THE BATTLE OF NAJAF 20TH ANNIVERSARY

[@HaleyStrategicPartners]

For more details on the Open House event, Prints, and promotions visit our website. haleystrategic.com/promotion/

[@El_Spicolio]

Travis on the rooftop was literally the first video I ever watched on KZbin 🇺🇸

[@LP18888]

That and the Chechen war footages were my first memory of KZbin.

[@HeathenFitness]

Dude. Chechnya was hard core

[@mikemiksovsky8098]

So funny - me too

[@chinqlinq89]

@@HeathenFitnessknife to throat video by chance? Sticks with me til this day

[@HeathenFitness]

@@chinqlinq89 that too , wasn’t that the one where they were on the side of a road?? Fucking insane. Chechens had some serious ambushes against convoys

[@jamesporter2626]

"Like a fuckin turkey shoot." That shit was a contributing factor for me joining the Army

[@clint1261]

That's the same one I saw!

[@bigpapi6688]

🤣🤣 Professional turkey hunters

[@BadaBingPictures]

20 Years ago?! This is an amazing tribute to that historic event.

[@HaleyStrategicPartners]

Time flies

[@jaredsowers8630]

The Blackwater Najaf video was probably the video I watched the most as kid/early teens and didn't realize till 4 years ago that it was Travis Haley and I've been hooked on his Haley Strategic videos ever since

[@Merica1776]

Me to man. I must have watched that 100 of times and wish there was more video. I’m 53 and have realized in my life I have never been in that situation. The real - life and death. These were MEN! Doing MEN shit!! Mad respect to all of them. Hero’s.

[@phillipboisselle293]

Big up's to John and Josh from Echelon. They have been super accessible and accommodating to their fans and have created some amazing things that have shed light on the cold dark hard truths about the GWOT and big ups to Ben Thomas. I had the good luck and honor of meeting him at James Yeager's class back in 2018 at the same range you instructed at the very next day. Thanks for all you guys do!!!

[@gabeortiz984]

I remember that day. I was a marine stationed in Baghdad at the palace where ambassador bremmer was located. Semper fi. Keep up the great work brother. Will be buying on that day.

[@darklyte24]

Semper Fi Mr. Haley. I turned 43 today. Crazy its been 20 years already. 🦅🌎⚓️

[@profesorplazas]

Time flies... Respect from Venezuela, sir.

[@Johnny_Cash_Flow]

Very crazy to think that it's been 20 years since I was in Iraq. I remember having Al-Sadr dead-to-rights, hiding in the mosque, being told to stand-down. I also remember returning a few months later and finding out that the U.S. was working with him. I remember getting the radio call to gear up because some Blackwater contractors had been ambushed in Fallujah, burnt alive, and strung up on the bridge, and we had to go secure and recover the bodies. It's weird to have such disdain for a place which has largely shaped who you are as a man today. Semper Fidelis, brother. Cpl, USMC 2002 - 2007 Iraq 2004 & 2005

[@Bdpjev]

Im glad you made it out of there. But you cant blame those fighters. They were fighting for their country, they were oppressed by Sadam being Shia, so they weren't fighting on his behalf. Either way glad you survived

[@Johnny_Cash_Flow]

@@Bdpjev Thanks, but don't assume you know anything about the enemy I've faced. I appreciate your kindness and tone, so please don't take what I say to be harshness directed at you, personally, but the enemy I faced were not "oppressed." Most of them were foreigners brought in to kill Americans and innocent Iraqis. I've picked up body parts from the side of the road which belonged to innocent Iraqis these Islamic terrorists accused of working with us. I've seen horrors you can't imagine, like a young Iraqi soldier, roughly 17 years old, who was captured and hung from the ceiling, in a basement, by his wrists with a long piece of rebar, bent into the shape of a 'J," hooked up his rectum, from the ceiling, and impaled him to death. His blood covered the basement floor where we found a hard drive and camera - the hard drive contained a video of this young soldier's brother, also an Iraqi soldier, who was beheaded, on video, as propaganda. I had to watch that video, and hundreds like it, in order to find any details we could use to target these monsters. So, please, spare me with this "you shouldn't blame them, they're oppressed," bullshit. I know my enemy. I know my enemy more than you. I don't need someone on KZbin to tell me who my enemy is. But, again, I appreciate the sentiment. Cheers.

[@Bdpjev]

@Johnny_Cash_Flow brother that was a powerful experience. I'm glad you're out of that toxic environment. I hope you get to enjoy some peace. By oppressed though Saddam Hussain use to kill Iraqi's amongst the Shia community. I know Iraqis whose family we essentially murdered by him. But most definitely you would have a deeper understanding than I would. Glad you home brother.

