The Voices of War

Benjamin Netanyahu recently admitted he'd spent 40 years waiting for an American president willing to attack Iran. In Donald Trump, he finally found one. But was this a strategy — or a panic? Professor Zlatko Hadžidedić, one of the Balkans' most incisive geopolitical minds, argues it's neither chess nor grand design. It's a desperate gamble by a declining empire that didn't fully understand what it was getting into — and the consequences may reshape the entire global order. In this conversation, we go deep on: 🔥 Why the US-Iran war may have been driven by panic, not strategy 💵 How this conflict could kill the Petrodollar and birth the Petro-Yuan 🌍 What Europe should actually do — and why it's making all the wrong moves 🏛️ The coup that already happened in America — and why no one is calling it that ⚔️ The Balkans as a microcosm of great power competition — and when war there becomes likely again This is the conversation the mainstream media won't have. 🎙️ Guest: Prof. Zlatko Hadžidedić — Professor of International Relations, Sarajevo; author and Balkan geopolitical commentator 🔔 Subscribe for weekly deep dives into the untold stories of war, power, and geopolitics.

Dr Ghassan Jawad Kadhim, Iraqi political adviser and analyst, unpacks Iraq’s precarious position amid widening Iran-related conflict. He discusses Iraq being attacked from multiple sides. He explains the difference between PMF and Iranian-aligned militias. He outlines economic fallout, Basra oil disruptions, and risks to social cohesion and governance.

Trump, Iran, global order, rules-based order, Mark Carney, US decline, world order, China, Russia, BRICS, international law, and Western decline. This episode examines whether Trump’s Iran confrontation reflects strategic calculation or the breakdown of the US-led order. I look at American hegemony, global power shifts, spheres of influence, and what a post-Western order could mean for international politics. If American hegemony is fading, what comes next?   #TheVoicesOfWar #Trump #Iran #Geopolitics #WorldOrder #MarkCarney #USDecline #BRICS #China #Russia #InternationalRelations

As the fallout from the US and Israel's ongoing Iran war spreads, we examine the broader regional impact, particularly for Lebanon. Lebanese economist and political analyst Nadim Shehadi joins me to discuss the implications of the Iran US war for the country, deeply exposed to the middle east war's shifting power dynamics. This episode explores the complex geopolitics news surrounding the conflict and its effects on Lebanon. In this conversation we cover: 🌍 Why this war's consequences extend far beyond Iran ⚖️ The collapse of international law — and who it hurts most 🔄 How proxy conflicts trap entire populations with no say in the fight 🌐 Two competing visions for the Middle East — and why both carry enormous risk 🇱🇧 Lebanon's impossible position: caught between outside powers and internal fractures 🤝 What a stable Middle East would actually require — and how far away it is 🇺🇸 Trump, the old world order, and the dangerous vacuum being created Nadim Shehadi is a Lebanese economist, political analyst, and associate fellow at Chatham House. He is one of the most measured and incisive voices on Lebanese politics, Iran's regional role, and the future of the Middle East — bringing insider perspective without partisan framing. 🎙️ The Voices of War — scratching below the surface of war's simple narratives. 📌 Subscribe for deep-dive analysis on conflict, geopolitics, and the stories the headlines miss. 📲 Follow us: Twitter / X: https://x.com/thevoicesofwar Instagram:   / the_voices_of_war   LinkedIn:   / the-voices-of-war   Website: https://thevoicesofwar.com

