Aftershock: The War on Terror Episode 2: The Frog and the Scorpion
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Nov 27, 2025 After 9/11, war planners portrayed Iraq as a quick fix, but chaos ensued instead. Neo-conservatives pushed for regime change, yet many doubted the feasibility. Early optimism faded as the occupation unraveled, leading to rampant looting and rising insurgency. Misguided policies, like de-Baathification, deepened ethnic divisions and fueled resistance, while the supposed handover of sovereignty proved superficial. The episode explores a parable illustrating how misguided intervention led to self-destructive regional consequences.
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From Mujahideen To Allies In Afghanistan
- Patrick Coburn embedded with the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan days after US covert teams parachuted in with cash.
- He observed America's old allies become new partners overnight.
Intelligence Was Filtered To Fit Policy
- Wolfowitz set up the Office of Special Plans to bypass mainstream agencies and produce favorable intelligence.
- That unit amplified dubious claims about WMDs and links to al-Qaeda to justify invasion.
Journalists Waited In Kuwait Pre-Invasion
- James Meek waited in Kuwait with thousands of journalists before the Iraq invasion and embedded at the Coalition press centre.
- He observed military spokespeople who admitted they lacked a plan for postwar Baghdad.