Delta Force Operator Exposes the Iraq War | Official Preview

Shawn Ryan Show

A Delta Force colonel recounts his experiences during the Iraq War, describing rushed military operations in Afghanistan that led to casualties, and reveals how satellite intelligence was misinterpreted to justify the Iraq invasion based on questionable evidence.

Summary

Colonel Pete Blabber, a retired Delta Force commander, provides a firsthand account of military operations during the Iraq War era. The interview begins with his description of a rushed mission in Afghanistan where his team was ordered to deploy without proper preparation or reconnaissance. Despite his objections about the lack of acclimatization, communication with Afghan forces, and equipment testing, he was told the mission must proceed as ordered due to military culture demanding obedience to officers. The mission involved helicopters despite a no-helicopter policy, and resulted in disaster when a Chinook helicopter was attacked with RPK machine gun fire and RPGs while attempting to land on a mountain. During this attack, Neil Roberts fell from the helicopter. Blabber criticizes the leadership's emotional detachment, particularly an Air Force officer who dismissed urgent radio communications about Roberts being surrounded by enemies. The colonel then shifts to discussing the intelligence used to justify the Iraq invasion, revealing that he was present when satellite photos were analyzed that supposedly showed weapons of mass destruction. He describes how his experience in Afghanistan had taught him to distrust satellite imagery, as they had repeatedly proven unreliable. The evidence used to justify toppling an entire country turned out to be innocuous items like water trucks, HVAC systems, and someone urinating. The interview also touches on the tragic case of Pat Tillman, whose mother contacted Blabber seeking answers about whether her son's death was intentional or accidental, highlighting the ongoing questions and cover-ups surrounding military casualties.

Key Insights

  • Blabber argued against a rushed mission in Afghanistan, stating his team hadn't acclimated, talked to Afghans, or tested their equipment, but was overruled by superiors who said orders must be obeyed
  • During a helicopter assault on Takur mountain, the aircraft was hit by RPK machine gun fire and RPGs, causing Neil Roberts to fall off the back of the helicopter
  • An Air Force officer dismissed urgent radio communications about Roberts being surrounded by enemies, telling operators to 'stop getting emotional on the radio'
  • Blabber was present when satellite photos supposedly showing Iraqi WMDs were analyzed, which he now describes as just 'a water truck, a guy taking a piss, and some air conditioners'
  • Pat Tillman's mother contacted Blabber after 13 years, saying she still didn't know whether her son was killed on purpose or by accident

Topics

Afghanistan military operationsIraq War intelligence failuresMilitary command cultureSatellite imagery misinterpretationPat Tillman case

Transcript

[0:03] You're a sniper wrecky guy. You know this makes no sense. Putting you in tonight. You haven't even acclimated yet. You guys haven't talked to the Afghans. You haven't talked to the guys who already went in and did the environmental recons. You haven't reconfigured your kit. You know, your weapons. You guys need to test fire your weapons, your nods, everything. Frequencies. He's like, "I hear you. I hear you, Pete, but I already fought this back at Bram and they wouldn't listen to me there and they're not listening to me now. [0:34] I've been told it's an order and you know, we have to obey orders. The culture at the time was, you know, you obey…

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