[@Johnny_Cash_Flow]

@@Bdpjev Oh absolutely! There were Iraqis whom we found with Saddam's image prominently displayed in their homes - we thought they were loyal to the old regime, only to find that they could be arrested, and potentially executed, by the Saddam regime, if they did not have an image of him in their home. Saddam Hussein was an evil man who gassed hundreds of thousands innocent Kurds, effectively committing genocide. As you said, he also oppressed Shia in the south. However, Al-Sadr is not a benevolent character and used his father's name to push a religious civil war in the nation which continued to destabilize the region and bring about terrible sectarian violence, which the innocent Iraqis were victims. In my opinion, Muqtada Al-Sadr, an inbred man with the IQ of shoe leather, deserved to be detained and put on trial for his crimes against the Iraqi people and bringing about a sectarian civil war which cost the lives of countless innocent Iraqis. Take care of yourself, brother.

[@Johnny_Cash_Flow]

@@Bdpjev I would also like to add that you seem like a good and well-meaning person. Thanks for spreading positivity on the cesspool that is KZbin. This world could use more people like that. Cheers.

[@MDR-hn2yz]

My best friend since high school, and fellow Marine OIF veteran, earned his Purple Heart in the Battle of An Najaf.

[@joshadams6789]

Who? I prolly know him. JD?

[@MDR-hn2yz]

@ you know any C 1/4 guys?

[@ModDeuce]

Absolute legend. I still revisit that rooftop video on here from time to time.

[@IPMCXray]

Thank you all for your service in both National & Private Sectors. Patriots, all of you

[@Elfrontu_1972]

I’m glad to see that some of the video shot that day from US Army Combat Camera still floating around, (0:14, 2:30, 2:32) were footage from us combat cameramen. My partner PFC Adam Sanders and myself then SGT Jose M. Hernandez were present on that day. We were both awarded the Combat Action Badge for our efforts through our imagery. A day we will never forget.

[@pvtavis]

Saw the BPRE artwork and clicked instantly. Huge fan of their work. This event should always be talked about. Please keep doing what you’re doing!

[@zeroUnitygain]

Thank you to all the PMC and military personnel

[@jw5297]

Thank you Travis and Haley Strategic.

[@machstem6390]

Early 2000s youtubes was legit. I stayed on the dark parts of it. This was one of the best combat videos i had seen. Like the video of elvis song playing as some contractors light civ car up as they drive. It was shocking as a teenager.myy first real glimpse at the real world. My biggest regret is not joining in o5

[@merak8350]

They should make an animated series with this type of animation, it would be a success.

[@perrycalstrum4079]

I was born during the battle of najaf, I am now a active duty soldier almost 2 years in now.

[@Gothic1Actual]

Travis, I've been following you since your Magpul days. Thank you for the outstanding training content and HSP products. Hopefully I will get to come out to AZ one day and train.

[@HaleyStrategicPartners]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@yatyas311]

I was in Najaj during this time with the Marine Corps. I cannot believe it has already been 20 Years! RIP Sgt Parkinson and PFC Skinner.

[@burnout7702]

Bravo 1/4 here. Doing our 20yr reunion in August.

[@B5Daytona]

It was so great meeting you. The shop looked great!! Thank you for being so kind when we spoke. (I was the guy with the long gray beard)…lol

[@kbsurveyor]

Travis thanks for being a voice for freedom and lighting that beacon, so those who are lost can find their way.

[@dustyboyle]

Thank you for remembering

[@ryanjones4917]

I've got one of the turkey patches's. It's cool to see it coming back and know you are keeping history as well as lessons learned alive

[@timoanez4668]

Because of you sitting on the roof top made quit my police job and go contracting, 14 years and loving it.

[@AEtrane]

You're living the dream. Contentment and job security has me stuck.

[@AnthonysOutdoors]

That rifle front and center is giving me heavy nostalgia.

[@freedomsglory1]

Love the Black Powder Red Earth Art work❤

[@camron1501]

Thank you.

[@dubcityknights]

I was on the ground in the cemetery and that was my baptizism

[@CenlaSelfDefenseConcepts]

4/4/4 was the first piece of combat footage I ever saw. Its wild that the 10th anniversary feels like it was yesterday.

[@sectorseven07]

20 years ago 14 year old me, eagerly awaiting being old enough to join up and go contribute to the fight myself, saw the Najaf video as one of the FIRST combat videos I ever saw on youtube. It was hugely important to me and in no small way changed my life. Travis Haley has been a hero to me for twenty years now.

[@omihurst]

This story is awesome.

[@therulesaredifferent8280]

Thanks Travis

[@wildlymediocreoriginalrecipe]

You and Mookie need to do a podcast.

