#478 – Scott Horton: The Case Against War and the Military Industrial Complex

In this episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast, Lex interviews Scott Horton, director of the Libertarian Institute, about U.S. foreign policy, military interventionism, and the military-industrial complex. Horton details the history of American involvement in various conflicts, including Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq, emphasizing the role of whistleblowers like Daniel Ellsberg and journalists like Gareth Porter in exposing government deception. The conversation covers the Iran-Iraq War, Iran-Contra, the rise of the neocon movement, and the events leading up to 9/11, highlighting the importance of understanding the motivations and consequences of U.S. foreign policy decisions. Horton argues that the U.S. often acts against its own interests by supporting regimes and policies that lead to instability and blowback, and he advocates for a non-interventionist foreign policy based on diplomacy and respect for other nations' sovereignty.