Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing The term “regime change” once had great attraction. A troubled land would be put on the right path, with American help, and democracy and prosperity would follow. But the ousters of Saddam Hussein and Muammar Qaddafi brought anarchy and havens for Islamist militants, and the idea fell into Read More …
Brian M Downing The Vietnam War had many ironies, twists, and convolutions. Villages, it was said, had to be destroyed in order to save them. Leaders saw signs of significant progress shortly before an unexpectedly strong enemy offensive. The values and institutions that governed America were close to collapse as a Read More …
Brian M Downing I voted in the 1964 presidential elections. I wasn’t old enough, but I went into a voting booth and pulled a lever. I wasn’t in Cook County, but I nonetheless took part in the election. Pulling the lever that November evening and watching events unfold over the Read More …
The Project for a New American Democracy © 2016 Brian M Downing A Washington think tank, the Project for a New American Democracy, plans to turn the crisis-ridden country around by supporting an outspoken, recently-retired general in a presidential bid. His election will be a precursor to a military takeover Read More …
The Project for a New American Democracy © 2016 Brian M Downing Genre Political thriller/social commentary (85,000 words) Tagline Seven Days in May, again. Synopsis A Washington think tank, The Project for a New American Democracy, plans to turn the crisis-ridden country around by supporting an outspoken, recently-retired general in Read More …
Brian M Downing In recent days we have learned of the secretive National Security Agency’s engagement in data-mining the Verizon system. Yesterday we learned that NSA was doing the same in a few other cyberplaces, including Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, PalTalk, AOL, Skype, YouTube, and Apple. I can only wish Read More …
Brian M Downing I’ve followed the campaign since it began an hour or two after Obama was sworn in. I’ve read the papers, seen the primary debates, and talked to friends, except for the ones who are diehard believers in one of our dollar-store parties. Tthere’s only one candidate out Read More …
Brian M Downing The US’s dominant position in the world is no longer the certainty it was only a few years ago. A major withdrawal from world affairs is thought inevitable. Fiscal crisis, it is often argued, will force cuts in defense spending and require the removal of troops from Read More …
Brian M Downing President Obama recently made a gaff by referring to a four-star flag officer as “General” McRaven. McRaven, in fact, is an admiral. For the president’s legions of foes, this underscores the president’s cluelessness regarding military matters. I presume they think that Bush the Younger and Cheney the Read More …
Brian M Downing Only in a country whose public is largely removed from military service, hesitant to criticize its generals, and susceptible to media lionization, could Gen David Petraeus receive the accolades he’s been given. Gen Petraeus has been lauded as an extraordinary soldier-scholar who developed counterinsurgency doctrines and saw Read More …