Travis Haley & John Lovell Discuss Blackwater, Najaf and the #1 Attribute of a Warrior

John Lovell sits down with the incomparable Travis Haley of Haley Strategic to discuss the 20th anniversary Najaf gunfight, leadership conation and where the country's gone wrong.
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Пікірлер: 397

  • @bobbyberry5559
    @bobbyberry55592 ай бұрын

    Always nice to see Garand Thumbs dad in a video.

  • @SSPspaz

    @SSPspaz

    2 ай бұрын

    Dang it. I thought I had an original comment, but nope, you beat me to it 😂

  • @cdfe3388

    @cdfe3388

    2 ай бұрын

    All hail the Clone Father!

  • @FoxholeIndustries

    @FoxholeIndustries

    2 ай бұрын

    😂

  • @DrSpas

    @DrSpas

    2 ай бұрын

    No shit. Good to know. And I can see it now, lol

  • @PurityofWrath

    @PurityofWrath

    Ай бұрын

    Made my day

  • @bobbyberry5559
    @bobbyberry55592 ай бұрын

    John telling Siri to go pound sand is great😅

  • @DTHRocket
    @DTHRocketАй бұрын

    "Freedom is created by living free." Thank you for that powerful motivation.

  • @adammorgan7874
    @adammorgan7874Ай бұрын

    Grand Thumb is so lucky to have such a cool dad. This is two of my most favorite people to listen to. I wish I had role models like this when I was younger.

  • @christophercourtemanche1945

    @christophercourtemanche1945

    Ай бұрын

    Really that's his dad. G

  • @travisdamme
    @travisdamme2 ай бұрын

    “Pain is mandatory. Suffering is optional.”

  • @1Surt
    @1SurtАй бұрын

    Rarely listen to podcasts as of late. Yet, Travis Haley + John Lovell was a must listen. Well done, thank you.

  • @Jacen777
    @Jacen7772 ай бұрын

    *_Making the world a better place, one War Poet at a time._* ✝️🙏😊

  • @Konvinced89
    @Konvinced892 ай бұрын

    John, your response to the introvert question makes a ton of sense. I got the vibe that you weren't really a social talker when we all piled in a truck for lunch during Pistol 1 in Camden, 2018. I'm generally the same, but of course my buddy and I were excited to pick your brain. haha it was cool of you to humor us. I'd also like to share, I recently got to pass on some of your instruction to my sisters as they put their first rounds on paper. It was a huge honor to introduce them to firearms, and I credit much of my confidence and articulation to a basis of understanding that I took from your class. I got to explain, demonstrate, and coach them each through safe handling, mechanics, grip, posture, sight picture, trigger press, reloading, and a little bit of mental processing and awareness. As we walked through those concepts, I got to see the understanding you invested in me being sewn into new soil. Appreciate you, brother!

  • @TimGrefer
    @TimGrefer2 ай бұрын

    God bless you Travis Haley! True patriot down to the core 🇺🇲🇺🇲

  • @wisesage3289
    @wisesage32892 ай бұрын

    John, Thanks for having Travis on. I do not know him personally, but since the Magpul days; I have found inspiration from him. People ask me why I have a dragonfly decal in my car window. I just smile and say it’s a reminder to be better.

  • @desperado8605
    @desperado86052 ай бұрын

    Holy crap. I knew Travis went into the mindset but wow the depth that he goes is amazing

  • @Johnny_Cash_Flow
    @Johnny_Cash_Flow2 ай бұрын

    Very crazy to think that it's been 20 years since I was in Iraq. I remember getting the radio call to gear up because some Blackwater contractors had been ambushed in Fallujah, burnt alive, and strung up on the bridge, and we had to go secure and recover the bodies. I remember having Al-Sadr dead-to-rights, hiding in the mosque, being told to stand-down. I also remember returning a few months later and finding out that the U.S. was working with him. It's weird to have such disdain for a place which has largely shaped who you are as a man today. Semper Fidelis, brothers. Cpl, USMC 2002 - 2007 Iraq 2004 & 2005

