segment, Dave DeCamp of Antiwar.Com joins us to discuss how a recent CBS documentary on U.S./NATO arming of Ukraine was pulled after Volodymyr Zelensky's government complained about it. One of the issues raised by the documentary was the question of how many of the arms being sent to Ukraine are actually making it into the hands of the military. Ukraine's foreign defense minister has called for CBS to launch an internal investigation to see who "enabled" the documentary.
Download Episode. Scott talked with author Grant F. Smith about his new podcast detailing the founding of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. They also discuss how AIPAC has recently been getting more involved in U.S. elections. While some have framed this as an attempt for the ‘politically conservative' organization to target progressive candidates, Smith argues politics has little to do with it. All that matters to AIPAC is the degree to which any given candidate supports sending money to Israel. Discussed on the show: How Israel Made AIPAC Podcast Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel's Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and Thc Hemp Spot. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjYu5tZiG.
Scott talked with author Grant F. Smith about his new podcast detailing the founding of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. They also discuss how AIPAC has recently been getting more involved in U.S. elections. While some have framed this as an attempt for the ‘politically conservative' organization to target progressive candidates, Smith argues politics has little to do with it. All that matters to AIPAC is the degree to which any given candidate supports sending money to Israel. Discussed on the show: How Israel Made AIPAC Podcast Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel's Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and Thc Hemp Spot. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjYu5tZiG. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this edition of Parallax Views, later on in the program we'll be talking to one of the most prominent leaders in the Palestinian liberation movement, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi. Dr. Ashrawi was the first woman to be elected a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 2009, served as the official spokesperson of the Palestinian delegation to the Middle East peace process from 1991-1993, and participated in the 1991-1992 Madrid peace conference as a member of the Palestinian Leadership Committee delegation. Hanan will join me to discuss the Palestinian struggle, human rights, and U.S. policy on Palestine with a focus on said policy during the Presidencies of Donald J. Trump and now Joe Biden. We'll also discuss Dr. Ashrawi's encounter with the South African anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela, the expulsions of Palestinians from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah district of East Jerusalem, the human rights and international law approach to Israel/Palestine, the propaganda matrix around Israel/Palestine, hope for the future of the Palestinian cause, and much, much more! That, however, will be in the second segment of today's show. First, Grant F. Smith of IRmep (Institute for Research: Middle East Policy) returns to the show to discuss the upcoming Israel Lobby Con (Transcending the Israel Lobby at Home and Abroad) on March 3rd. Speakers include the aforementioned Dr. Ashrawi, Israeli journalist Gideon Levy, CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou, Paul Noursi of the Virginia Human Rights Coalition, Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, Rev. Don Wagner, academic Sut Jhally, the Council on American-Islamic Relations' (CAIR) Edward Ahmed Mitchell, and Palestine Legal's Radihka Sanith. The conference will cover a number of topics such as Christian Zionism, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement), human rights and Democracy in Israel, Israel and the U.S. national security state, free speech for Palestinian activists, and much, much more. You can attend the conference by visiting the Israel Lobby Con website and purchasing a ticket. The Annual Israel Lobby Con at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on March 3rd (IRL and Zoom tickets available)
Scott is joined by Grant F. Smith to discuss the Israel Lobby Conference taking place on March 3rd and 4th. The annual conference is returning to a live venue but will provide remote viewing options as well. Smith and Scott discuss the speakers and agenda for the event. Discussed on the show: israellobbycon.org Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel's Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; EasyShip; Free Range Feeder; Thc Hemp Spot; Green Mill Supercritical; Bug-A-Salt and Listen and Think Audio. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjYu5tZiG.
Scott is joined by Grant F. Smith to discuss the Israel Lobby Conference taking place on March 3rd and 4th. The annual conference is returning to a live venue but will provide remote viewing options as well. Smith and Scott discuss the speakers and agenda for the event. Discussed on the show: israellobbycon.org Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel's Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; EasyShip; Free Range Feeder; Thc Hemp Spot; Green Mill Supercritical; Bug-A-Salt and Listen and Think Audio. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjYu5tZiG.
