The Small Picture Podcasts

It's the most controversial conflict of our time: a war which has divided citizens, politicians, and militaries, resulted in headlines about torture and suicide bombings, death and destruction. There's no single identifiable enemy and no exit strategy. So how will the war in Iraq be won? What will victory look like?

In 2004, when Australian Major General Jim Molan was deployed to the war to oversee a force of 300,000 troops, including 155,000 Americans, he faced these and other questions on a daily basis. In Running the War in Iraq he gives a gripping insider's account of what modern warfare entails – the ghastly body count, the complex decisions which will mean life or death, the divide between political masters and foot soldiers – and the small, hard–won triumphs.

General Jim Molan joined the Australian Army in 1968 and has served in Jakarta, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. For his contributions in Iraq, he has been awarded the legion of merit by the US government and the Distinguished Service Cross by the Australian government.

This is an incredibly down to earth interview with one of the people who was on the ground in Iraq, grappling with the every day problems of running a counter insurgent campaign.

Probably one of the most interesting and thought provoking interviews I've done in an awfully long time, and one of which I am very proud. I hope you share and enjoy this interview.