Radio War Nerd EP #624 — Iraqi Insurgency, Pt 4: Spring 2006, feat. Rob Ashlar (Patreon)

Guest: Rob AshlarRecorded: July 25, 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

*Key Acronyms & Names for this episode:-Abu Musab al-Zarqawi ("Zarqawi"): leader of JTJ (Jama'at al-Tawhid wa-l Jihad), then Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)-ISI: Islamic State in Iraq, formed in 2006 rooted in Zarqawi's AQI. First of the Islamic State (IS, ISIS, IS-KP etc) groups-AQI: Al Qaeda in Iraq, formed in 2004 by Zarqawi, folded into Islamic State in Iraq after Zarqawi's death-AQC: Al Qaeda Central, led by Osama bin Laden-MSC - Mujahideen Shura Council, political umbrella including Zarqawi's org, transition group to Islamic State

*Maps

Total time: 1:27:11Direct link to this episode's mp3 here

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