Scott is joined by Grant F. Smith to talk about the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's (AIPAC) new strategy for reaching U.S. politicians. AIPAC has largely operated as a lobbying group on behalf of the State of Israel. But, as Smith explains, they are now working to set up a network of Political Action Committees. This will give them more freedom to fund candidates they like, and support the opponents of candidates they don't. Scott and Smith give possible reasons for the evolving methods. Discussed on the show: “AIPAC forming political action committees to tighten grip on U.S. elections” (Washington Report on Middle Eastern Affairs) “Joe Biden should end the US pretence over Israel's ‘secret' nuclear weapons” (The Guardian) Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel's Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; EasyShip; Free Range Feeder; Thc Hemp Spot; Green Mill Supercritical; Bug-A-Salt and Listen and Think Audio. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjYu5tZiG.
Scott is joined by Grant F. Smith to talk about the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's (AIPAC) new strategy for reaching U.S. politicians. AIPAC has largely operated as a lobbying group on behalf of the State of Israel. But, as Smith explains, they are now working to set up a network of Political Action Committees. This will give them more freedom to fund candidates they like, and support the opponents of candidates they don't. Scott and Smith give possible reasons for the evolving methods. Discussed on the show: “AIPAC forming political action committees to tighten grip on U.S. elections” (Washington Report on Middle Eastern Affairs) “Joe Biden should end the US pretence over Israel's ‘secret' nuclear weapons” (The Guardian) Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel's Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; EasyShip; Free Range Feeder; Thc Hemp Spot; Green Mill Supercritical; Bug-A-Salt and Listen and Think Audio. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjYu5tZiG.
On this edition of Parallax Views, the American Israel Public Affairs Commitee (AIPAC) recently announced the launch of a Super PAC which signals its official entry into direct spending on U.S. elections. Joining us to explain the reasons AIPAC may be doing this as well as to give a critical overall perspective on the lobby is Grant F. Smith of the Institute for Research: Middle East Policy. Joining me to co-host this conversation is "Free Palestine", host of the West Bank Robbery podcast. We discuss a number of issues including the Virginia Israel Advisory Board and Project Jonah, the Steve Rosen/Keith Weissman/Larry Franklin scandal, the need to avoid antisemitism in talking about both AIPAC and Israel/Palestine, Zaha Hassan and the human rights-centric approach to Israel/Palestine, Stealth PACs, Jamal Bowman, the Abraham Accords, the UAE, and much, much more!
Scott interviews Grant Smith about his recent article, which makes the case that the $3.8 billion in foreign aid given to Israel is on questionable legal grounds. It all comes back to Israel's nuclear weapons, which the U.S. government has not officially acknowledged even exist. Because Israel is not a part of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, it is illegal for the U.S. to give them aid without making a specific case for why it's necessary. Smith explains that to avoid this, Israel puts a lot of pressure on incoming Presidents to stay silent and not acknowledge the program. Smith also gives some background on how Israel acquired nuclear technology in the first place and how a tiny country in the middle-east has so effectively controlled American lawmakers. Discussed on the show: “Israel's Nukes Make US Aid Illegal” (Antiwar.com) “America Needs to Start Telling the Truth About Israel's Nukes” (New York Times) “Joe Biden should end the US pretense over Israel's ‘secret' nuclear weapons” (The Guardian) Chuck Schumer acknowledging Israel's Nuclear Weapons Documents obtained about the Israeli agent who infiltrated the NUMEC facility Grant Smith's book about NUMEC Roger Mattson's book about NUMEC Roger Mattson on CSPAN with Grant Smith Grant Smith's book Big Israel “How Trump and Three Other U.S. Presidents Protected Israel's Worst-Kept Secret: Its Nuclear Arsenal” (New Yorker) Grant Smith's book about the fight to register the Israel Lobby as foreign agents Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel's Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; EasyShip; Thc Hemp Spot; Green Mill Supercritical; Bug-A-Salt; Lorenzotti Coffee and Listen and Think Audio. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjYu5tZiG.
