The Wild West of Iraq: A Bank Robbery in Baghdad | Josh Bates | Ep. 403

The Wild West of Iraq: A Bank Robbery in Baghdad | Josh Bates | Ep. 403

Author: dee takos March 21, 2026 Duration: 2:20:44
We sit down with Josh Bates to discuss his experience as a Marine infantry officer during the invasion of Iraq, from the initial push north to the chaos of Baghdad after the regime collapsed. He breaks down the realities of urban combat, leadership under pressure, and the breakdown of order that fueled the early insurgency. We also discuss how those experiences shaped his career and led to writing The Baghdad Shuffle.
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Intro music by https://www.youtube.com/user/RemixSample
"Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio"
00:00 Start
01:10 Growing Up in Hawaii & Marine Family Background
05:18 9/11 and Entering the Marine Corps
07:27 First Combat: Seizing Iraq’s Oil Infrastructure
10:55 Fighting Through Southern Iraq
15:07 Entering Baghdad & Urban Warfare
18:50 Looting, Crime, and Collapse of Order
23:08 Policing Baghdad & Early Occupation Chaos
27:15 Najaf, Elections Fallout & Rising Insurgency
34:15 The Wild West Phase of Early Iraq War
45:50 Platoon Leadership & Combat Culture
1:05:30 Transitioning Roles & Leaving the Platoon
1:20:45 Intelligence, Counterintel & Career Shift
1:35:30 Writing The Baghdad Shuffle
1:50:15 Lessons from Iraq & How the War Changed
2:05:00 Final Reflections & Closing

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Hosted by Jack Murphy, The Team House is a long-form conversation built around a simple, powerful premise: to understand national security, you need to listen to the people who have been there. This podcast deliberately steps away from the partisan noise, offering a fiercely apolitical space where special operations veterans, intelligence professionals, and frontline reporters can share their experiences and analysis. Many guests here are speaking publicly for the very first time, providing raw, firsthand accounts that you won't find elsewhere. Each episode is a deep dive into the realities of conflict, the nuanced tradecraft of intelligence work, and the underlying geopolitical forces that shape global events. The conversations are detailed, often technical, and always grounded in the lived expertise of the guests. Alongside this main show, the The Team House network includes the sister program Eyes On Geopolitics, hosted by Mick Mulroy, Andy Milburn, and Jason Lyons, which continues the focus on global dynamics with a similarly experienced lens. For listeners seeking substance over soundbites, this podcast delivers complex narratives about modern warfare, espionage, and international relations, told directly by the individuals who have operated within these shadowed worlds. It’s a rare opportunity to hear unfiltered perspectives on the most critical security challenges of our time, making each episode an immersive lesson in the human and strategic dimensions of power.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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