The Final Iraq War Battle: Sadr City

[@Taskandpurpose]

Follow me for live updates! instagram.com/cappyarmy What do you think of the US Forces "build a wall" strategy in Sadr City?

[@thomaszhang3101]

Task, please stay true to your words and do a video about QBZ-191 (remember your promise to do it about 1 week after QBZ-95?). Our entire house of fun nerds are rubbing our fists and waiting with our glasses on.

[@justindunlap1235]

While somewhat inelegant, the wall and accompanying tactics seem to achieve the desired results.

[@FLORATOSOTHON]

Wars like that, have no neutrals. If you don't support the insurgents in your neighborhood they will shoot you as a collaborator and if you do support them, the other side will shoot you as an insurgent. Any way, Iraq is still a big mess today.

[@thomaszhang3101]

@@FLORATOSOTHON imo, how it happened is this: US toppled Saddam to replace him with a government loyal to the US, but failed to make one strong enough so the Taliban took advantage of the power vacuum. It can be said that much of what’s happening to Afghanistan can be traced to US action 20 years ago, but can’t entirely blame US as any superpower would probably have done the same with varying degrees of success, US was just the least successful.

[@therealfakeAlphabet]

@@moatezgr4209 no one cares

[@WhatAboutYou123]

Interesting, I was living a few kilometers from sadr ciry in Badghad during those times. I remember that once around 2007 US forces were searching our neighbourhood and they entered my home While I was playing GTA san andreas, I was only 8 then and I as scared to be honest but that one guy who I forgot his name entered my room and saw the game and he have me codes of cheats of unlimited ammo and HP that I previously never knew existed. using my limited English back then I knew that he was from Ohio. that was the closest encounter that I had with US forces. some like us were treated nicely while others not so much.

[@TiocfaidhArLa34]

man you lived in that shit. must have been crazy as fuck having mortar shells and machinegun fire a only a couple kilometers away.

[@WhatAboutYou123]

@@TiocfaidhArLa34 it wasn't something uncommon , in time we got used to it. even apaches used to drop flares and fire their 30 millimetres directly above us. I don't want that happen again in the future.

[@romeodavis1052]

@@WhatAboutYou123 I'm glad you are living in a better place now. Do you feel that your country has gotten better since Saddam fell?

[@WhatAboutYou123]

​@@romeodavis1052 look, Democracy is Better than Dictatorship, but Dictatorship is Better than Chaos. considering than in Iraq, every major political party has their own "military wing" or militia that operates freely outside the official security forces. these militias specialize in Assassinations , Kidnapping , Blackmail and extortion. because of this corruption is impossible to stop. add to that the fact that large parts of Iraq fell to AlQaeda from 2006-2009 and it fell to ISIS again from 2013-2017 while ISIS insurgency is still going and there is no guarantee that It won't happen again due to the Incompetence of the new System. yeah Iraq is living in Chaos.

[@hiro9529]

@@WhatAboutYou123 a question you hate Saddam Hussein

[@theimmortal4718]

I was in this battle. We were asked to help, since we had Bradley IFVs. We went in with 5 Brads and 2 Abrams. We lost 2 Brads there, one a catastrophic kill. March 29, 2008. One of the worst days of my life 2nd Platoon, A Co 1-30th Inf

[@alexnderrrthewoke4479]

May i ask how you lost bradleys? Respect man.

[@proger1960]

@@alexnderrrthewoke4479 Probably ATGMs idek lol

[@theimmortal4718]

@@alexnderrrthewoke4479 The hid EFPs ( advanced IEDs) in swamp coolers on the side of buildings. One penetrated the driver's side of our 4 track and disabled it and broke the ankle of SPC Esco, the driver. The second hit in the early morning and busted the fuel cell and lit the 2 track on fire. The crew and 1st squad in the back were all wounded by molten copper and burned. Everyone made it out alive. We were lucky and were pretty proficient on medical. Thanks, man. I try not to think about that place.

[@alexnderrrthewoke4479]

@@theimmortal4718 wow i see. Its just i find it surprising they took down a bradley with all the armor but forgot ieds is a heck of a pain. Again respect man. Sorry if i made you remenber

[@magicchowder]

Larp

[@dssrtader2427]

I am from Sadr City in Iraq, and I welcome any American or foreigner to visit the city because its residents are very friendly with guests and not with foreign occupation soldiers, so my city faced the American army then. And because we live in safety and peace despite the internal problems, I am better than the past days. thank you

[@leedleeeee]

lol nice try

[@williamtobin7282]

" I am better than the past days? Sounds like some cat who got TREATED IN THE NUT HOUSE and was deemed mentally stable again..😆

[@commandofact7636]

That nuthouse also houses hundreds of your veterans. Many of whom, sadrists have given them a tour through hell 😁.

[@abz5485]

All set man

[@theloser668]

Extremely interesting, as always. Your videos are always a highlight of my day.

[@Taskandpurpose]

thanks very kind of you to say brother thanks!

[@sadrcity50]

Outlaw 1-2 G here. I was there. Thank you for documenting a little bit of what we did. Most people have no clue.

[@HighExplosiveDualPurpose40mm]

The best Time of my life .. My heart hasn't quit hurting for you Children of Iraq .. God willing much deserved peace and better days

[@نادرعلي-ز6ز]

😘😘🎄🌹🇮🇶

[@Andrew_Lennox]

Great video and really to hear you talk about the host nation and insurgent aims. As a brit I was in Basrah in 2004 and always feel we become so focused on what we do ourselves and don't 'understand' the motivation of others enough.