Scott interviews Grant Smith about his recent article, which makes the case that the $3.8 billion in foreign aid given to Israel is on questionable legal grounds. It all comes back to Israel's nuclear weapons, which the U.S. government has not officially acknowledged even exist. Because Israel is not a part of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, it is illegal for the U.S. to give them aid without making a specific case for why it's necessary. Smith explains that to avoid this, Israel puts a lot of pressure on incoming Presidents to stay silent and not acknowledge the program. Smith also gives some background on how Israel acquired nuclear technology in the first place and how a tiny country in the middle-east has so effectively controlled American lawmakers. Discussed on the show: “Israel's Nukes Make US Aid Illegal” (Antiwar.com) “America Needs to Start Telling the Truth About Israel's Nukes” (New York Times) “Joe Biden should end the US pretense over Israel's ‘secret' nuclear weapons” (The Guardian) Chuck Schumer acknowledging Israel's Nuclear Weapons Documents obtained about the Israeli agent who infiltrated the NUMEC facility Grant Smith's book about NUMEC Roger Mattson's book about NUMEC Roger Mattson on CSPAN with Grant Smith Grant Smith's book Big Israel “How Trump and Three Other U.S. Presidents Protected Israel's Worst-Kept Secret: Its Nuclear Arsenal” (New Yorker) Grant Smith's book about the fight to register the Israel Lobby as foreign agents Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel's Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State and Why The Vietnam War?, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; EasyShip; Thc Hemp Spot; Green Mill Supercritical; Bug-A-Salt; Lorenzotti Coffee and Listen and Think Audio. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjYu5tZiG.
Scott talks to Grant Smith about the upcoming Israel Lobby Con, the annual conference hosting a range of expert speakers who offer opposing views to the mainstream zionist position that dominates American polite society. This year’s conference consists of two sessions, the first on Saturday 4/17 and the second on Saturday 4/24, and will be hosted on Zoom. Sign up for the conference at www.IsraelApartheidCon.org, watch live on YouTube or listen to the podcast afterward. Discussed on the show: “Expert Speakers to Discuss Israel, its U.S. Lobby and Apartheid April 17 & 24” (PR Newswire) Architects of Repression: How Israel and Its Lobby Put Racism, Violence and Injustice at the Center of US Middle East Policy IsraelApartheidCon “‘Cut Aid Over Israeli Apartheid’ Say Americans: Poll” (Antiwar.com) “A regime of Jewish supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: This is apartheid” (B’Tselem) Oslo Accords “IRmep Policy Brief: ‘Clean Break’ or Dirty War?” (IRMEP) Mornings in Jenin: A Novel The Blue Between Sky and Water Against the Loveless World: A Novel Facebook, we need to talk. “Neoconservativism in a Nutshell” (LobeLog) State of Terror: How Terrorism Created Modern Israel Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Photo IQ; Green Mill Supercritical; Zippix Toothpicks; and Listen and Think Audio. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjYu5tZiG.
Grant Smith discusses the Israeli government’s occupation of Palestine and its treatment of the Palestinians. There seems to be growing recognition that Israel is presiding over a form of apartheid, including a 2017 UN report attesting to that fact, and a small plurality of Americans, according to a recent survey, who believe America should cut aid to Israel over human rights abuses. But Smith also recognizes that government policies here and abroad often follow a “ratchet” effect—that is, small changes can be made pretty easily in one direction, but almost never get rolled back once instituted. And the trend in recent years has unmistakably been toward greater subjugation of the Palestinians by the Israelis and greater American support as they do so. Discussed on the show: Architects of Repression Israel Lobby Con “‘Cut Aid Over Israeli Apartheid’ Say Americans: Poll” (Antiwar.com Original) “Is Israel an ‘apartheid’ state? This U.N. report says yes.” (The Washington Post) “US: It’s our longstanding position that the West Bank is occupied” (The Jerusalem Post) “A regime of Jewish supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: This is apartheid” (B’Tselem) Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Photo IQ; Green Mill Supercritical; Zippix Toothpicks; and Listen and Think Audio. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjYu5tZiG.
Scott talks to documentary producer Martin Smith about the subject of his newest project, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. Smith considers Jolani and his fighters to be something of a separate group from al Qaeda and ISIS who should be treated as such—but Scott challenges him with the fact that Jolani, a sworn follower of Ayman al-Zawahiri, is just as guilty of terrorism and war crimes as any al Qaeda leader. Throughout the war in Syria, many in the U.S. have tried to portray Jolani and his fighters as “moderate rebels,” whom we can support in order to overthrow the Assad regime; but Scott reminds us that if anything, Assad is the most moderate option amid a sea of bad actors, given that he has cooperated with America for years and, by regional standards, presides over a fairly stable and tolerant country. In other words, the lesson of two decades of wars in the Middle East should be that no matter how bad things seem, they can always get worse. Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Photo IQ; Green Mill Supercritical; Zippix Toothpicks; and Listen and Think Audio. Shop Libertarian Institute merch or donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal or Bitcoin: 1DZBZNJrxUhQhEzgDh7k8JXHXRjYu5tZiG.
