You are listening to Warren the Rocks, a podcast on strategy, defense, and foreign affairs. My name is Ryan Evans.

I'm the editor-in-chief of Warren the Rocks.

I was recently in Copenhagen where I got to spend time with my good friend Martin Tam Anderson or M.T.

M.T recently left the Danish Army, which is how we got to know each other in the first place.

We met in Helmin Province Afghanistan.

I was on a human terrain team and he was a reche or recon platoon commander.

M.T. was the military advisor and also an actor in the Oscar nominated film Kregan or A War,

which in my view is the best movie about one of the 9-11 wars that's been made so far. He's also the host and

creator with his colleagues at Drive Studios of an exciting Danish television show

called The Hidden Face of War. Season one aired on D.R. 3 in Denmark and they are making plans for the second season.

In the show, Martin visits active war zones and speaks to people on all sides of the conflict.

Martin's truly one of my most interesting friends and I hope you enjoy the conversation.

So Martin, we met what, it's 2018, so we met a bit over seven years ago seven years ago seven years ago

seven years ago 2010 yeah late 2010 and in the town called Gerechk or just outside anyway.

Gerechke Helmin, province, Afghanistan.

What were you doing then?

I was a reconnaissance platoon commander

and I was trying to make the Afghan police work which was quite a job and I'm not sure I succeeded

but I tried and at least a noble effort and at least it led me to meet you.

Yeah that was fun probably.

I went there to help figure out some of the political dynamics there in Gerech.

I remember and your team helped out a lot.

...