Obama and the generals

Brian M Downing President Barack Obama has ordered the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. Though how many and how fast remains unknown, it seems that only a relatively small force will remain after 2014 as part of the recently signed strategic partnership between the US and Afghanistan. Withdrawal will be Read More …

Trita Parsi, A Single Roll of the Dice: Obama’s Diplomacy with Iran – reviewed by Brian M Downing

Trita Parsi’s first book, Treacherous Alliance (2008), displayed a masterful understanding of the open and hidden dealings between Iran, the US, and Israel over the last thirty-five years.  This impressive follow-up study of events since President Barack Obama came to office in 2009 is welcome and exceptionally well-timed. The new administration Read More …

Vietnam and the New American Way of War

Brian M Downing  Here was a new generation . . . grown up to find all Gods dead, all wars fought, all faiths in man shaken.  – F Scott Fitzgerald Baghdad falls to US forces. – 2003 headline When Saigon fell and the last Huey was pushed overboard into the Read More …

Internationalism and Interventionism in American life

Brian M Downing  The war in Iraq and almost all foreign policy issues are usually seen in partisan terms.  Accordingly, the GOP is now the party of reckless wars, the Democrats the party of thoughtful diplomacy.  A look at our foreign policy over the last several decades, however, will reveal Read More …