Hitting Iran Harder in Iraq Could've Prevented Years of Proxy Killings?

About this video

A former Navy SEAL commander recounts his experiences leading special operations forces during the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. He discusses his doubts about the Iraq invasion, proposing an unconventional “peace march to Baghdad” as an alternative approach that was rejected. The guest shares the constant tension between accomplishing missions and bringing all personnel home safely, describing specific incidents including confrontations with Iranian forces and the pressures of command decisions.

Key takeaways

• The guest recounts proposing an unconventional “peace march to Baghdad” instead of a conventional invasion, telling the world the U.S. would arrive with overwhelming force but peacefully, though this idea was rejected as too risky.
• The commander describes establishing three clear rules for troops in Afghanistan: accomplish every mission, bring everyone home (prioritizing preservation of highly-trained personnel over unnecessary risks), and do the right thing by not killing civilians.
• The guest argues that failing to engage Iranian boats blocking their passage in the Shatt al-Arab was a missed opportunity to send a message to Iran, claiming this could have prevented years of Iranian proxy attacks that killed American personnel in Iraq.

Episode details: published March 14, 2026 · 4.3K views · 29:48 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Stories told by Mike Ritland’s podcast guests are the guests’ own accounts, attributed to them — not independently verified. Commentary is Ritland’s, presented as his analysis.

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