The Untold Story of Special Forces and the Iraqi Kurdish Resistance | Mark Grodvic | Ep. 371

This conversation delves into the experiences of Mark Grdovic, a member of the 10th Special Forces Group, during the Iraq War, particularly focusing on their operations with Kurdish forces. It covers the planning, execution, and challenges faced during the invasion, including the establishment of relationships with local forces, the importance of communication, and the dynamics of military strategy in a complex environment. Grab Mark's book here:⬇️https://www.amazon.com/Those-Who-Face-Death-Resistance/dp/1963781058https://www.markgrdovic.com/Today's sponsors GhostBed⬇️https://www.ghostbed.com/houseFOR 25% off sitewide! For ad free video and audio and access to live streams and Eyes On Geopolitics...JOIN OUR PATREON! https://www.patreon.com/c/TheTeamHouseTo help support the show and for all bonus content including:-live shows and asking guest questions -ad free audio and video-early access to shows-Access to ALL bonus segments with our guestsSubscribe to our Patreon! ⬇️https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouseSupport the show here:⬇️https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse___________________________________________________Subscribe to the new EYES ON podcast here:⬇️https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnGeopoliticsPod/featured__________________________________Jack Murphy's new book "We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History" ⬇️https://www.amazon.com/We-Defy-Chapters-Special-History-ebook/dp/B0DCGC1N1N/——————————————————————Or make a one time donation at: ⬇️https://ko-fi.com/theteamhouseSocial Media: ⬇️The Team House Instagram:https://instagram.com/the.team.house?utm_medium=copy_linkThe Team House Twitter:https://twitter.com/TheTeamHousePodJack’s Instagram:https://instagram.com/jackmcmurph?utm_medium=copy_linkJack’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jackmurphyrgr?s=21Dave’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/dave_parke?s=21Team House Discord: ⬇️https://discord.gg/wHFHYM6SubReddit: ⬇️https://www.reddit.com/r/TheTeamHouse/Jack Murphy's memoir "Murphy's Law" can be found here:⬇️ https://www.amazon.com/Murphys-Law-Journey-Investigative-Journalist/dp/1501191241The Team Room Reading Room (Amazon Affiliate links):⬇️ https://jackmurphywrites.com/the-team-room-reading-room/Intro music by https://www.youtube.com/user/RemixSample"Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio"00:00 Introduction to Special Forces and the Kurdish Resistance07:55 Planning for the Invasion of Iraq11:51 Establishing Relationships with Kurdish Forces16:06 Challenges of Communication and Coordination23:54 Infiltration and Initial Operations27:51 Operation Viking Hammer: The Assault Begins31:57 The Role of Air Support and Tactical Decisions35:56 Engagements with Enemy Forces39:54 The Dynamics of Kurdish Politics and Warfare43:56 The Aftermath of the Initial Assault01:07:21 The Kurdish Liberation and the Battle of Halabja01:10:07 Iran's Strategic Alliances and the Role of Terrorists01:11:32 Missed Opportunities: The Zarqawi Connection01:12:51 Challenges with Coalition Forces and Coordination01:17:04 The Complexities of Surrender and Iraqi Army Dynamics01:28:02 Restoring Order: The Role of Basic Services01:31:57 The Transition from Occupation to Governance01:38:33 Lessons Learned and Reflections on the OperationBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-team-house--5960890/support.