  • @Arkancide

    @Arkancide

    2 ай бұрын

    Damn, it HAS been 20 years since my first tour. I don't remember everytime I was told "Don't shoot" but one of the ones that sticks out to me is the first time we got hit with an IED. Outskirts of Sadr City at night, spotted a dude on a minaret with AK, binocs, and radio set. Explained the situation to my platoon sergeant in the truck with me, and asked if I could smoke the guy. "Not unless he's shooting at us." 15 minutes later when we had turned around and headed back down the road(Combat Engineers doing route clearance) we got hit with our first IED. Dude wasn't on the minaret anymore. Those events piss me off more than the IEDs I got hit with later on. More even than when we lost comrades and even my team leader. Another dude I DID get to shoot turned out to be a civvie who made a mistake. Fuckin hell, what a shitshow.

  • @Nod-zt3fw

    @Nod-zt3fw

    2 ай бұрын

    Its the people you fought against, and the people you worked for that was the problem...Semper Gumby...stay flexible.

  • @Peter-mf6gd

    @Peter-mf6gd

    2 ай бұрын

    Having been in Fallujah as part of 3/4’s assault into the city, and then returning as combat replacement to Najaf with 1/4 , after the militia was destroyed at the mosque, I find this statement questionable. 1. No one had Sadr “dead to rights”. He was holed up in the Mosque with 1/4 and the rest of the MEU queuing up to assault the mosque and the parking garage when that pilot dropped the JDAM on the parking garage and destroyed their center of gravity. This ended the hostilities. And the MEU commander, Col Haslam, allegedly tried to court Marshall the pilot. That Pilot saved countless lives as the entire place was daisy rigged to blow. What set Sadr off was when CAAT destroyed his security detail 3 weeks prior when they stupidly attacked CAAT when they drove by his house. And there was the utter destruction of the Ag University. 2. Damage payments were made to the local population in response to the Iranians offering to give Sadr $5 million to restart the militia after he surrendered. The US wasted money and paid out 5 to 1 over the Iranians. Sadr di-died out of there to Sadr City. He was still wanted and targeted. Side note, I have pictures of his abandoned house. We were not working with him and actively worked with Sistani to limit Sadrs power.

  • @Johnny_Cash_Flow

    @Johnny_Cash_Flow

    2 ай бұрын

    @@Peter-mf6gd Me: "I remember having Al-Sadr dead-to-rights, hiding in the mosque, being told to stand-down." You: "I find this statement questionable." Also you: "He was holed up in the mosque with 1/4... queuing up to assault the mosque... when that pilot dropped the JDAM... This ended the hostilities." If you're going to try to counter what I said, you should probably actually say something counter to what I said. You repeated exactly what I said, only with more words. Good job. As for the U.S. working with al-Sadr, when I returned with RCT-8, in early 2005, he was on the "No Target List" and had told the Mahdi Militia not to target U.S. forces. Furthermore, he attended meetings with the "State Department" and there were reports of him being made an OGA asset. We were told, in no uncertain terms, that we were not allowed to target him with the context that if we killed/captured him, we'd cause a sectarian war, which we were still attempting to avoid. So, great job repeating what I said, only with more words, while claiming what WE said to be "questionable." You really showed me! LOL

  • @Peter-mf6gd

    @Peter-mf6gd

    2 ай бұрын

    I will agree that the US was strange bedfellows with Al-Sadr after 2004. He won 30+ seats in the government and proved himself a capable statesman. So we HAD to sit at the table with him. He never changed his spots toward the US and was frequently fighting US forces in Baghdad and Basra in 2006. As far as him being an asset, he has always been outspoken and counter to US policy. I can’t see him working for the US. Having him dead to rights- you don’t make a 3rd martyr out of the same family. He knew that and used it to walk away and gain power. You are correct about the targeting after 2004 up to 2006. 2006 he started again and went into self exile to avoid k/c.

