Invasion of Iraq 2003 - How to Fight as a Military Coalition

In March 2003, a US led coalition invaded Iraq to oust Saddam Hussein. In this video we look at how that coalition was formed, and how British and American forces worked together.

Carney, Stephen A. Allied Participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Washington, D.C.: United States Army, Center of Military History, 2013.
Fontenot, Gregory, E. J. Degen, and David Tohn. On Point: The United States Army in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2005.
Gordon, Michael, and Bernard E. Trainor. Cobra 2.: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq. London, UK: Atlantic Books, 2007.
Groen, Michael S. With the 1st Marine Division in Iraq, 2003. Quantico, VA: History Division Marine Corps University , 2006.
Lambeth, Benjamin S. The Unseen War: Allied Air Power and the Takedown of Saddam Hussein. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2013.
Rossiter, Mike. Target Basra. London, UK: Corgi Books, 2009.
Wathen, Alexander M. The Miracle of Operation Iraqi Freedom Airspace Management. Montgomery, AL: Air Force, Air University, 2005.

[edwardloomis]

I was honored to interact with three different British Army units in West Berlin when the Wall was still up: Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Royal Highland Fusiliers and the Black Watch. Their presence at our annual Thanksgiving dinners made them even more special. They also improved our training by letting us use their urban warfare site, Ruhleben, breaking the monotony of repeated training cycles at our own Doughboy City.

[bigsarge]

I was there during OIF07-09, and we continued to function professionally and respectfully with all the various coalition front-line and support units we interacted with.

[timothy]

i served as a corspman during the GWOT years- me and my marines got to work and train alongside the brits briefly- we absolutely loved them- great dudes great sense of humor too- nothing but love and respect from us

[shinsekai]

After the war, the Five Eyes proceed to globally dominate the world by the name Five Guys

[soral]

Beautifully concise and informative content! Smooth voice as well as consistent audio mixing.

[jorgeclarkson]

We have our differences but it's pretty cool that Britain and the US are so close.

[Mariner]

Was there off the Kuwaiti & Saudi coast from Shield to Storm - Navy Seahawk crewman flying endless patrol missions. Returned six more times through to 1998 and my last cruise.

[evilguy]

Neat to see the soldier at 0:49 hope out of the humvee with a completely slick M4.

[tim-dffu]

@8:43 Apparently the air controllers primary system went down. All the techs are using laptops instead of their primary monitors. You don't see that in the prior photos.

[haskins_halligan]

2:43 that's some really good images of prime woodland camo I have never seen ever before

[Suprfur]

The greatest thing about the US-UK relationship is that we're not actually allies or friends. Were more like Brothers/Sisters in a dysfunctional family that bands together to kick ass in times of crisis.

[Aredel]

"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what me and the boys are about to do to you, for our countries." - JFK, probably.

[derrickstorm]

A bit ironic how Iraq was the best cooperation between USA and UK on the ground, while everything else about it turned out to be one of the biggest betrayals of trust in the countries

[kanrakucheese]

In his book Michael Waltz claims that French forces were completely the opposite end. He describes French as non-cooperative, and using equipment (like radios) completely incompatible with NATO standardization agreements that would make communication difficult even if they were cooperative and there was zero language barrier. Of course, Waltz has time and again shown he's a total weasel only interest in himself, so who knows how much of the book is accurate. I'd love to hear alternate sources on the matter.

[FreddyRangel]

I don’t think the UK truly understands how much America appreciates Britain’s support during the Iraq War. We will never forget that when called upon, Britain supported us. America has no greater friend in the world than the United Kingdom.

[dodotesla]

Babe wake up The intel report just posted

[louwn]

4:30 to only true battle buddy's share helmets.

[allcoolmrdon]

It’s sometimes interesting to take a step back and consider how it wouldn’t be unimaginable for the UK and US to have gone to war in the early 20th century

[xis]

Let us not forget these lessons learned. Multinational operations will be even more important in the future

[LiberRaider]

I was in high school when all this went down. I’ll never lose the love in my heart for the men and women from the UK that we’re willing to sacrifice it all as if they had been attacked themselves. Still chokes me up. Love you guys.