Episode 908: The Last 600 Meters The Battles of Najaf and Fallujah

Newt's World

Gingrich 360

News, Politics

4.7 • 6.3K Ratings

🗓️ 9 November 2025

⏱️ 28 minutes

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Summary

Newt talks with Michael Pack about his PBS documentary, "The Last 600 Meters," which focuses on the two deadliest battles of the Iraq War in 2004: the Battle of Najaf and the Battle of Fallujah. The film presents these battles through the perspectives of those who fought, without political commentary. It highlights the experiences of Marines and soldiers, emphasizing their courage and the challenges of urban warfare. The documentary aims to honor the heroism of veterans, particularly in light of Veterans Day and the Marine Corps' 250th anniversary. Despite initial resistance from PBS due to perceived pro-military content, the film is now recognized for its authentic portrayal of ground combat. Their conversation also touches on the broader implications of storytelling in documentaries and the importance of preserving veterans' stories for future generations. “The Last 600 Meters: The Battles of Najaf and Fallujah,” premieres on PBS on Monday, November 10th at 10pm/9c.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is an I-Heart podcast.
0:08.8	Well, in this episode of Nuts World, the two deadliest battles of the Iraq War occurred in 2004.
0:15.7	The Battle of Najaf was fought in the South against the Shiite-Madi militia.
0:21.3	The Battle of Fallujah was fought in the West against the Shiite Mahdi militia. The Battle of Fallujah was fought in the West against the Sunni insurgents.
0:26.4	The last 600 meters tells the story of these battles, not through narration, but through the words of those who fought there.
0:35.0	I want you to listen to a sample of the audio of this new documentary by Michael Pack.
0:40.4	Foreign policy, I don't make it.
0:42.7	I just deliver the last 600 meters of it.
0:45.4	The last 600 meters, the battles of Nudgeoff and Fallujah,
0:49.1	premieres on PBS on Monday, November 10th,
0:52.7	at 10 p.m. Eastern, 9 p.m. Central, and is absolutely worth watching.
0:58.6	I'm really pleased to welcome my guest and friend, Michael Pack. He is an award-winning documentary
1:04.4	filmmaker, president of Manifold Productions, and has produced over 15 documentaries for
1:10.3	public television, including
1:12.0	created equal Clarence Thomas in his own words.
1:34.8	My Michael, welcome and thank you for joining me again on Newt's World.
1:37.5	Thank you for having me back, Newt. Pleasure to be here.
1:48.1	The PBS premiere of the last 600 meters is on Monday, November 10th at 10 p.m. Eastern, significantly, the day before Veterans Day. Can you start by telling us what this film is about and why you chose to focus on these two
1:55.6	battles from the Iraq War, Najaf and Fallujah? Absolutely. It's not only the day before Veterans Day,
2:02.6	it's the 250th birthday of the Marine Corps, and these are mainly but not exclusively marine battles.
2:10.2	It's called the last 600 meters because a sniper in the film says, I don't make foreign policy,
2:16.4	I deliver the last 600 meters of it, meaning what he could see through a sniper scope.
	...

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