School of War Ep 253: Michael Pack on the Battle of Fallujah
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Dec 2, 2025 Michael Pack, a filmmaker and president of Palladium Pictures, dives into his documentary 'The Last 600 Meters,' focused on the brutal battles of Najaf and Fallujah. He reveals the journey of creating the film, highlighting the human stories amidst combat and valor. Explore the political decisions that influenced military strategy, the ongoing insurgency despite tactical victories, and the personal toll of war on Marines. Pack also discusses the importance of recognizing veterans’ service and the significance of moral injury in their experience.
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Film Focus Shifted To Human Ground Truth
- Michael Pack reframed his Iraq film from technology to the human grit of Najaf and Fallujah after seeing gaps in coverage.
- He focused on battle stories told by participants rather than politics to show what ground combat truly looked like.
Seventeen-Year Broadcast Delay
- Pack finished the film in 2008 but PBS repeatedly declined to air it for 17 years, calling it "too pro-military."
- Paula Kerger finally approved a national broadcast the day before Veterans Day in 2024, and it later streamed on Amazon.
Kinetic Victories, Strategic Limits
- Fallujah and Najaf were among the largest American battles since Vietnam and showed the limits of clear-cut victories in counterinsurgency.
- Tactical successes often failed to eliminate insurgent threats as fighters dispersed and regrouped elsewhere.