[@Teaamery]

Im from iraq , Najaf is a holy place for Shia Muslims, there is a building that looks like a mosque and has a golden dome, its name is Imam Ali, he was married to Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet of Islam Muhammad, so some militants were angry about the entry of foreign armed forces into that holy place. But now Iraq is safe and stable and Najaf is a safe city now.

[@5hoyuChicken]

Retired National Guardsman here. My unit was in Camp Udairi during this time waiting to push up North. I remember the MSRs were “black” for a while, and (22 year-old me) was oblivious to all the crazy stuff happening in theater. Thank you for your service. C 193rd AVN, TF Danger, Balad. Hooah 🫡

[@clint1261]

I was a member of an ARNG comm team who had set up a troposcatter antenna (redundant comm) to help support the overall OIF 2 mission. I was in Babylon with the central node on the hilltop where Chemical Ali stayed when he was in that area before the war. Anyways, the story was that the Spanish security forces fell back leaving the compound open to the onslaught of Iraqi insurgents. Our comm team was pinned down taking fire along with everyone else that day. It was the El Salvadorans that astonished them. 18 year olds taking positions on rooftops with sniper rifles would stay there throughout the day taking out insurgents one by one. What shocked me was to hear that when they ran out of ammo, they'd sneak outside of the safe zone to catch them either sleeping or standing around and use their knives to cut them down. Our team said they'd be covered in blood when they returned. I am just a messenger. This is my account of another team's. I only wish I could've been there. That internal need to prove my muster, I guess. Much respect to you badasses who held it down that day. Remember the El Salvadorans.

[@pyeitme508]

Awesome video sir 💯

[@200Ali13]

يشهد لك العدو قبل الصديق

[@herrent]

Travis is the man

[@METALfanUSMC]

Semper Fi!

[@davidmarzella8196]

It was my first clone build I felt proud of

[@clamum9648]

Travis how come your parents didn't name you Chad? 😡 On a serious note, you're an inspiration and are a part of making me push myself to be a better man and protector. Semper Fi big 🐕

[@jamesrobbins6997]

Iam a lucky owner of 1 of the 50 BPRE uppers totally badass I love all the stuff Haley strategic / Black powder red earth / bravo company do !!!

[@HaleyStrategicPartners]

🤌🤌🤌

[@nekokyun]

Wow... 20 years ago... Golly...

[@sancfireactual307]

I can remember getting the Travis video off the internet when I was a teenager, I can remember the 10 year anniversary video when I was at ft Benning as an infantry NCO and now I’m retired at home. Fuck we’re getting old.

[@uduran9907]

Cpl. Roberto Abad BLT1/4 KIA 8-6-2004 RIP

[@bartmay9560]

Semper Fi

[@nekokyun]

04:31 wowwy... An ACR... How times have changed~

[@Error_404_Account_Deleted]

Some excellent sideburns 🤘 I feel like we just had the ten year anniv 😮 How many of us copied that AR build? 😂

[@jeff0311]

Good fight. But it really started in August 2004 ……. where 1/4 finished it.

[@larrymarsico4059]

My man...🙌💪🤘🤙🇺🇸

[@wubaru]

Just when i thought i was done building clone rifles, i now have the urge to build a Haley correct clone!

[@council_juice]

Great video as always Travis, unfortunately I live in the UK where we have to go a long process to even own an air rifle. But if anyone could identify what jacket that bloke is wearing at 6:25 it would be much appreciated.

[@TehPh1L]

I love the project Q rail design. Whoever wins it I hope you gonna put it to good use and not flip if for a quick buck!

[@randypaul2093]

Is there going to be a restock the thorax soon?

[@reconshide]

OoooRahhh👊🇺🇸👊

[@tronosneoauror]

...and this is how you sell stuff guys. I wish all publicity were this good. (L)

[@ik8vwa]

Is there a book on these events? I have been looking but to no avail. Please, let me know.

[@Frank-uw5xq]

I got that video memorized I watched it so much, wow.. before my Son was even born & he's 16......4-4-04 Salute...."Green Flag is Mahdi Army Their to be Engaged at any Opportunity"

[@BadKarma1218]

Are you going to bring Ben to the event?

[@kumbackquatsta]

travis is my fav war crim by far

[@tonydique4554]

20years man. Wow.

[@wpdfreak]

Is DFK down? Their website is just a menu with blank pages… I can’t find anything else about them online except for social media but nothing is good for getting to know products. Any advice appreciated, I like nice things.

[@sslurgio3431]

I remember see that video when it came out..... "Who dropped that ...JDAM"😂😂

[@mikedegnan5252]

I was at the graveyard in najaf.

