"I've certainly thought a lot more about things like tyranny and patriotism and violence. I think I f..." — Phil Klay

I'm not anti-war. I served in a war, and I served proudly. But just or not, necessary or not, war is the industrial-scale slaughter of other humans.

I got to travel around Anbar Province, had a great group of Marines who worked for me who traveled around Anbar Province. I got to hang out with a lot of different types of Marines and soldiers and sailors.

There's a tradition of public service in my family. I'm one of three boys that joined the military. My father was in the Peace Corps.

For me, leaving the Marine Corps was more disorienting than returning home.