Trump's Iran War: Strategic Confusion With No Way Out | Dr. Samir Puri What happens when the world's most powerful military goes to war with no clear objective and no exit strategy? Dr. Samir Puri — former UK diplomat, Chatham House director, and bestselling author of Westlessness — joins Maz fresh from the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, where he sat in the room with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister as the attacks began. In this episode, Samir breaks down why the US is playing both arsonist and firefighter in the Middle East — and why that contradiction may define America's strategic position for years to come. What we cover: Why Israel has a clear objective in this war, and the US has only confusion How Iran is winning the global sympathy battle despite being an odious regime The moment India quietly broke with Washington — and why Modi wasn't told about the attack How the Strait of Hormuz becomes a pressure point without Iran firing a single shot Why Europe is "moving like a snail while everyone else runs laps" China's calculated silence — and what they're actually gaining from this The "forever war" trap: why the US may be policing these waters indefinitely A standout line from Samir: "This is not just a live fire weapons display. What it will show is that the United States is liable to engage in military activities for misconstrued goals — and is not a stabilizing force." If you want analysis that goes beyond the headlines, this is the episode. 🎙️ The Voices of War is your gateway to the untold stories and nuanced perspectives of conflict. Hosted by Vedran 'Maz' Maslic — military leader, entrepreneur, and strategic thinker. Subscribe | Leave a Review | Share with someone who needs to hear this

*** As this episode contains clips from other sources, I recommend watching it on YouTube on this link: https://youtu.be/uenKNmiHP10 Australia has just passed sweeping new "hate-speech" laws. Former Army officer and Bosnia war refugee Vedran ‘Maz’ Maslic warns they could be used to silence criticism of Israel even from Jewish scholars and peace activists. In this solo monologue, Vedran breaks his silence on the Bondi attack aftermath, the "Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026," and what he sees as an escalating campaign to reshape what Australians can say about Israel, Gaza, and Zionism. 🔍 WHAT HE COVERS: • How the Israel lobby shapes Australian politics (ASPI data on political trips, Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism) • Why Bob Carr warned about disproportionate foreign influence on Australia's foreign policy • Penny Wong refusing to rule out prosecuting "genocide" accusations under the new law • How Western allies (UK, Canada, France, Australia) are recognising Palestinian sovereignty and why that matters • Media ownership shift: Ellison family controlling CBS News, TikTok US, with explicit Israel advocacy • Why Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Megyn Kelly have all turned against Israel and what that signals • A Bosnian refugee's warning: "We didn't grow up hating each other. We were manipulated." ⚖️ THE QUESTION: Are Australia's new hate-speech laws genuinely about protecting communities from violence or are they about reshaping what we can say about Israel at the exact moment its closest allies are stepping back? 📹 KEY CLIPS REFERENCED: • Bob Carr on Israel lobby influence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4psBTp6CVk • Michael West investigation: https://michaelwest.com.au/sponsoring-the-gold-coast-antisemitism-junket-for-mayors-and-councillors/ • Penny Wong on Today Show: https://youtu.be/kc-xLKertvU?t=285 • Netanyahu's domestic speech (no Palestinian state): https://www.youtube.com/shorts/E5j0CPLZJ9o • Tucker Carlson on Israel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd_LN4fDf6s 🎙️ ABOUT VEDRAN MASLIC: Bosnian war refugee (1990s), Australian Army veteran, and host of The Voices of War podcast. Has interviewed genocide scholar William Schabas, Israeli historian Ilan Pappé, and dehumanisation scholar David Livingstone Smith all Jewish experts critical of Israel's Gaza operations. 📌 SUBSCRIBE for expert analysis on war, conflict prevention, and the politics of violence. 🔗 FOLLOW: Twitter / X: https://x.com/thevoicesofwar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_voices_of_war/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-voices-of-war/ Website: https://thevoicesofwar.com #Australia #FreeSpeech #Israel #Gaza #Palestine #HateSpeechLaws #VedranMaslic #TheVoicesOfWar #BobCarr #Netanyahu #CivilLiberties #Politics

Richard Atwood, Executive Vice President at the International Crisis Group and host of the Hold Your Fire! podcast, shares his expertise on potential global conflicts in 2026. He dives into the implications of a U.S. raid in Venezuela and its effects on regional dynamics. The discussion also explores the tensions in Greenland influenced by Trump's foreign policy, the mixed signals from Washington regarding China and Taiwan, and the ongoing strife in Israel-Palestine, Syria, and the Gulf, emphasizing the interconnected nature of these conflicts.