[@Taskandpurpose]

Thanks, I agree, Its easy to dismiss any opposing forces as "dumb" "backwards" but you'll never be able to defeat an enemy thinking like that.

[@ali95ah]

By your logic. The French freedom fighters were insurgents and you'll have to actually think before coming to the realization that people fight for their country when it's being occupied by a foreign invader, regardless of their stance on the current government. Tell me... Does that only apply to us? Or was it obvious that the Soviets, poles and French were fighting for their country when Hitler invaded, but not obvious enough when it came to your invasion.

[@peloentupantalla7768]

How couldn't you understand it, if China succesfuly invades the US and puts a puppet goverment in it, you wouldn't fight it?

[@generalborn]

They say Julius Ceasar won most of his battles with the shovel

[@macmasks]

“Worked to deny the armor falling into the hands of the enemy.” What a concept.

[@garionbell845]

Russia hasn't learned that one yet, Ukrainian farmers are their own military now XD

[@hellomynameis2767]

I'll never forget my time in Sadr City.

[@renaissanceredneck3695]

For anyone hoping for a civil war in the US, just imagine urban warfare in NYC, Los Angeles, or Chicago. It would make this look like clearing a checkpoint.

[@MbisonBalrog]

NYC with its super tall buildings and it’s tightly packed tenement housing is death trap. I think there is a graphic novel about it

[@CrayonEater255]

Some Division 2 shit right here

[@jeannemore1431]

The people hoping for a civil war probably dont to much in the realm of thinking.

[@humansvd3269]

@@jeannemore1431 People are probably hoping it doesn't get to that point, because the current situation is untenable.

[@renaissanceredneck3695]

I made the comment because I have seen comments from people on both ends of the political spectrum claiming "we NEED another civil war", and while I do agree that something needs to change in our nation, I hope and I pray that people will get this crap figured out before it slides down that particular shit hole 🕳️. The last civil war killed more Americans than pretty much every other major conflict combined. 750,000 Americans dead, 2.5% of the population at that time. Extrapolate that to today and 2.5% of the population today is 7,000,000. A modern civil war in American cities will have death tolls in numbers we haven't seen since WWII.

[@DarkRyderWhisky]

You'd have a hard time convincing those that were in Mosul at this same time through the end of 2009 that Sadr City was "the last battle."

[@brendanlund6959]

What a cool video. I really appreciate how you took that moment to comment on the insurgents' perspective on this. Obviously I'm not on board with them launching rockets at the Iraqi government but it was surprisingly humanizing to hear how they were basically backed into a corner and didn't feel like they had any options other than to stand their ground.

[@Taskandpurpose]

its easier to look back now and try to understand their perspective and it was actually really sad to hear the position they were in. The whole thing was horrible. Thanks for noticing that part and I appreciate you watching

[@CrayonEater255]

@Syphax Atlas US stablished the government and the Iraqis voted for their president so?

[@CrayonEater255]

@Syphax Atlas because they toppled Saddams government lol

[@enshk79]

That’s the part I didn’t like. These were glorified terrorists. I don’t give a fuck about their trash perspective.

[@Andrewdtucker2]

My brother was in sadr city in 2007-2009 with 2nd SCR. He has stories of driving strikers back to base on fire.

[@G59forlife.]

Your brother is a badass

[@Andrew-vw5vb]

I was attached to 2scr for this. We finished out with them before they went home and we stayed behind. 11b as well. They were missing a company in one of their battalions. I'll need to remember.

[@Andrew-vw5vb]

Either way if its 2SCR I get to wear their patch lol

[@Andrewdtucker2]

What unit were you in? MOS?

[@steadyashegoes7763]

Fun times in Baghdad. Sometimes I miss those days in 2007. Most days, I don't.

[@dougreid2351]

A complex history of domination & oppression of religious sects and clans, the Iraq wars of Operation Desert Shield/Storm and of this century are chapters of a struggle more than a milenium old. I get that Task & Purpose is concerned with narrow, military aspects and I praise you for your ability to clearly organize & tell a story of struggle. Thanks, Chris! The political consideration that lead the Iraqi government to lift its' grip on Sadr City would take hours to cover. So can we go back to having fun now? Thanks again, CC. DOUGout

[@bonjovi2757]

The point of the Iraq war was not to fight terrorism, it was to enrich weapons manufacturers and government agencies. I feel very angry and sad that so many good, young American lives were sacrificed for so much money into the pockets of those who would never fight nor send their own children to fight.

[@junesilvermanb2979]

Greed en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greed

[@djohanson99]

good video. i cry for the good men we lost. They are not forgotten.

[@sgress]

Thank you for this it was a turning point in the war and most people don't know about it. Saw a few familiar faces in video and it made my day.

[@AgeRestrictTheInternet]

Nice video. Lt. Colonel Barnett was our battalion commander, the guy talking at 4:28 I can't believe it's been so long that people are making history videos on this. Am I old now?

[@Prepper319]

Please keep up the great work cappy , I love videos like this ! As salamu alaykum ❤

[@SouljanitsynBoy]

God bless the iraqi people

[@virginialoverproductions]

Iraq War urban combat was a grunt's worst nightmare. Guess all those POGs felt pretty good about their career choices.

