Helion Talks - Bad War Stories

In this episode of Helion Talks, host Tony Garcia speaks with retired U.S. Army infantry officer and Director for Strategic Innovation at US Space Command, Dr. Ben Zweibelson, about his new book, Bad War Stories.

Zweibelson, a veteran of multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, shuns both heroic myth and overt polemic to deliver a raw, philosophical memoir of modern conflict. He explores the chaos, tragic loss, and surreal bureaucracy of war through a series of vividly recounted personal experiences—from the sudden death of a local child to the absurdity of burying a shipping container to satisfy institutional folly.

The conversation traces Zweibelson’s journey from a son seeking to understand his silent war veteran father to a soldier-philosopher processing his own time at war.

He discusses the catharsis of writing, the importance of sharing these stories with the next generation, and how his academic work on reconceptualizing war frames these gritty narratives. Throughout, Zweibelson emphasizes neither glorifying nor condemning war, but instead capturing its complex reality to better inform policy, public understanding, and the profession of arms itself.

Helion Talks releases new episodes once a month, featuring authors and historians from around the world.

Links:

Bad War Stories

Ben on X

Helion & Co: https://www.helion.co.uk

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X: https://x.com/Helionbooks

Produced and hosted for Helion & Co by UGS — https://undergroundstrategy.com

Music: ‘Legionnaire’ by Scott Buckley — released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au