  • @josephstanczak4340
    @josephstanczak43402 ай бұрын

    Wow. Two of my most respected warriors on KZread and in real life. God bless you both!

  • @boejiden1942
    @boejiden19422 ай бұрын

    Great conversation! One thing i would say is there is no "your truth" there is only THE Truth.

  • @Mounty621
    @Mounty6212 ай бұрын

    I’m only half way through the interview, but so much has resonated with me. After 20+ years of firearms training my fellow cops, I have retired and transitioned to teaching civilians at a local gun store/range for fun. It has been such a wonderful transition and such a learning experience. I completely understood both of your feelings about being “on stage” while teaching with absolute passion during a class, but retreating into quiet time with myself and thoroughly enjoying it. After my career, I have become very introverted and enjoy being in the solitude of my 21-acre forest away from people. I can “perform” when necessary, but enjoy being alone with my family or just myself and my tractor. Thanks for giving me a sense of being normal, John and Travis.

  • @howiedahlen1577
    @howiedahlen157711 күн бұрын

    you guys have to have a part 2 and make it like 2hrs long please. i could listen to thaley and johnlovell for hrs

  • @cypher6938
    @cypher69382 ай бұрын

    Thanks John! You have exposed Travis as a kindred Warrior Poet. This was a very mature and inspiring dialog.

  • @Gothic1Actual
    @Gothic1Actual2 ай бұрын

    This is much better than TK as a guest. I was worried for a while. Awesome interview, John.

  • @geoffreywood5808
    @geoffreywood58082 ай бұрын

    When I was teaching Paramedics/ EMTs, Nurses Aides, Nurses, I found that people learn one of three ways. By sight ( show them how to do the task), by speech (or by written word), or by hands on demonstration ( have them do the task while walking them through it, step-by- step. The key is to recognize how each individual learns, then use that method for each individual. They would read the material on their own time ( about 25% would get it), then I would read it aloud while simultaneously demonstrating ( about 50% more would pick it up), then have them perform the task and I would take them through it 1on 1 ( for those that were still having difficulties), and by the end of class, I had everyone able to perform it properly.

  • @Crystal-iy4si

    @Crystal-iy4si

    2 ай бұрын

    Thank you for recognizing that people learn differently. It's so true.

  • @danny2554
    @danny255428 күн бұрын

    Thanks John and Travis. I'm gonna watch this again!

  • @santiagorios4484
    @santiagorios44842 ай бұрын

    THIS CHAT IS PURE GOLD

  • @thehodler1213
    @thehodler12132 ай бұрын

    Wow! Two of the best at the same time! You need to do this again John.

  • @2ndarymotion
    @2ndarymotion2 ай бұрын

    This, right here, is the American Spirit in the flesh. May God bless you both.

  • @peacesmakers
    @peacesmakers2 ай бұрын

    Loved seeing Travis Haley on! #DieFree #ThinkersBeforeShooters #HaleyStrategic

  • @LastCaress7
    @LastCaress72 ай бұрын

    “Thinkers before shooters.” Heard that somewhere….

  • @ViewlessSquid
    @ViewlessSquid2 ай бұрын

    You forgot to mention Travis is garand thumb’s dad.

  • @joecam1167

    @joecam1167

    2 ай бұрын

    He's flannel grandaddy?

  • @bobbyberry5559

    @bobbyberry5559

    2 ай бұрын

    ​@@joecam1167....... isn't it obvious?

  • @WarriorPoetSociety

    @WarriorPoetSociety

    2 ай бұрын

    An oversight! My b

  • @bigswolletx

    @bigswolletx

    Ай бұрын

    Travis didn't have the experience as Thumb , but Travis Hailey is a very squared away dude. Recon and Blackwater team leader

  • @thewordman6013
    @thewordman6013Ай бұрын

    Travis as far as your son joining, I agreed whole heartedly that we need kids that come from solid family values to join and change the current military culture. My son joined the Marines a year ago and I want him to be part of the change!

