THE WAR WITHIN: THE ROBERT BALES STORY
It’s March 2012 in a region of Afghanistan known as the birthplace of the Taliban. Staff Sergeant Robert Bales leaves his base–in the dead of the night–and lays siege to two villages, killing a reported sixteen innocent Afghan civilians. The reaction from the American government is swift and severe; provoking universal condemnation and a life sentence in Fort Leavenworth military prison.
Over a decade later, the lingering question about what became known as the Kandahar Massacre remains. Why did it happen? Anchored by 18 hours of exclusive interviews from America's most notorious war criminal and complemented by a chorus of people central to this polarizing case, THE WAR WITHIN: THE ROBERT BALES STORY is a 12-episode investigative podcast that will shed new light on the inner sanctum of the military. Throughout, the series will contain explosive revelations that run the gamut, from brain injuries, to potentially toxic drugs, to possible cover-ups by the nation Robert Bales swore to protect.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 36 minutes
- Episodes
- 13
- Years Active
- 2023
S1E12: Does That Make Sense?
The final episode of THE WAR WITHIN considers the impact of the Kandahar Massacre on the withdrawal of American troops from Kabul in 2021, while gathering final thoughts from many of the people affec…
S1E11: The Redirect
Episode 11 of THE WAR WITHIN unveils an explosive final interview with Robert Bales, recorded from Fort Leavenworth Prison in December of 2022, where the convicted war criminal responds to some of th…
S1E10: Help
Episode 10 of THE WAR WITHIN gathers and organizes details gleaned from Robert Bales' many hours of interviews to question whether an astonishing theory from one of the Staff Sergeant's former Privat…
S1E9: Command Climate
Episode 9 of THE WAR WITHIN tracks Robert Bales' various appeals efforts over the years – both in the courts and the press. Then, the story travels back to VSP Belambai in Afghanistan, where the clai…
S1E8: Discontinued
Episode 8 of THE WAR WITHIN investigates the checkered history of the antimalarial drug Mefloquine, which has been theorized to cause major side effects – such as hallucinations and homicidal ideatio…
S1E7: Poison Pills
Episode 7 of THE WAR WITHIN concerns the numerous substances that might have altered Robert Bales’ state of mind in 2012 Afghanistan – particularly, a controversial and potentially defective antimala…
S1E6: Of Sound Mind and Memory
Episode 6 of THE WAR WITHIN probes the controversial subjects of Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD in the Armed Forces, in determining whether Staff Sergeant Bales was fit to deploy to a warzone for th…
S1E5: BATs and HIIDEs
Episode 5 of THE WAR WITHIN sheds light on how Robert Bales' handles his present and future circumstances in Fort Leavenworth, where he's sentenced to life in prison, before asking the first of sever…
S1E4: Death Penalties
Episode 4 of THE WAR WITHIN delves into Robert Bales' contentious military trial, from the perspectives of both the prosecution and the defense. While the US government was intent on achieving its de…
S1E3: Bobby from Ohio
Episode 3 of THE WAR WITHIN tracks the immediate aftermath of the Kandahar Massacre, as Robert Bales’ family hires a prominent lawyer and navigates a growing media frenzy around the story – all while…
S1E2: Once Upon a Time in Panjwai
Episode 2 of THE WAR WITHIN covers the events of March 11th, 2012, when Robert Bales walked off his military base to commit the massacre for which he is now known. The incident is broken down with pr…
S1E1: Afghanistan's Most Wanted
In the opening episode of THE WAR WITHIN, you'll meet Robert Bales, an American soldier convicted of murdering 16 civilians one night during the War in Afghanistan. Deploying in 2012 to a region know…
Introducing: THE WAR WITHIN: THE ROBERT BALES STORY
It’s March 2012 in a region of Afghanistan known as the birthplace of the Taliban. Staff Sergeant Robert Bales leaves his base–in the dead of the night–and lays siege to two villages, killing a repor…