[@DickCheneyXX]

And it was a huge mistake, most of the urban fighting should have been handled by B-52s and millions of tons of unguided bombs.

[@virginialoverproductions]

@@DickCheneyXX Sir, no... no... no... that's not legal.

[@judey7]

I was on a information operations team called up to support this battle. 4ID told us they needed a team and had us train for some "unknown" mission. We got into country and went to meet the DIV G7. He asked us if we knew what our mission was. My boss started saying what was on our orders and what we were told to train for. G7 cuts him off and says, "NO!" He turns, points to a map of Sadr City on the wall and says, "Your job is to get us in there. You're going to 3/4 SBCT." I watch my boss pick his jaw up off the floor and muster up a "Yes, sir!" And, off we went! We were also training some of the neighborhood patrol during all this, i got some great pictures with those guys and one of our bradleys. Rather than some "unknown mission," we spent most of our time focused on informing the populace so they could avoid the fighting and know what reconstruction and aid we could provide...but what are you going to do when we're building that wall right next to your house? I feel both sides are fortunate this battle wasn't worse. When the cease fire was called, it was amazing how much changed and how much our civil affairs could then do. We had to call in more of them to keep the money rolling in to fund the projects. Then my boss claimed mission success and made us go home. Me and my young LT protege wanted to stay but...our unit and our boss never wanted us to be there in the first place. Leaving at that time is one of my biggest regrets and it wasn't even my choice. It is a privilege to share a unit patch with some of the most amazing people I've ever met...some of which didn't make it back.

[@bluecollarvet2759]

I was there in March 2008 when we went into Sadr City. We'd been in Adhamiiya since 2007..let's go

[@choomba45xyz]

My biggest respect for the Iraqi lions who faught against coward nazi soldiers

[@72442conv]

Who would have ever thought that walls actually do work...

[@harrisonturner1401]

i like your videos, their funny and interesting and get across the message well. but this video was very different not just in tone but quality, amazing content cheers,.

[@Taskandpurpose]

thank you for the kind words, thank you for watching and I'm glad you liked the different style

[@MSpeedThree]

Hey battle. I was there. Route clearance 2SCR 84th EnCo. Found two real sneaky ass IEDs in that AO. Ended up being my favorite war stories lol.

[@petrichor2274]

who do you mean by using the term " Enemy " ? cuz it seams to me that those who invaded a country to steal it's oil are the real enemy while the others are just trying to protect their lands

[@jamesbussey2911]

Lest we forget, Saddam started this whole mess by first installing his brutal dictatorship, then invading Iran for no good reason - just because he thought he could take advantage of their revolution - and then Kuwait when he couldn't pay off his war debts because the other OPEC countries held down the price of oil. That invasion brought the West into the region, and the rest is history...in 1979 he could have used Iraq's vast oil reserves to pay for a strong peacetime army to defend the borders, pay for all sorts of public works (I was based at one of them - Basra Int'l Airport, built in the late 1980s but unused by civilian air traffic until early 2005), and create a Scandinavian-style welfare state. But no, he bought masses of cheap Soviet and Chinese military equipment and lost nearly all of it trying to make Iraq the dominant country in the Arab world. We occupied his country because he didn't want anyone to know there were no WMDs to be found in Iraq: they had all been destroyed or removed, but he wouldn't let the UN know that. Also, the US and UK were the only nations enforcing the UN No-fly zones and sanctions throughout the 1990s, whilst his intransigence was causing suffering to his people. I admit that if we knew how it was going to turn out, we probably would have just kept on with that mission, but like the Iranians, he was after the materials to create an atomic weapon. UN resolutions should not come before a nation's right to its defence, or defence of its allies. We gave him every chance to turn into a nice guy, but he and his mad dog sons got what they asked for. I am proud of my contribution towards that happening, but less proud of my spineless government's decision to withdraw the British contingent from Southern Iraq in 2011: we were winning in that area up until then. 🤪

[@caffplays]

5:33 - Nobody would imagine that flag would cause so much headaches a decade later.

[@csb772]

Afghanistan was not a loss just a lost cause. Iraq is a great example if what two countries that hate each other can accomplish. Iran/ USA

[@Dogface1984]

We were there, B co 2-30 IN, 10th mtn at FOB hope/JSS SUJ, whatta time to be alive Those walls didn’t stop EFPs

[@Nope_Nope113]

Don’t use this background music anymore. It sucks. Love the channel. Huge fan.

[@50StichesSteel]

This was one of our major mission AO's for HVT grabs...The 82nd Airborne kept the city surrounded to limit movement..While we got cellphone hits and grabbed the owners of said phone...You hear about Rhmadi alot but not many people know much about the shithole that is Sadr City...Saddams old hood lol...Not only would the insurgents use different colored flags to signal our movements, but they would also use animals. Mostly birds and dogs to signal. This is called flipping pigeons and I would always look for it with binos out the top of the Stryker on our way into the AO..These assholes did not care who they hurt or killed and would often use kids to do their dirty work... One time we crept up to an outer cordon position in our Strykers (These vehicles are pretty quiet for how big and powerful they are) and sat behind a wall looking for squirters trying to away from the raid. I was in the rear airguard position with my SAW and had a perfect view of the block. Out of nowhere a young kid about 10-12 years old comes running towards me about 100 feet away with a loaded AK in his hands. The poor kid had no idea we were sitting there. He locked eyes with me and looked like he just seen a ghost. Raised my SAW to my shoulder and yelled for him to stop... This all happened within a second. Luckily the boy immediately dropped the AK and took off running..I was almost as scared as he was thinking back on it. The thought of having to kill a young kid makes my stomach turn..I'm so thankful that he made the decision to drop it and run instead of raising to shoot it...I'll never forget that.

