What was it like to plan and lead Operation Iraqi Freedom? In this episode of Why Wars Happened, retired U.S. Army Colonel Kevin Benson shares a rare insider’s perspective on one of the most important military campaigns of our time.
👉 Hear first-hand about:
🗺️ The planning & strategy behind the Iraq War
⚔️ How 9/11 reshaped U.S. military operations
📑 The meaning of “catastrophic success” in war
🚚 The massive logistical challenges of invasion & occupation
🎮 War gaming, tactical adjustments & lessons learned
🏛️ The real story behind exit strategy & post-war planning
This is a behind-the-scenes look at modern warfare from someone who was in the room when the decisions were made.
⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction to Why Wars Happened
00:45 – Meet Colonel Kevin Benson
01:30 – Operation Iraqi Freedom overview
04:52 – Challenges & planning the Iraq War
08:11 – Naming operations & historical context
09:31 – Colonel Benson’s military career
17:52 – Impact of 9/11 on operations
20:28 – Logistics & planning complexities
27:19 – Introduction to “Snowflakes”
30:35 – Tactical execution challenges
31:50 – War gaming & adjustments
41:13 – Exit strategy & post-war planning
44:07 – Catastrophic success explained
49:52 – Final reflections
#IraqWar #OperationIraqiFreedom #MilitaryHistory #USArmy #WhyWarsHappened
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