In this episode of The Voices of War, Maz speaks with Brigadier (Ret.) Dan Fortune, DSC and Bar, a retired SASR commander and one of Australia’s most decorated special operations officers, reflecting on leadership, accountability, and the human cost of Australia’s war in Afghanistan. Dan served extensively within SASR Sabre Squadrons as both an enlisted operator and later a commissioned officer. His career includes multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan, senior targeting and command roles, counter-terrorism operations, combat freefall missions, and leadership appointments within Australian and NATO Special Operations Task Groups. He also served alongside US Tier One special forces and commanded the ADF Tactical Assault Group during the Sydney Olympics. Building on themes raised in the award-winning documentary Bravery and Betrayal and Episode 1 on this topic with Vando and Brett, this conversation explores the effects of relentless operational tempo, repeated rotations, and prolonged exposure to violence on moral judgement and decision-making. Dan discusses how cultural mismatch and partner force dynamics shaped operational realities on the ground, including green-on-blue incidents and force protection failures. The episode examines the conduct and consequences of the IGADF and Brereton processes, including findings later characterised by the Royal Commission as ‘weaponised injustice’. Dan reflects on how bureaucratic risk aversion, strategic distance, and institutional self-protection displaced accountability downward, leaving tactical operators to absorb blame, reputational damage, and long-term moral injury. Rather than focusing on individual wrongdoing, this episode interrogates systems: how wars are managed from afar, how leadership decisions cascade, and how justice, recognition, and responsibility are applied after conflict. It offers a sober, first-hand perspective on command, culture, and the enduring costs of a war of choice. Key Moments: DSC and Bar SASR commander reveals moral compass shift in combat Civilian casualties & how tolerance hardened over deployments Fat Lady's Arms hypocrisy: PMs drank, troops demonized IGADF as weaponized injustice - Royal Commission critique Green-on-blue murders & partner force cultural clashes O6 and below values vs One Star and above interests: Leadership cowardice exposed Healing through truth: Veteran recognition & future lessons    

