Guest: Rob AshlarRecorded: July 15, 2026 Researcher Rob Ashlar continues his series with us on the Iraq insurgency, which had a powerful influence on jihadi insurgencies and politics ever since. In this episode, Rob takes us through the spring of 2006, as AQI (Al Qaeda in Iraq) and its umbrella head MSC (Mujahideen Shura Council) establish control over Anbar with their capital in Ramadi, the prototype for the later Islamic State caliphate. We also see the first tensions between the future-ISIS and Al Qaeda Central. *First - Ames updates the War Nerd's odyssey + Iran/Yemen briefAt 14:20 - Rob Ashlar joins, resuming his Iraqi Insurgency series Subscribe to Rob Ashlar's substack. Follow Rob on Twitter here.Read Rob Ashlar's article "Monotheism and Struggle: The Story of Iraqi Insurgency, 2003-04" in Cosmonaut. Further listening:-RWN #458 — Iraqi Insurgency, Pt 1: 2003-4-RWN #459 — Iraq Insurgency, Pt 2: 2005-RWN #622 — Iraqi Insurgency, Pt 3: Early 2006 Total time: 1:27:11Direct link to this episode's mp3 here * Buy John Dolan's book, They Should Have Been Hanged: War Nerd Essays on the U.S. Civil War Subscribe to Radio War Nerd at patreon.com/radiowarnerd Sound production by Telescope Audio