  • @nomadx2142
    @nomadx21422 ай бұрын

    Thank you ,John and Travis.

  • @jaybalon982
    @jaybalon9822 ай бұрын

    Thank you Travis for your service and great commitment to defense of freedom

  • @handsmcneil
    @handsmcneil2 ай бұрын

    After The Bridge podcast took that long break I was itching for more. Re listening to old episodes. Then bam they dropped a new one. And now this. Good stuff.

  • @thaddeuscrane8235
    @thaddeuscrane82352 ай бұрын

    BOOM ! Enough said ! Two great patriots !

  • @bradpittman5075
    @bradpittman50752 ай бұрын

    Thank you John and Travis for your insight and perspective. I personally greatly appreciate it. Godspeed.

  • @xtrmqstable
    @xtrmqstableАй бұрын

    Great conversation gentlemen. I am proud to have been born into this nation where I can call men like you my countrymen. God bless you both and the rest of our American family.

  • @mariomifsud4650
    @mariomifsud4650Ай бұрын

    Great discussion John, thanks!

  • @lorrainefrost6285
    @lorrainefrost6285Ай бұрын

    Excellent show. One of your best guests.

  • @alaskajohn907
    @alaskajohn9072 ай бұрын

    Quite a different talk than the one with Tim Kennedy, and a much better one. I don't even follow or have any desire to train in a Haley class but I respect him for this and the work he is doing

  • @KimballPrecisionRifles

    @KimballPrecisionRifles

    2 ай бұрын

    That’s because Tim Kennedy is a tool and a half.

  • @Hardcordell80
    @Hardcordell80Ай бұрын

    I never really thought of myself as an introvert. I was a musician for many years and always had a ton of people around me constantly. But I have always really enjoyed being alone with my thoughts, and now in my older years, that’s more true than ever. Great observation fellas. This is all great information.

  • @jaybalon982
    @jaybalon9822 ай бұрын

    John thank you for your service as well for defense of our freedom

  • @shirolee
    @shiroleeАй бұрын

    The collaboration we needed!

  • @jimbolowe6076
    @jimbolowe60762 ай бұрын

    Thanks for providing a window into the thoughts and minds of two men's men.

  • @RunningWithSauce
    @RunningWithSauce13 күн бұрын

    You are both the man. John, I'm excited to take a class from the Battle Gnome in Minnesota in Sept! I wish you were coming too!

  • @joestukenborg1522
    @joestukenborg1522Ай бұрын

    Always great guest and podcast John. Thank you very much for your time and energy!! 💯👊❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • @tonysantana1493
    @tonysantana14932 ай бұрын

    Great show guys! God bless you both!

  • @billdittman680
    @billdittman6802 ай бұрын

    Thank you John for having this great guest on and the fantastic discussion you and Mr. Haley had! Your discussion has given me a lot of clarity on how to handle what is going on now and what possibly could happen in the near future. Thanks again, God bless and continue to fight and pray for Out country!🇺🇸🙏❤️🇺🇸🙏❤️🇺🇸🙏❤️

  • @jamesf3181
    @jamesf3181Ай бұрын

    Great show. Such a great, down to earth conversation by 2 well-seasoned voices. No chest pounding, just a calm and strait forward talk.

  • @jmenta77
    @jmenta772 ай бұрын

    Really appreciate both you guys.

  • @Chris-mz5xo
    @Chris-mz5xo2 ай бұрын

    Based Travis Haley over tim anyday. great interview

  • @KP-Pro2A
    @KP-Pro2AАй бұрын

    Hi Jon, I’ve lost track of how many of your videos I’ve watched… I’ve read your book and I have to tell you - every time I watch and listen to videos like these I feel like I’ve wasted my life, chosen the wrong path, I’ve lived a good life and I have a great family a wife who I love, two daughters I am infinitely proud of. But as a young man, looking for an escape from college, I wanted to join the Marines. I had my mind made up, and I let my mind be changed and was talked out of it. it was during the first Persian Gulf war in the early 90s, my brother was in the Air Force and I was going to be a Marine. I feel like I should’ve done much more with my life than I have, I’m thankful for men like you and Travis, and for the countless others that have made the ultimate sacrifice. Being in my early 50s now it’s far too late for me to do anything. I don’t want to be just a guy, I want to be a good guy. Reading your book changed me, I want you to know that. Someday, I hope to meet you in person at one of your classes and shake your, hand, look you in the eye and say thank you.

