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Why the battlefields of ISIS were so horrible with Hollie McKay
Check out this book here https://amzn.to/2OJH1NJ
Interview Timeline
Hollie McKay is a foreign policy expert and war crimes investigator. She has worked in many areas hit by political, humanitarian, and conflict crisis and has written numerous articles on these events. She recently published a book on her investigations in Iraq and Syria and we discussed the war against ISIS and her work in Iraq and Syria. Only Cry For the Living (Jocko Publishing, 2021)
Comic writer/Sonic show writer Justin Peniston interview https://wp.me/p7CDU9-59x
1:10 – Hollie talks about how she got into war reporting and writing on ISIS.
3:35 – Hollie talks about when she started working in Iraq.
4:41- Hollie talks about what it took to get in country.
5:28 – Hollie talks about the book covering ISIS in Iraq and Syria from 2014 to 2019.
6:44 – Hollie talks about how she took care of travel logistics.
8:48 – Hollie talks about dangerous situations.
11:29 – Hollie talks about what she had planned for the book.
13:39 – Hollie talks about she chose the people to talk with.
15:56 – Hollie talks about being a female reporter in this region.
17:38 – Hollie talks about how she dealt difficult topics.
19:55 – Hollie talks about how she fact checks claims.
21:54 – Hollie talks about getting involved in the stories.
23:18 – Hollie talks about talking to US personnel.
25:01 – Hollie talks about changes she had seen over time.
26:46 – Hollie talks about refugee camps.
28:23 – Hollie talks about the spots she went to.
29:34 – Hollie talks about the protection she used.
31:44 – Hollie talks about being surprised by the age range of fighters.
33:52 – Hollie talks about how the women felt.
35:40 – Hollie talks about how prisoners are treated.
37:22 – Hollie talks about Iraqi treatment of prisoners.
39:22 – Hollie talks about foreign fighters.
40:44 – Hollie talks about the motivations for some terrorists.
43:11 – Hollie talks about the Yazidis.
45:38 – Hollie talks about brainwashing by ISIS.
46:40 – Hollie talks about systemic rape in war.
48:18 – Hollie talks about male rape of prisoners of war.
49:34 – Hollie talks about what she enjoyed during her time in Iraq and Syria.
51:13 – Hollie talks about whether the West cares about the area anymore.
53:08 – Hollie talks about how she took her notes.
54:50 – Hollie talks about not using a camera.
55:48 – Hollie talks about breaking down a few times.
57:59 – Hollie talks about trying to understand why people committed atrocities.
59:33 – Hollie talks about what she hopes readers will get from the book.
1:05:48 – Hollie talks about the war reporter adrenaline junkie stereotype.
1:08:05 – Hollie talks about what it feels like to return from a war zone.
1:09:33 – Hollie can be found @holliesmckay on twitter and instagram and at holliemckay.com
Links of interest
https://www.jockopublishing.com/only-cry-for-the-living
https://twitter.com/HollieSMcKay
https://www.instagram.com/holliesmckay/
Contact Information
For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram @crisalvarezswarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify Please see historyrabbithole.com for a list of my dozen or so blogs and podcasts. You’re sure to find something you like.
Guests: Hollie McKay
Host: Cris Alvarez
Tags: Books, audio interviews, author, podcast, Jocko Publishing, Modern War,
Check out this book here https://amzn.to/2OJH1NJ
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