In this episode of ‘The Voices of War’, Maz sits down with two former Australian special operations officers whose careers unfolded at the sharp end of Australia’s longest war in Afghanistan. Vando served 24 years in the Australian Army, including 16 in special operations with the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). Across 10 deployments to Iraq, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, North Africa and three tours of Afghanistan, he held command at troop, squadron and senior staff levels, carrying responsibility across tactical and operational decision-making within the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG). Brett came into special operations through law and intelligence. He first served as the principal intelligence officer (S2) at 1 Commando Regiment and later as the S2 for SASR, before transferring to the Legal Corps. In that role, he advised special operations forces on the laws of armed conflict, rules of engagement, and some of the most complex legal and ethical challenges of the Afghanistan war. His five deployments included Kosovo, three tours of East Timor and an extended tour of Afghanistan. Together, they reflect on their involvement in the award-winning documentary ‘Bravery and Betrayal’, unpacking how sustained operational tempo, political decision-making, legal constraints, and leadership silence shaped the war in Afghanistan and what those choices cost individuals, families, veterans, and institutions. This is a conversation about systems, not slogans; about war as it was lived, not how it was sold. Key Moments: - Why special forces became the ‘force of choice’ - Endless rotations and the absence of genuine rest - The impact of ‘catch and release’ policy on decision-making - How killing became routine over time - The human and institutional fallout of the IGADF inquiry - Moral injury and leadership silence that hurt deepest - Why their story matters now Resources & Links ‘Bravery and Betrayal’ documentary WEBSITE https://wanderingwarriors.org/bravery-betrayal-the-documentary/ BRAVERY & BETRAYAL 2025 | Trailer https://youtu.be/-3rS0h-pjqc?si=4_zStLj4KxR7w1xL STREAMING Madman Streaming https://www.madman.com.au/bravery-and-betrayal/ Prime https://www.primevideo.com/region/fe/detail/0I6EPX8QDL0CP8HN9HQTSENWY5?ref_=atv_sr_fle_c_Tn74RA_1_1_ Apple TV https://tv.apple.com/au/movie/bravery-and-betrayal/umc.cmc.1vql2nd3lpc381hnq1xjmxjcx Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuzpNCIB_P0 Fetch https://www.fetchtv.com.au/movie/details/3011300/bravery--betrayal Docplay https://www.docplay.com/shows/bravery-betrayal Vimeo https://vimeo.com/ondemand/braverybetrayal/1129397949 DONATE https://wandering-warriors.mygiveeasy.com/bravery-betrayal/donate 🎧 Listen to more from The Voices of War Website (episodes, show notes, transcripts, extras): https://thevoicesofwar.com Full episodes & archives: https://thevoicesofwar.com 📰 Newsletter Reflections, episode drops, and behind the scenes notes: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com 📺 Subscribe to the channel Long‑form conversations on war, peace and everything between: @thevoicesofwar 📱 Follow on social Twitter / X: https://x.com/thevoicesofwar Instagram: / the_voices_of_war LinkedIn: / the-voices-of-war 📘 About Brett & Vando Vando - SASR Troop/Squadron Commander featured in Bravery and Betrayal documentary. 16 years SASR across 10 deployments. Brett - Special Forces Task Group legal officer. Combined intelligence and law background with 5 deployments. 🎙️ Related episodes & reading Explore more conversations on special operations, Afghanistan, moral injury and veteran leadership at https://thevoicesofwar.com   #SASR #Afghanistan #BrettVando #BraveryAndBetrayal #SpecialForces #AustralianMilitary #VeteranStories #MilitaryJourney #SASRCommander #AfghanistanVeterans #MoralInjury #WarDocumentary #ADF #SpecialOperationsAustralia #CombatVeteran #MilitaryLeadership #TheVoicesOfWar #AustralianSASR #VeteranJourney #WarStories #IGADF

Is Israel beginning to collapse from within? In this in depth conversation, renowned Israeli historian Ilan Pappé explains why he believes Zionism has entered its final phase, how Israeli society is disintegrating internally, and what a just future for Palestinians and Israelis could look like. Pappé, director of the European Centre for Palestine Studies and author of The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic and Israel on the Brink, draws on decades of archival research to argue that Israel is a classic settler colonial project built on ethnic cleansing, apartheid and permanent military rule over Palestinians. He details the social implosion inside Israel, the growing split between secular and religious Jews, the role of the U.S. and European powers, and why he thinks decolonization is inevitable. We discuss 1948 and the Nakba, the Gaza war, accusations of genocide, the collapse of the two-state solution, one democratic state between the river and the sea, Jewish-Palestinian coexistence, and what real decolonization might require in practice. For anyone trying to understand the future of Israel-Palestine, this is an unfiltered, long form analysis from one of the conflict’s most important dissident historians. If you value independent conversations like this, please like the episode, leave a comment, share it, and subscribe to The Voices of War for more long‑form interviews with critical thinkers from around the world. Resources & Links 🎧 Listen to more from The Voices of War Website (episodes, show notes, extras): https://thevoicesofwar.com Full episodes & archives: https://thevoicesofwar.com 📰 Newsletter Reflections, episode drops, and behind the scenes notes: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com 📺 Subscribe to the channel Long‑form conversations on war, peace and everything between:  @thevoicesofwar  📱 Follow on social Twitter / X: https://x.com/thevoicesofwar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_voices_of_war/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-voices-of-war/ 📘 About Ilan Pappé Renowned Israeli historian, director of the European Centre for Palestine Studies, and author of The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, Ten Myths About Israel and Israel on the Brink. 🎙️ Related episodes & reading Explore more conversations on Palestine, Gaza, decolonization and the lived experience of war at https://thevoicesofwar.com #IlanPappé #IsraelPalestine #Gaza #Zionism #Decolonization #Nakba #SettlerColonialism #EndTheOccupation