On episode 43 of the All American Legacy podcast, host Joe Buccino speaks with reporter Karl Zinsmeister. Karl has written several books about the war in Iraq over the years, but this discussion focuses on his 2003 book "Boots on the Ground: A Month with the 82nd Airborne in the Battle for Iraq." As the title implies, Karl was embedded with the 82nd Airborne Division during the early days of that war; in fact, this was the first book published by an embedded reporter after the invasion.The world has changed since 2003, the All Americans have deployed to Iraq many times since, and that invasion seems like lifetimes ago. Karl and Joe discuss all this and place the push to Baghdad in its proper context in the lifespan of that conflict. Karl explains how he experienced war as an embedded journalist and about the men he experienced it with. He discusses the planned airborne assault into what was then known as Saddam International Airport and how the All Americans reacted to its cancellation.Then, just when the interview is going just fine, Joe challenges Karl on some of the assumptions from the book which makes for an interesting discussion with an intense, impassioned writer.The All American Legacy podcast is created by the 82nd Airborne Division. This particular episode was edited and produced by our friend Josh Harrison.We ask that you subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and tell others about the show. Please leave us a rating and a review on iTunes as these help others find the program.

43 - Boots On the Ground l The 2003 Invasion of Iraq

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