Former Delta Force operator “Sheriff of Baghdad” talks about Middle East geopolitics

Retired Master Sergeant and former Delta Force operator John McPhee, known as the “Sheriff of Baghdad,” joined  the Jedburgh Podcast to discuss a variety of military and geopolitical topics, including the smooth exit from Afghanistan, the failure of US military strategy in the Middle East, NATO operations, and Israeli tactical innovations.

“We had enough money to buy where the hell Saddam was without firing a shot. Boot on the ground in Afghanistan, I knew it was going to get crazy later. This is where nations die. What the hell did we think was going to happen?” McPhee said at the beginning of the podcast, setting up a pretty explosive intro. 

Here’s a summary of McPhee’s conversation with former Special Forces Green Beret Fran Racioppi on the Jedburgh Podcast: 

1. Initial Disappointment in Afghanistan: McPhee knew early on in the Afghan conflict that it was doomed, reflecting the US pattern of failed nation-building.
2. Special Forces Mission Explanation: The role of Special Forces is to arm, equip, and train local forces of foreign countries for combat, which requires immense trust.
3. Rebuilding Afghanistan: McPhee discussed how groups like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda are rebuilding, with U.S. money continuing to flow into Afghanistan.
4. Failure of US military strategy: McPhee criticized the US for leaving equipment in Afghanistan that could later be used against the US. He suggested that the equipment should have been destroyed.
5. Known as  the “Sheriff of Baghdad”: The story of how a t-shirt joke became a business concept, with a performer humorously taking on the persona of the “Sheriff of Baghdad.”
6. The Mistake of Disbanding the Iraqi Army: McPhee criticized the US decision to disband the Iraqi military, police, and other organizations after Saddam, which led to chaos.
7. Saddam’s Strategy: McPhee described Saddam as a skillful leader who maintained a strong grip on the Middle East while keeping Iran at bay.
8. Failure to find weapons of mass destruction: McPhee noted that no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq, although chemical weapons were later found in Syria.
9. Syria vs. Iraq: McPhee compared the situations in Iraq and Syria, focusing on the complexity of the Syrian conflict and the need to work with local groups.
10. War on Terror and Political Motives: McPhee argued that the war on terror is driven by money and power rather than ideology, with Iran’s internal network considered to be disrupted after the deaths of key leaders such as Soleimani.

You should probably give it a watch – 15 minutes long.