Slow Burn Season 5 Trailer: The Road to the Iraq War
Slate Podcasts | Released: April 15, 2021

Episode Overview

This trailer for Slow Burn’s fifth season introduces the central investigation: How did America end up invading Iraq in 2003—a conflict now widely recognized as catastrophic, unnecessary, and built on mistaken premises? Host Noreen Malone previews a deep-dive, eight-part reexamination of the political, cultural, and personal forces that drove the U.S. toward war, presenting firsthand testimony and archival materials that reveal the complex and often overlooked developments leading up to the invasion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The War’s Catastrophic Impact

• The episode opens with a somber reflection on the magnitude and consequences of the Iraq war, emphasizing widespread agreement that the invasion was a tragic error.
  • Quote: “The 2003 invasion of Iraq was a disaster and a tragedy. It's a war that killed hundreds of thousands of people. Most people agree it never should have happened.” – Host [00:00]

Admission of Mistakes from War Architects

• The trailer features voices of political figures and officials expressing regret and responsibility for the flawed reasoning and claims behind the war.
  • Quote: “It was a mistake, and I acknowledge that it was a mistake. You said we knew where the weapons of mass destruction were. You were wrong. I express more sorrow, regret, and apology than you may ever know.” – Unidentified Official [00:10]

Complexity of the Decision & True Believers

• Malone challenges the notion that the tragedy of Iraq was sudden or unforeseeable, asserting that it involved a gradual, intricate process.
  • Quote: “But the Iraq war wasn't the kind of cartoon debacle where the cliff suddenly appears out of nowhere. So what went wrong?” – Host [00:24]
• The series promises to explore the mindset of those who genuinely believed the war was justified and even visionary.
  • Quote: “Some of the people who supported it thought they were going to remake the Middle East. They thought they were going to save the world. You'll hear from some of those true believers.” – Host [00:49]
  • Quote: “Oh, you mean liberation. I stick the word liberation, at least in my own mind.” – Unidentified Supporter [01:09]

Counter-Narratives & Dissenting Voices

• The trailer introduces listeners to intelligence officers who questioned the government’s case for war and attempted to warn decision-makers.
  • Quote: “I wrote a cable and I sent it to every single, I think pretty much every agency in the United States government everywhere. And it said, would somebody please tell me why we believe this guy?” – CIA Officer [01:17]

The Role of Fear and Misinformation

• The season will examine pivotal events—like the anthrax attacks—that amplified public fears and may have fueled support for war.
  • Quote: “There's an Arabic expression, haj iz il khawf in Kisar. The barrier of fear was broken.” – Interviewee [00:42]
  • Quote: “I spoke to my dad and I said, I just opened a letter that they think had anthrax in it, and—” – Interviewee [01:36]

The Elusiveness of Truth and Accountability

• Malone explores the lingering questions: Could the war have been prevented? Why did officials withhold or distort the truth?
  • Quote: “Why do you think he didn’t tell the truth?” – Host [01:45]
  • Quote: “I have no idea.” – Interviewee [01:50]
  • Quote: “How. How pissed were you when you found out?” – Host [01:51]
  • Quote: “Hugely. Hugely.” – Interviewee [01:55]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Host’s Framing of the Series:
  “I'm Noreen Malone, and on the fifth season of Slate's Slow Burn, I'm going to spend eight episodes reexamining the run up to the Iraq war.” [00:24]
• Determined Intelligence Officer:
  “Would somebody please tell me why we believe this guy?” – CIA Officer [01:17]
• Moment of Fear During Anthrax Attacks:
  “I just opened a letter that they think had anthrax in it, and—” – Interviewee [01:36]
• Raw Frustration with the Process:
  “How pissed were you when you found out?”
  “Hugely. Hugely.” – Interviewee [01:51-01:55]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – Introduction & reflection on the war’s aftermath
• 00:10 – Admission of mistakes and apology from an official
• 00:24 – Host introduces the season’s investigative focus
• 00:42 – Breaking the barrier of fear; climate of post-9/11 America
• 00:49 – True believers and their ambitions for the Middle East
• 01:09 – Supporter’s insistence on viewing the invasion as “liberation”
• 01:13 – The CIA officer’s alarm and dissent
• 01:36 – Anthrax attacks and their political impact
• 01:45 – Questions of truth and accountability

Tone & Style

The trailer carries a tone of somber retrospection, curiosity, and urgency. It balances sober acknowledgment of tragedy with the dogged pursuit of the story’s overlooked complexities and ambiguities, setting the stage for a nuanced, in-depth season.

Season 5: The Road to the Iraq War premieres April 21.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.