Discussed on the show: “The Jonathan Pollard Exception” (Antiwar.com Original) “The Traitor” (The New Yorker) The Samson Option: Israel, America and the Bomb Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Photo IQ; Green Mill Supercritical; and Listen and Think Audio. Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.
rd have been punished. Now Pollard is on the verge of joining those others who walked free for their crimes. Discussed on the show: “The Jonathan Pollard Exception” (Antiwar.com Original) “The Traitor” (The New Yorker) The Samson Option: Israel, America and the Bomb Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Photo IQ; Green Mill Supercritical; and Listen and Think Audio. Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.
Grant Smith discusses the concept of “QME”, or “Qualitative Military Edge,” and how Israel and their lobby in the U.S. use it to get billions of dollars from the American taxpayers. Smith explains that during the Cold War, the doctrine of QME was used to keep the U.S. ahead of the Soviet Union and its allies—today, the same doctrine is being advocated by those who see Israel as a beacon of freedom and goodness amid a sea of enemies. And they use this concept to justify billions of dollars worth of arms “sales” to the Israeli government, which really, says Smith, amount to taxpayer-funded giveaways. Discussed on the show: “The Israel Lobby’s ‘QME’ Scam” (Antiwar.com Original) “How Four U.S. Presidents, including Obama and Trump, Helped Protect Israel’s Nuclear Arsenal” (The New Yorker) “Neoconservativism in a Nutshell” (LobeLog) Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: The War State, by Mike Swanson; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Photo IQ; Green Mill Supercritical; and Listen and Think Audio. Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.
Scott talks to Grant Smith about his ongoing work on the Israel lobby and its influence in America. Scott likens the story of Israel and Palestine to the history of the U.S. government and the Native Americans—for a long time everyone learned a skewed version that obscured American government crimes, but slowly the revisionist account became the widely accepted one. Scott and Smith hope that a similar transformation is on the horizon when it comes to American perception of Israeli treatment of the Palestinians. One area where the extent of Israeli influence is particularly opaque is in state government lobbying. Smith has focused on covering an organization known as the Virginia Israel Advisory Board, which funnels state money into Israeli-owned projects, subsidizing many businesses that would otherwise fail, and which rarely provide the benefit to the Virginia economy that is usually claimed. Discussed on the show: IsraelLobbyCon 2021 Israel’s Armor: The Israel Lobby and the First Generation of the Palestine Conflict How the West was Lost (miniseries) “New York Times corrects The 1619 Project — but it’s still a giant lie” (New York Post) “The New York Times and Nikole Hannah-Jones abandon key claims of the 1619 Project” (World Socialist Web Site) “Zoom, Facebook and YouTube Censor SF State Palestine Class — Palestine Legal” (Palestine Legal) “Google intensifies censorship of left-wing websites” (World Socialist Web Site) “Expropriate, Capture & Marginalize: the Energix business model from Palestine to the US” (YouTube) Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. 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. Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.
Scott talks to Grant Smith about the role of evangelical Christians in the Zionist movement in America. Grant examines the premise that evangelicals are the most significant driving force behind American support for Israel, a popular notion ever since George Bush Sr. blamed his loss to Bill Clinton on his failure to appease evangelical voters on the issue of Israel. But Smith argues that their influence is overblown. He says that the power wielded by actual lobbying groups like AIPAC are still the overwhelming driving force in shaping U.S. policy toward Israel, pushing for things like weapons sales, anti-BDS legislation and the moving of the American embassy to Jerusalem. Discussed on the show: “Are Christian Zionists the ‘Largest Pro-Israel Lobby’?” (Antiwar.com Original) The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy “The Clinton Administration’s Approach to the Middle East” (The Washington Institute for Near East Policy) “Antisemitism think tank ISGAP got grant from Israel” (The Forward) “Watch the film the Israel lobby didn’t want you to see” (Electronic Intifada) IsraelLobbyCon 2021 Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. 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. Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKQwduN0jQY
Jordan Smith discusses her research into the “BlueLeaks” archive of the leaked personal data of hundreds of thousands of cops and their cases. Smith was looking for evidence of unscientific techniques that the police use to elicit confessions and get convictions—and she found them in abundance. It turns out that the use of coercive interrogation techniques, discredited pseudoscience and phony forensic methods has become common practice in America’s law enforcement agencies for decades. Smith works tirelessly to advocate for what should be acceptable to just about everyone: practices that are actually verified by science, such that the cops can be efficient and accurate, while treating people justly and humanely. Discussed on the show: “The Junk Science Cops Use to Decide You’re Lying” (The Intercept) “BlueLeaks Hack Exposes Personal Data of 700,000 Cops” (The Intercept) “The Negotiator (1998)” (IMDb) High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group — FBI Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. 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. Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.
