We are live now on the conversations that matter of podcast.

It's not usual that I'm live early, but I'm live about five minutes early,

so I know people are gonna start to stream in

probably in about five to ten minutes.

And we have a lot to talk about today.

There's a lot going on in the Middle East and I'm looking forward to it.

I have Professor Rob Ritchie with me. Hey Professor

Ritchie, how are you? Great, thank you. Good to see you again. I just looked at the

bio on the Liberty website. I probably didn't need to because I actually worked for you when

I first was a grad student at Liberty, graded papers for you. You said I did a good job at the time.

Hopefully you still feel that way. But you've written a book on a history of warfare in the Greater Middle East and this is

available on Amazon. People can go check that out if they want you and two other LU professors.

But you've been in the military, I think what,

over 30 years?

Yes, sir.

And you are a historian when you exited the military and now you teach at Liberty University.

That's correct. That's correct. I entered the Marine Corps in 1974 in the first fiscal year of the

all-volunteer force force I retired in 07 as an Air Force historian so I was down

range in Iraq for a brief very brief period of time in a staff role covering the war. That's correct. So that I mean that must have

been a fascinating job. You're seeing what's happening right in front of you and you're

documenting it for the military.

Essentially that's what it sounds like. It is and especially in light of scripture you know you

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