Jocko Willink: “Pulling Out of Iraq Was Disgraceful — Everyone on the Ground Knew What Would Happen"

About this video

Jocko Willink, a former Navy SEAL, discusses his deployment to Ramadi, Iraq, where he lost three men. He reflects on the U.S. pullout from Iraq, stating that everyone on the ground knew the insurgency would reignite when coalition forces left. Willink criticizes what he describes as American leadership’s arrogance and short-sightedness in war planning, comparing failed withdrawals in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam to the complete victory approach of World War II. He also discusses his decision to retire from the SEALs to prioritize his family and shares his views on current conflicts in Ukraine and Israel.

Key takeaways

• Willink states that seeing ISIS take over Ramadi in 2014 was sickening, and he argues that every service member on the ground knew that pulling out of Iraq would allow insurgents to reformulate and attack
• Willink argues that American military failures stem from arrogance and failure to plan for worst-case scenarios, contrasting recent conflicts with World War II, where the U.S. committed fully until victory was achieved
• Willink recounts that he left the Navy SEALs despite being on track for command because he had neglected his family during years of deployments, missing major milestones in his children’s lives
• Willink states he does not actively pursue government roles but would answer the call if the nation needed him, confirming he would accept a position like Secretary of Defense if asked

Episode details: published January 26, 2026 · 13.4K views · 31:09 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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