[@Taskandpurpose]

Even Rhamadi I feel like doesn't get enough attention , everyone knows about Fallujah and thats about it when it comes to Iraq's major battles

[@50StichesSteel]

@@Taskandpurpose agreed

[@matbrown687]

@@Taskandpurpose yeah we had a lot of Ramadi Veterans with us on this deployment and we were attached to the brigade they came from. There were a few guys that served in that brigade in Ramadi and Baghdad during bad deployments and were in the same brigade that was reflagged 4th ID and got hammered in Kunar in 09. That last week in March was our last in sector of the 15 month deployment. That whole 15 months was rough especially spring/summer 07 but that last week sticks out.

[@rufusherman412]

You could see they're spotters posted on route grizzlies. Once you crossed the line it was on lol

[@lucifermorningwood6816]

0:47 That gotta be Nick Irving… I know The Reaper when I see him.

[@Angry-Lynx]

Its hard to tell but could be

[@dirckthedork-knight1201]

Will we be able to recreate this in Six days in Fellujah lets see

[@geneotrexler8246]

Thank you for a well done & informative video 👍

[@حسينحسين-ش5ي1ق]

I remember when I was a child, I wanted to take out the trash, and I saw the American soldier standing at the door of the house. Muscular and dark-skinned, he carries a big gun. I thought it was an alien, and I came home scared😂

[@blackopsrocks]

"MAH DEE" I was there from November 2007 to March 2009 and participated in logistics, fighting, t barriers, cas evac, you name it, we did everything that spring. But that rocket attack on Fob Loyalty, I missed that, we were gone on mission and it was something where not many guys slept after that.

[@richardglady3009]

Thank you.

[@frankalbe8996]

Nicely done video. Thank you!

[@Taskandpurpose]

thanks for watching glad you liked the video!

[@ModelsWorkshop]

My unit was tasked with bringing in the wall sections. We would be there 12 to 16 hours at a time for months (video says 6 weeks but I swear it was longer). Getting there and back always sucked. Most of those barriers were still wet when we took them out there.

[@iv1796]

Who knows where the next conflict zone will be, China's looking a bit rocky

[@Taskandpurpose]

The rising tensions between China and Taiwan is bad because I think they will continue to rise and fall like this until China feels it can comfortably make its move

[@CrayonEater255]

@@Taskandpurpose there’s marines in Taiwan I don’t think they will make a move knowing there’s US forces in the island

[@sys3248]

Nope. There's no good staging base for war against China. All ASEAN countries categorically rejected them even Philippines. S. Korea refuses to join QUAD so that'll leaves you with Japan. Now the Japanese ain't exactly love that their countries territories being used to stir up trouble so if it comes to that expect instability on the run up and during open conflict against China. And the built up would leaves the US hands shorts in middle east and Ukraine so expect another offensive from Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, and Iraq axis of resistance most likely against Israel and probably the bone saw MBS regime.

[@alexnderrrthewoke4479]

@@CrayonEater255 thats what you think. War is coming. The writting is on the wall

[@de4dbutdre4ming]

@@CrayonEater255 lol @ china caring about america.

[@crapemail8176]

Oohraah!!! Well done! Thank You! Keep it up! o7

[@RDG99]

Iraqui PM be like: No! US forces are not allowed to enter! Terrorists? Sure get in!

[@yuunneemedina9545]

I remember very well those days fighting nonstop😢

[@alericc1889]

I was part of MOUT training from 1985 to 1987 and at that time we told everyone that would listen that the future of warfare wasn't going to be in open fields like WWII. Even then we had virtually no urban areas to train in that resembled an actual warzone. Today we still dont train our troops with urban warfare the way they should.

[@docvaliant721]

Agreed

[@dericspencer5728]

I am really starting to like this channel.

[@RS-nc2fs]

route gold baby!!! loved that place! popped my cherry on route gold and delta fun day

[@doejohnathon3487]

This has to be why we lost everyone knows walls are worthless

[@jeramysteve3394]

Trump would be proud.

[@bbknuckle4349]

I thought that right when I heard "they decided to build a wall"

[@historyandhorseplaying7374]

@@bbknuckle4349 It was a beautiful, perfect wall.

[@saifalkorji8835]

I was born and raised in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq. When the U.S Army and Coalition Forces fought the Mahdi Army. I was only twelve years old. I had witnessed the siege. The conflict was so intense.There is no jets or helcopters were flying over the city because of the Red Dust Storm that have happened during the fight. The only way was to stop the fight at Sadr City was to build a "T-wall" around the city, and they did. When The USA Army began erecting Wall in Sadr City ( the T-WALL). I saw how my neighbors died all togther because missles fell on their house. After that, I and my family left the city and moved to the southeren of Iraq because the conflict became more and more intense. and dangerous. After two moths we came back to the city. Our house was not damge, but the dust covered the house because of the dust storm. When we came back to the city there was no dust storm, and there were so many jets, drons, and hlicopters were flying around us nights and days. Humvees and tanks were all over around the city. We got separted from the city because of the T-wall they built. Snipers were everywhere.