[@maytronix7201]

I heard that was gnarly man

[@TerriblyTactical]

Sick.

[@monoaka]

Is there gonna be a restock on thorax’s for this?

[@MrLeoAtrox]

Holy f**k. That DAFOK "Envoy" jacket is nice, but I don't think I'd ever be willing to spend $3k on a jacket. If I won the lottery jackpot, I'm still not sure I could bring myself to make that purchase. Looks damn good though.

[@DaCajunChesseHead]

What handguard is on Travis Haley DMR rifle 🤔

[@Brajany]

7:33 is kinda a bar ngl shit would be 🔥🔥🔥on the track

[@tyw2675]

I love hearing these stories, and it makes me wish Blackwater and other companies like it could operate the way they used to. I work for Triple Canopy overseas and we are just always under constant scrutiny for the dumbest things. I also wish Blackwater didn’t get such a horrible wrap. They deserve so much more credit and don’t deserve to be characterized as a bunch of out of control mercenaries.

[@josephleinhauser6130]

Your comment about Ambassador Bremmer is the only time I’ve ever heard a positive thing about him mentioned. Usually he is the person blamed for the whole downfall of Iraq into the insurgency etc etc

[@markrogersjr3031]

From an ungrateful nation.... I think you! 🙏🏻

[@janliving4Him]

❤

[@joshford60]

Whatever happened to Mookie??

[@HaleyStrategicPartners]

He's still around and doing well

[@joshford60]

@@HaleyStrategicPartnersgood to hear 🤙

[@flipside21]

I know he stepped back to focus on his boy, but now that he's growing, would love to hear from him again. Be great to hear about his arc on the pod. Think there's an amazing tale of adventure, redemption, and the human condition. ​@HaleyStrategicPartners

[@shaunybonny688]

whatever happened to Mookie Thomas?

[@kcarmical]

Is that Larry Vickers in the white shirt at 1:18?

[@AkSaggsAlot]

What ever happened to Mookie?

[@SvtRaptor13]

Anyone know how mookie is doing? Hasnt been online in years just kind of disappeared. Hope hes doing well

[@T20-c8f]

I wish y’all had a limited run of access to that arms rail. God that thing is sexy! I’d love to have a bushmaster DMR build like that but it’s a unicorn

[@HaleyStrategicPartners]

They won't make them again. Whatever's out there is what's left

[@T20-c8f]

@@HaleyStrategicPartners it’s a damn shame. RIP Richard Swan, what a legend. ARMS was among the pinnacle of rails and AR tech that ever existed. The SWAN sleeve, ARMS 59, vltor CASV (original model), and KAC MRE, all do something to my heart my RIS 2 can’t fathom in it’s wettest wildest dreams. F

[@Whatevs_Punyeta]

Anybody ever heard of a guy named Hotaru Maniac

[@meidamx]

Get some.

[@peacesmakers]

Mike Jones/Garand Thumb's daddy! YaY n_n

[@Dugout97]

Here's something that will piss you off. My unit in Sadr City had Al-Sadr stopped and surrounded along with his escort vehicles. Our unit was ordered to let him go.

[@The_Comedian556]

Who was the long haired, blonde guy with the side burns that did all the filming. He's in the famous picture wheres he laying down smoking a cigarette. You know who Im talking about.

[@feitnaa]

Is Mookie going to be on the roof with you again?

[@or6060]

ok but who is the side burns guy 2:08????? this dude became a meme and nobody has been able to figure out who he really is, please interview him!

[@billstanton4791]

I hope Mookie is doing well.

[@buddha48264]

Sad I won't be able to make it for this event, but with any luck I'll be able to stop by while I'm in town for Can Con two weeks later.

[@doriangreyflanel2833]

Shot out to any 114th infantry (golden dragon, ) from the 25th infantry, they were the QRf for damn near the whole country, we wound up in an Najaf as well.. during this time💀… Major respect to all combat veterans❤

[@ciumtangan4935]

..the anniversary kills civilians who do not have weapons..w/o SHAME

[@-RONNIE]

👊🏻🇺🇸

[@ferretapocalypse]

The good old days before KZbin became the garbage it is now. I actually messaged you on that AR15 site that shall not be mentioned back in 05 about this. You said that your targets were so far away they looked like ants.

[@ghostedyoutuber263]

MOOKIE

[@BillyHeaton16]

Karl Erickson from tactical rifleman was in najaf

[@charlesmullins3238]

Another badass we love

[@BillyHeaton16]

@@charlesmullins3238 facts

[@Frank-uw5xq]

Yep 5thGroup legend

[@BrandonL-g1v]

Shia Islam buddy you’ll didn’t do much to them you’ll gave them Iraq they thank you

[@ccfmfg]

Oorah