  • @johnthatcher9500
    @johnthatcher95002 ай бұрын

    Thank you, both, for sharing your thoughts with us.

  • @brandonm3375
    @brandonm33752 ай бұрын

    Phenomenal interview. Thank you for sharing. 🇺🇲

  • @andrewpayne2811
    @andrewpayne2811Ай бұрын

    The 2 men who define my warrior poet ideology!

  • @Bmansuperman
    @BmansupermanАй бұрын

    Thank you both! Much needed!

  • @thereisnoneRighteous-but-GOD
    @thereisnoneRighteous-but-GOD2 ай бұрын

    Thanks John.

  • @DrSpas
    @DrSpas2 ай бұрын

    He's the rral deal, respect. Great combo, these two, great interview. Magpul dynamics and travis haley changed the landscape at the time That's what originally taught me. Thank you travis for getting me through my tactical infancy and helping set my philosophy around it

  • @coachjoe4523
    @coachjoe45232 ай бұрын

    Great stuff! John I just finished the Warrior Poet Way. It really helps me reflect on my life past, present, and future.

  • @Sublimescatty
    @Sublimescatty2 ай бұрын

    This was a great watch to help me better understand myself, thank you!

  • @desperado8605
    @desperado86052 ай бұрын

    To both of you thank you for this. Been kind of down in pit lately and just listening to this getting ready today really helps

  • @michaelfinn1803
    @michaelfinn18032 ай бұрын

    Loved the conversations , really made me think once again.

  • @williamcooper2496
    @williamcooper24962 ай бұрын

    Great interview. Thanks for posting.

  • @rexrodecolt
    @rexrodecoltАй бұрын

    Thank you, Mr Haley

  • @boblancaster4316
    @boblancaster43162 ай бұрын

    I loved the comment, “quite professional vs silent professional. We must speak truth! Covering or lightening the impact of others blunders is wrong and leads to future mistakes. Love you John and Travis! Keep up the good fight

  • @joshmallett9452
    @joshmallett94522 ай бұрын

    Thanks for what you guys are doing. To God be the Glory! Keep it up

  • @markrobbins1018
    @markrobbins10182 ай бұрын

    These two gentlemen are arguably the best instructors in the business and it not only because their gun handling expertise its also their ability to share their knowledge on so many other topics as well as their unwillingness to compromise their interigity. I believe that certain men are born with certain leadership skills, but to be a great leader requires learning and these two gentlemen are perfect examples of leaders who have both naturally gifted and learned.

  • @DJTheMetalheadMercenary
    @DJTheMetalheadMercenary2 ай бұрын

    Outstanding talk gentlemen.

  • @Catechuman23
    @Catechuman232 ай бұрын

    Incredible pod!

  • @drewjames8594
    @drewjames8594Ай бұрын

    2 of my favorites together. Love it.

  • @Equip_Mint
    @Equip_MintАй бұрын

    This was a great podcast. 100% inline with all of the comment from both poet and Haley. Ie, the dragonfly was my first sticker years ago!

  • @russellwayne1524
    @russellwayne15242 ай бұрын

    Great content John! Really appreciate you and all you stand for. Enjoyed listening to you at the Cincinnati Convention last week!

  • @Nohcal
    @NohcalАй бұрын

    Fantastic episode. Thanks guys for your time,and knowledge.

  • @dangeles95
    @dangeles95Ай бұрын

    I really enjoyed those one John!! Thank you for what you do and help us grow as men!

  • @stephengarese9230
    @stephengarese92302 ай бұрын

    Outstanding Word!