[@AgeRestrictTheInternet]

Thanks for commenting. It's so surreal to hear the perspective of a local so many years later...

[@saifalkorji8835]

@@AgeRestrictTheInternet Here is a funny story, in 2007, when the conflict ended, the USA army was searching for weapons. the US Army came to our sector 9 for weapons. When they reached to our home. I have my little brother has a plastic RPG . He told them we have an weapon in our house, so the interpreter translated to USA Army that we have an RPG. The USA Army immediately surrounded us, and told us to give the RPG .MY little brother told them, " I will show you where I hide the weapon, so one of the soldiers carried to go where he hide the weapon. When they found the plastic RPG, they broke the RPG, and my little brother started to cry, and cursing at them in Arabic. Hahahahahahaha!!

[@AgeRestrictTheInternet]

@@saifalkorji8835 Heh. Lovely. It was probably safe for him not to have anything that looked like a weapon while the Army was in town. I was there during that time, but in the uniform. Iraq is beautiful. Too bad I could never safely visit the country again.

[@bigzach7778]

Let freedom ring

[@Zoom_fast911]

It called Mujahedeen Not mohden

[@Taskandpurpose]

you're thinking of a different term. This is the "Mahdi Army" in Sadr City.

[@Zoom_fast911]

@@Taskandpurpose oh sorry, thought you were pronouncing it wrong 😳😳

[@redout8116]

I was in this Battle, OIF February 2008- March 2009.

[@ruffmansavageveteran1345]

Crazy. I remeber flying around in the back of a Chinook wearing NODs. I was always paranoid about SA-7s and MANPADs.

[@11bravoreaper]

I mean . Wouldn't we do the same if we got invaded. The US was there looking for supposedly mass weapons of destruction but they're actually there for oil. I'm a vet myself but I was in Afghanistan

[@clintgardner2678]

You mentioned LT Morse, he was my PL then. Great leader. Comanche Co, 1/2

[@mynamejeb8743]

Back then cities was protected by a handful of Wall and Battlements configuration as well as a handful of fortresses. Nowadays EVERY buidling is a fortress and bastions

[@kukulkan4861]

With fpv drone now. Ig would have been disastrous now

[@m_o_m_a_n1]

العراق مقبرة الغزاه 🇮🇶

[@jonathanlambert3751]

Nicely done!

[@danielrosic2960]

When we drive piles, we use long lines dangling down from the locking shackles to unhook the crane's cables from the pile, rather than climbing up with a ladder. You have to walk back ten or twenty feet, then tug hard and the pin pops out of the housing.

[@venivinivinci]

Do a video on tangi valley wardak province 2010-2011 cop tangi

[@rusty-gaming1988]

I was Thier a translator with the 3rd ID And we were the first boot on the ground ..

[@UsmcDevildog-rd1yt]

I was in the second Battle of fallujah pretty much the same

[@junesilvermanb2979]

Second Battle of Fallujah en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Fallujah

[@mikebrase5161]

04-05 1CD Sadr City. Multiple fights at every traffic circle on route Grizzlies. good times.

[@alexwest2573]

@3:16 that soldier jumping at each window to get a peek inside

[@andrewwright1808]

Please do one about Ramadi

[@HatredOfMephisto]

you forgot how many Iraqi army died but its fine i can check the wikipedia

[@pHixiq]

Yeah my dad told me that was where he opened a trunk full of dead kids…

[@عليإبراهيم-ث8ف7ر]

I always wanted to join Jaish AL-Mehdi When I was a kid but my parents wouldn't let me

[@hateferlife]

4:09 looks like C co 1-21 IN, 25th ID. If that’s the case this is north or Abu Ghraib.

[@KentSmith94]

Yeah....units from 1-14, 1-21 and Charlie company from 1-27 all went.

[@based_prophet]

Reminds the winter in Russia Pavlov house situation

[@MrKneri22]

Zone 15 we called in oif 1. Whenever we really wanted to get after it we would just circle the area.

[@mickthemerciless9694]

One out of three killed were Iraqi civilians. That's a massive cost.

[@bluev7427]

Dude Kappy - are you wearing lipstick? Or at least just for the camera? The camera loves ya Kappy.

[@jrhandley]

Lived through a few of those attacks... no beuno

[@quabot]

Getting rid of Soleimani a lot sooner would have helped.

[@PerfectTangent]

I got into country right after this. I always thought that we should have treated Iraq like we handled Korea, especially post-war. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was actually a nation, and stood a good chance of becoming and remaining stable after our departure.

[@virginialoverproductions]

At least the the government (however corrupt) still maintains legitimate control.

[@renaissanceredneck3695]

@@moatezgr4209 you're welcome.

[@Taskandpurpose]

that is kind of what we're doing this to day sort of. Iraq is still in control of their government , they fought off ISIS (with our help) and we keep I think 2,000 soldiers still there?

[@MesoMan77]

@@Taskandpurpose America airstricked the iraqi army many times letting is is escape and when asked about it They say it was an accident

[@suspicioususer]

@@renaissanceredneck3695 based

[@Mrgruntastic]

Former infantry Marine with 3/5 K. Was in Fallujah and it was absolutely terrifying. One of the WORST parts of fighting in the city was being a SAW gunner, holding security inside a house while the rest of the squad was on the roof. Hearing the fighting right outside, and anti American forces right outside as well (in adjoining houses). I’ll never forget how terrifying it was

[@Taskandpurpose]

I'm glad you made it back safely man, be well and thanks for sharing this comment

[@danepatterson8107]

"Does anyone know where the love of God goes when waves turn the minutes turn into hours?" -from the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Whenever I remember praying for the dawn to come while I was in a war zone, I remember those lyrics.

