Scott Horton is an accomplished journalist, editor, and host of the "Scott Horton Show" podcast, where he interviews a wide range of experts on topics related to foreign policy, national security, and the history of U.S. wars. He is also the editorial director of the Libertarian Institute and the director of the Libertarian Institute’s Antiwar.com. Horton has been an influential voice in the antiwar movement, providing critical analysis of U.S. foreign policy through his writings and broadcasts.
Horton has authored several books, including Fool’s Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan and Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism. His work often focuses on the consequences of U.S. military interventions and the importance of a non-interventionist foreign policy. He is a staunch critic of the bipartisan consensus that supports U.S. involvement in conflicts abroad.
Book Summary: Provoked: How America Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine
Provoked explores how U.S. foreign policy decisions, spanning multiple administrations, have contributed to the resurgence of Cold War-like tensions between the United States and Russia. Horton argues that a series of misguided policies, from NATO expansion and the support of color revolutions in Eastern Europe to the direct involvement in Ukrainian politics, have provoked Russia and led to the current crisis in Ukraine.
The book examines the roles of presidents from George H.W. Bush to Joe Biden in escalating tensions, each administration building upon the strategic missteps of the previous one. Horton suggests that the U.S. approach has been marked by a failure to understand Russia's security concerns and the dynamics of the region, which ultimately culminated in Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Horton critiques both Democratic and Republican administrations for their actions, portraying the conflict as a preventable disaster. He argues that instead of promoting stability and security, U.S. policies have led to increased hostility and a new Cold War that endangers global peace. Provoked serves as a comprehensive and critical account of how America’s foreign policy choices have fueled one of the most dangerous geopolitical confrontations of the 21st century.