  • @chadwickanderson805
    @chadwickanderson8052 ай бұрын

    That was Simply AWESOME!!!!! 🙏

  • @carlclark1689
    @carlclark16892 ай бұрын

    Great show and great content guys! Thank you for all you do!

  • @brianshuler6951
    @brianshuler6951Ай бұрын

    This is my second day in a row watching your 1+ hour interviews. Both guests have provided excellent input and food for thought. While yesterday's discussion with the owner of T Rex Tactical was more U.S gun/self-defense industry centered, this one was deeper into the national and international civil/political/military arenas. I greatly enjoyed the past 90 minutes and thank you both for your excellent presentations.

  • @crackshot-tv
    @crackshot-tv2 ай бұрын

    Siri go pound sand 🤣 John is such a crotchety old man and I love it.

  • @ahmadcampbell2626
    @ahmadcampbell2626Ай бұрын

    I had to watch this a few times... Guys Like this give me hope for future America

  • @KBeMaybe
    @KBeMaybe2 ай бұрын

    I put this on to run in the background and wound up stopping my project and just listening. Great conversation! Thanks!

  • @marklus406
    @marklus4062 ай бұрын

    Excellent video John.!

  • @ricardomagnificent
    @ricardomagnificent2 ай бұрын

    Wow. So much truth spoken here. thank you guys for what you're doing.

  • @practicalcivilian3259
    @practicalcivilian32592 ай бұрын

    Keep the great vids coming John we love to see it !!

  • @johnpeponcraftartandfamily8794
    @johnpeponcraftartandfamily8794Ай бұрын

    Amazing conversation

  • @bearman000ify
    @bearman000ifyАй бұрын

    Great Interview!

  • @stevewillsey9754
    @stevewillsey97542 ай бұрын

    Excellent. Thanks

  • @JohnHolmes-om8cg
    @JohnHolmes-om8cg2 ай бұрын

    John, love ya guys!

  • @jeanfoster5637
    @jeanfoster5637Ай бұрын

    Fantastic interview!

  • @scamperstephen4811
    @scamperstephen4811Ай бұрын

    Great ways of thinking, thanks mate

  • @johnlacasse8893
    @johnlacasse8893Ай бұрын

    Thanks guys... For this video... It makes me feel less alone... I have found myself lately feeling like that I need to "unleash" a part that I have kept and still keep locked away... But I am currently allowing my mind to "play" mental wargames as part of my preparation for surviving this... Thank you guys for everything!

  • @pablomarquez846
    @pablomarquez8462 ай бұрын

    Well done, gentlemen

  • @afdude2220
    @afdude22202 ай бұрын

    Great chat!

  • @handy9smith764
    @handy9smith7642 ай бұрын

    Great video ! Two good men ! We need more like you !

  • @jw5297
    @jw52972 ай бұрын

    Great content from two of the greatest men i can think of as examples in our lifetime

  • @taypanchalk601
    @taypanchalk6012 ай бұрын

    Great job

  • @directorDex
    @directorDex2 ай бұрын

    If he didn't say ATF I was gonna freak out

  • @TheOVprodigy

    @TheOVprodigy

    2 ай бұрын

    It’s a tough choice though, most of the three letter agencies are just as bad. FBI was just as involved in Waco and Ruby Ridge

  • @01tangodown
    @01tangodown2 ай бұрын

    Two of my idols right here

  • @panhandleoutdoors630
    @panhandleoutdoors6302 ай бұрын

    We need a Part 2 for sure

  • @ridingwithrooster4762
    @ridingwithrooster47622 ай бұрын

    Great video. Loved it

  • @bradypierron8736
    @bradypierron87362 ай бұрын

    WHAT A COLAB!

  • @savic408
    @savic4082 ай бұрын

    Great Vid. Good form John!

  • @ethandavis1472
    @ethandavis14722 ай бұрын

    Awesome!

  • @FreedomandBaconHomestead
    @FreedomandBaconHomestead2 ай бұрын

    Great convo!