[@silentwatcher1455]

Thank God, you return alive.

[@justinkimberlake9582]

Half of my classmates from Navy Dental Tech school went greenside. If they all reenlisted or stayed in reserves, could have been sent right when the war started. I picked Kaneohe bay Hawaii for my 1st pick but got sent to C school instead... Made dentures until I got out. Fit to bite, fit to fight!

[@arrogleinadtra]

Respect to you man

[@llhammer3075]

Guerilla warfare is like a nightmare but urban guerilla warfare is like your sleep paralysis demon

[@jeramysteve3394]

Especially with civilians involved.

[@thepsychicspoon5984]

Mine is a grey E.T. Nice guy usually, but he got bi-polar disorder or something.

[@SuperSy99]

Urban warfare is the hardest warzone.Its total crisis and chaos

[@DickCheneyXX]

If you are unwilling to level cities, it sure is. If you are, then it simplifies your COIN effort by making long lasting traumatic examples of what happens to those who dare resist.

[@DickCheneyXX]

@@jeramysteve3394 There should be no difference between combatants and civilians. Anyone helping your enemies are your enemies.

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

Experience has shown that the Iraqi Army is only as good as their leadership. And that's been highly variable.

[@AeneasGemini]

That's most middle eastern militaries (with the exception of perhaps Israel), military authority is highly concentrated because the one thing they fear more than anything is a military coup

[@Brahmdagh]

@@AeneasGemini Only military forces worth their salt are the insurgent ones. (Hezbollah, Hamas, ISIS etc) Cuz they fight for a cause above earning kitchen money. I mean Hamas Hezbollah with their rudimentary equipment and tactics have proved more of a nuisance to Israel than actual arab national armies LMAO

[@Taskandpurpose]

I mostly dealt with the Iraqi Police when I deployed and they were all corrupt. I heard the Iraqi Army was much better. worked with them a little and they seemed squared away.

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

@@Taskandpurpose Sounds about right. Then a corrupt government appoints corrupt generals and we got whole ISIS mess. Police corruption is a whole different ballgame.

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

@@AeneasGemini That's pretty much the case everywhere where the government isn't at least kind of democratic. In the Middle East there are more exceptions where the military is either too weak or the officer class is incredibly well paid.

[@rnrtruestories]

I thought drones were a huge part of the battle too. I remember Bob Woodward talking to 60 minutes about the. Style back in 08 I think

[@Taskandpurpose]

They were a big part of the battle , I focused on the t-wall barrier instead but UAVs were a big piece according to the after action reports

[@rnrtruestories]

@@Taskandpurpose great video btw and great channel!

[@jayklink851]

Last week I was listening to a podcast describing close air support for this operation. According to a former GB/Unit guy, they were calling in 105mms from gunships circling above the battle, apparently their was a type of shell, charge detonated at a certain height, that just leveled the buildings (and bad guys).

[@panther7584]

@@jayklink851 Airburst yeah, scariest type of fragment or shrapnel artillery round

[@vdog3248]

@@panther7584 Airburst shells are used to take out groups of infantry. I can't imagine any building being leveled by that.

[@victorsaenz9452]

@4:10 that’s my old company Dog TRP, 8-1 CAV, 2-2SBCT, 2ND ID They actually resurrected that Stryker and when I was an E-1 back in 2016 I was the driver for that exact ATGM!!!

[@abdurahman3896]

Dang that's cool!

[@rebel6301]

cool.

[@bennythepenny9]

Just came from the FSC there!

[@GoldenGod69]

I was in 3-2 and we switched units to 1-2 in like 2015, but 2-2 that means you were on North Fort right

[@victorsaenz9452]

@@GoldenGod69 yea the barracks directly next to domino’s

[@tysumm]

Concrete is your best friend when fighting in urban warfare

[@Taskandpurpose]

one of the biggest lessons learned from this battle

[@bornt7524]

Fact

[@kameronjones7139]

@@moatezgr4209 shut up and stop spamming.

[@spaceisalie5451]

@@moatezgr4209 The guy in the video is a muslim apologist who condones beating women and having sex with a woman as long as shes had her period (roughly like 12), that dude is a sociopath

[@ayomrwhiteigotdrip6235]

@@moatezgr4209 if you need a new goat go to an auction, this is not the place

[@مخاويليل-ح7ف]

I am from Sadr City... I was 8 years old during this war.. It was days of fear and terror that I and many defenseless children lived through.. We were playing football, but our house was with the children and suddenly the sound of bullets and shelling started, so I entered the house, fear and crying and screaming came from us. It was really terrifying and painful days, and many innocents were killed.. We hope that wars will not be repeated and the world will live in peace forever..

[@richardrose9943]

The children had it the worst we had several who would follow us around I was a navy Seabee rebuilding schools and trying to keep infrastructure up while everyone else destroyed it

[@مخاويليل-ح7ف]

@@richardrose9943 Yes, some children used to do that, but this is an instinct for every person who occupies a town to defend him.