Grant Smith joins the show for another look at the Virginia Israel Advisory Board, a government entity associated with the state of Virginia that allocates taxpayer money to Israeli companies starting operations in the U.S. The projects, Smith explains, aren’t viable on their own, or else they wouldn’t need the massive subsidies from the public sector—but after getting the money, they can often put local competitors out of business because of their unnatural advantage. When these projects do fail, as illustrated by a recent biodiesel project, standard practice has been to forgive repayment of the grants. Smith describes the whole endeavor as privatized gains and socialized losses writ large. Discussed on the show: “Virginia Israel Advisory Board Deal Improper Says IG” (Antiwar.com Original) “Sign petition: EJECT ENERGIX!” (GoPetition.com) Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. 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. Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.
Grant Smith discusses the Israel lobby’s deep involvement in the U.S. economy, this time as regards the American firms in the business of promoting Israeli interests, who have recently received large sums of money through special coronavirus relief programs. Smith cross-referenced the list of companies receiving such aid with pro-Israel lobbying groups from his previous research, finding a great deal of overlap, particularly among the recipients of large “loans” (which under certain circumstances don’t even need to be repaid). These firms include the Zionist Organization of America, Friends of the IDF and the Israeli American Council, among others. Smith hopes that bringing this type of influence to light will also help Americans understand the Israeli government’s unjust and inhumane subjugation of the Palestinian people, and the many ways that our government enables it. Discussed on the show: “Israel Lobby Orgs Grab Covid-19 CARES Act Funds for Itself, IDF Facilities, and Sketchy Israeli Companies” (Antiwar.com) Yom Kippur War “The Men From JINSA and CSP” (The Nation) A Pretext for War: 9/11, Iraq, and the Abuse of America’s Intelligence Agencies “For Israel and Palestine, Equality in a One-State Solution” (The New York Times) Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 “Bin Laden’s ‘Letter to America'” (The Guardian) Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. 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. Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.
Scott talks to Grant Smith about his organization’s Freedom of Information lawsuit against the IRS, an attempt to get the agency to reveal its policies on tax-exempt organizations overseas. Of particular interest is the shocking fact that billions of dollars of tax-deductible money has been donated by American taxpayers in recent years to fund organizations that build settlements on Palestinian land. This makes no sense, says Smith, since the point of such tax policies is to offset “public good” costs that would otherwise be shouldered by the U.S. government. Not only do these activities service no such need, they are actually causing great harm to Palestinians. Discussed on the show: “IRS Must Describe Its Search for Israeli Settlement Policies” (Antiwar.com Original)Neutrality Act of 1794Foreign Agents Registration ActArms Export Control Act“1/10/20 Grant Smith on the Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board” (The Libertarian Institute) Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. 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. Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SynLiFjBNNs
Grant Smith joins the show to promote his upcoming conference, Transcending The Israel Lobby At Home And Abroad, to be held in Washington D.C. this May. The conference, as with most of Smith’s work, is focused on exposing the power the Israel Lobby wields in America to control the narrative on both Israel-Palestine, and American relations with Israel. Smith laments the fact that any opposition to the policies of the Israeli government is so easily depicted as mere anti-semitism. He is optimistic, however, about the kind of activism that is gaining steam and showing that it is possible to criticize the injustice without unjustly but effectively being smeared as a racist. Discussed on the show: IsraelLobbyCon 2020“1/10/20 Grant Smith on the Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board” (The Libertarian Institute)Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy“Iraq Has a New Prime Minister, but It Needs Regime Change to Escape Iran’s Influence” (Foreign Policy)Occupation of the American Mind““American neoconservatives: a history and overview” Jim Lobe” (YouTube) Grant F. Smith is the author of a number of books including Big Israel: How Israel’s Lobby Moves America, Divert!, and most recently The Israel Lobby Enters State Government: Rise of the Virginia Israel Advisory Board. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C. 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. Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE4IzWu_tLo