[@calypsohandjack9278]

Always wondered what the kids thought when I was there, how all it affected them growing up. If I were you I'd be pissed off. We had no business in your country. We, the US people, were lied to about Iraq the same way we were lied to about Germany in WW2. A certain tribe has infiltrated our government and manipulated us into doing their dirty work. You or your grandparents, if they're still alive, will know of whom I speak.

[@مخاويليل-ح7ف]

@@calypsohandjack9278 The worst days were these. We were afraid of everything in anticipation of bombs or bombing from the pilot on us. Some children lost their parents and families, and some of them had many psychological problems. In general, bad and difficult days, and we are not guilty of them.

[@calypsohandjack9278]

@@مخاويليل-ح7ف People in the USA will live the life you had as a kid here soon. A lot of them beg for it , and they'll get exactly what they wanted and then some. Far too long have they lived their lives in peace, they will know hell.

[@TheCrowleyCrew]

Love these war stories. Reminds me of the warfighter series from history channel. Please do more

[@heavyassaultmode1503]

We had block-by-block fighting in Mosul at the same time. When we got there late 2007 the entire tactical map of the city was black (enemy territory), with 2 small white squares, FOBs Diamondback and Marez. When we left in 2009, it was white. 16 months of brutal urban combat. A yearbook of casualties. 3rd Armored Cavalry. The last Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Army. Converted to a Stryker Brigade 2 years later.

[@bh1567]

4th Id 07-09 marez 👍 👌

[@0.1.feb.]

I was in Mosul at that time too.

[@bh1567]

@@0.1.feb. what unit my man

[@smittyslabs]

1st Cav 3BCT in Mosul 08-09. I remember those days

[@bh1567]

Ah yes we took over the east side of mosul to take some off yalls chest

[@حيدربغداد-ن8ط]

مدينه الصدر الابطال

[@lt.dashkov1079]

As the son of a Iraq War Veteran I was always interested in this phase period of war in Iraq. As unfortunate as it is we must learn from this to use in the future. And to never forget the sacrifices of those who were there. Thank you for making this.

[@Taskandpurpose]

couldn't have said it better myself. spot on.

[@Veldtian1]

You'll get to test a lot of TTP's in the coming years. Let's Go Brandon.

[@kingofwishfulthinking2490]

Well said. But… we won’t learn. Ask Vietnam vets

[@AA-jg7xm]

Your daddy was a servant of 🇮🇱

[@pimpfajita8888]

They weren’t sacrifices. They died in vein. Their deaths did not benefit the American people what so over. The politicians sent them to Iraq on a pack of lies.

[@MichaelDavis-mk4me]

Damn, I never knew the Roman tactic of building a wall to encircle your enemy was ever done past the 18th century, let alone in the 2000's.

[@Taskandpurpose]

I should have framed it this way very true

[@igrim4777]

Never heard of Berlin then. I mean the city, not the pop band.

[@MichaelDavis-mk4me]

@@igrim4777 It wasn't a war. Next you are going to tell me Donald Trump was using a famous Roman tactic.

[@mattipps]

@@MichaelDavis-mk4me Every commander at war uses tactics that were also used by the Roman Empire. So yes, even Trump.. Sorry to burst your bubble.

[@MichaelDavis-mk4me]

@@mattipps It's not a battle tactic if you are not at war. When not in war, building a wall across a border is something that isn't done the same way as under fire from the enemy during conflict. One is a boring construction project, the other is a risky and ambitious battle tactic, they do not compare. Next you are going to tell me I'm a great strategist and a war veteran because I helped dig a ditch to deviate the water stream in my front yard, which is totally the same thing as digging a trench under fire because you are digging dirt in both cases.

[@crazyeyez1502]

Sadar City ain't no joke. My brigade (1CD) had that area during our 04-05 deployment.

[@normandy1140]

1st CAV, 06-08. Sadr City was a s--thole.

[@mustafaali3333-q1m]

@@normandy1140 It was just a business we had to fight for our city

[@itsamedjmario]

2/5 cav. Camp War Eagle. Aka the dirty Bird. 04/04/04. Never Forget

[@crazyeyez1502]

@@itsamedjmario 🫡 hell yea brother. Was with 115th, running guntrucks all over the A/O

[@NickMcRyan]

I fought in Fallujah as an 0331 for 3/5. That place was a nightmare. We could literally smell the B/O and funky breath of the insurgents when we’d enter a house they were in to clear. The overall living conditions in those bombed out slums was unthinkable. It gave me a certain respect I didn’t have for the enemy beforehand .

[@mustafaali3333-q1m]

Do you think the fight in falluja or in sadr city was the worst? Or the fight in Najaf

[@NickMcRyan]

Well the Siege of Sadr City lasted 4 years, the Second battle of Fallujah lasted 6 weeks and and Najaf was was 3 shorter battles one in the invasion 2003, one in 2004 and last in 2007. Pretty hard to compare them as each battle we were fighting a different enemy.

[@NickMcRyan]

@@mustafaali3333-q1m Most of the guys we were fighting in Fallujah weren’t even Iraqi. A lot of Syrian, Egyptian, Chechen and a mix of others coming in to fight us.

[@NickMcRyan]

@@WrektbutWhole Ah a fellow 31!!! Semper Fi brother, what was your fave the Deuce, the bravo, the SAW or the 19? We were just doing our jobs brother, non of us thought we were doing any different. I’m sure it wasn’t exactly a walk in the park in Al Qaim as I know AQI didn’t give up those smuggling routes w/out a fight. YUT!!!

[@NickMcRyan]

@@WrektbutWhole I loved the Deuce too, the ability of that thing to shoot through buildings, walls, vehicles and basically anything that got in our way was a beautiful sight. It operated no problem in all the shitty conditions we found ourselves in, plus when it went down it was the easiest to clear malfunctions and get back up in my opinion. The bravo I love the ability to dismount with even though she was a bit heavy. The SAW had an awesome rate of fire, but no real punch to it. The 19 never worked properly in that hot, dry, and sandy ass environment. We always had one down it seemed. You just do the one tour? I only did the one tour, but 4 years overall active and the 4 years inactive reserves as we all do at the end. A few of my guys stayed in and went to Sangin Afghanistan later. They said that was a whole different animal, as our time in Iraq we were fighting basically face to face and in Afghanistan they could never really see who was shooting at them. I’d rather almost fight close up honestly, they can’t utilize those IED’s as well that way.

[@skiptrace1888]

One of your best, Cappy! I served in Iraq, OIF 3, 2004-2005, with 86th CSH, in Sadam's personal hospital in the Green Zone. What a crazy time! Thanks for this one! 👍👍👍👍👍

[@Taskandpurpose]

thank you for your service good sir, and thanks for watching !

[@zakkback1825]

That's when I was there summer 04 -05. 1-41 INF

[@skiptrace1888]

@@zakkback1825Heartfelt thanks for your service, too, bro! as a emergency room nurse, I was taking care of the sick & injured, so I'm glad I didn't see you there!😀😃😄

[@hitthecouch]

04-05 was OIF 2

[@skiptrace1888]

@@hitthecouch need to check your dates. OIF 3 DEPLOYED JULY 2004 WITH 3RD INF DIV AND 42ND INF DIV

[@victorsaenz9452]

Even with ISIS coming and going I feel like Iraq has gotten a lot better and they are competent when it comes to protecting themselves.

[@Taskandpurpose]

agreed, they fought hard as heck for their country. They've gotten the short end of things for a long time including under Saddam and I hope their future is bright

[@ayu1978]

It’s was a long shot without Iranian support, ISIS came close to reversing any gains made by the fledging democracy. It was a hard fight and Mosul is still pretty much ravaged with houses and infrastructure in ruins. I hope that the citizens of Iraq can put their religious, ethnic and tribal differences aside to form a stable representative government, not one that is Iranian influenced or Shia dominated. It was gratifying to see Kurd, Sunnis and Shias working together fighting to kick Daesh off their land.

[@CrayonEater255]

@Syphax Atlas wdym

[@Fishnekket]

@@CrayonEater255 No offense, but you really have little understanding as to what really happened in Iraq. Sadir was the last battle with the Sooni's in Iraq. After that point, the Shia had total control which is exactly what they wanted. Your government handed the country to Iran. It was not concerned with the STABILITY of the country. Now Iraq is a breeding ground for Al Quds. These videos must be fun for other ignorant American's but they are hardly factual or even accurate. All these stories are told from the point of view that makes you a hero and not the actual invader. Those Sooni's you eradicated from their own country had nothing to do with America except that Donald Rumsfeld, the Bush's, and Cheyennes' wanted to start a secretarial War against the Sooni's. Which was then expanded on by Obama (did you know Obama's father is a Shia Muslim?). Even still all that military equipment poured into Iraq and they couldn't get anything done even in the short term. Your videos are super narrow-sighted. As an American, I value the truth over this happy bedtime story you chose to tell.

[@CrayonEater255]

@@Fishnekket had to red 3 sentences of this bullshit to stop, provide sources 🥸

[@JamesJ422]

One thing that baffles me is the lack of communication between UK and US forces passing through the area. If we'd been better coordinated some US casualties could of been avoided

[@Taskandpurpose]

That will be a thing of the past with the new communication systems I think. The capabilities 10 years ago were way less robust

[@JamesJ422]

@@Taskandpurpose here's hoping

[@realburglazofficial2613]

The UK wasn’t in Sadr City. We had a small presence in Baghdad, but our main stomping ground was Basra and southern Iraq. We had the Mahdi uprising to deal with and Op Charge of the Knights to retake Basra city from the Mahdi Army at around the same time.

[@eng.alial-draji2147]

@@Taskandpurpose hi .. are you against American occupied in Iraq? ...

[@mdr212roger4]

I was there for this, 2-12inf 4ID... this was the wildest deployment I’ve ever had 16mo. Thanks for doing a story on this!

[@brandonmay6287]

Thanks for serving brother

[@filmswithpurposestudios6860]

What's up brother. I was there too 2 /30 Infantry 10th Mountain Division " Wild Boars" Boar Base.

[@MemeMaster-bg4mf]

@@filmswithpurposestudios6860 If I may ask, where was 2-30 in Afghanistan in 2006-2007? I heard that you didn’t get much down time before Iraq.

[@filmswithpurposestudios6860]

@@MemeMaster-bg4mf FOB Warrior and Ghazni.

[@filmswithpurposestudios6860]

@@MemeMaster-bg4mf When we got back in Feb 07 we went right into training and then headed to Baghdad, Iraq Rustamiyah and then FOB Loyalty November 07 to December 08 and you know the rest.