Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing Success brings complications. Britain’s ascendance led to intensified rivalries with European powers and in time, resentments from the colonies. After World War Two, America found itself burdened as Europe decolonized and deeply resented for its economic and cultural dominance. China is eager to become number one. Read More …
Brian M Downing Eighty years ago, the American Century began. America had been rising for decades but the global context offered a propitious moment for the country to reach the top. Most European countries soiled soon be in ruins. Their publics would lose the money and will to rule far-flung Read More …
Brian M Downing Myanmar had been making strides toward becoming democracy, until the military stepped in last month. Spirited demonstrations against military rule soon followed. The army followed a pattern established in Russia, Belarus, Thailand and several other continues. Soldiers arrest hundreds each day in the hope detaining much of Read More …
Brian M Downing The Biden administration has three alternatives for Yemen: increase US involvement, step back and let the war proceed as it will, or press hard now for negotiations. Decisive military action The US may assess the present situation as one that can be remedied by immediate, forceful action. Read More …
Brian M Downing The war in Yemen has been dragging on since 2014, creating famine, deepening sectarian hatreds, embarrassing Western backers – but solving nothing. Initially, the Houthis of the Shia north drove deep into the Sunni south, probably in the hope of seizing Aden and establishing a commanding bargaining position. Read More …
Brian M Downing There’s no evidence Iran has a nuclear weapons program. The US intelligence community hasn’t budged from its assessment of 2007, though politicians and media outlets cling to what they want to believe. However, today Iran is avoiding JCPOA talks, increasing enrichment levels, closing off snap inspections and Read More …
Brian M Downing The Biden administration’s plans to return to the JCPOA are not proceeding well. Obstacles were expected from congress, K Street, and Middle Eastern allies but the most serious one is, paradoxically, from the power with the most to gain – Iran. Tehran has refused to enter talks Read More …
Brian M Downing Withdrawal usually means defeat, failure, and shame. However, the US will gain quite a bit from leaving Afghanistan. The US should withdraw in short order and leave the deteriorating region in the hands of the four powers presently working so diligently against our efforts. Withdrawal would be Read More …
Brian M Downing Late Thursday, President Biden ordered airstrikes on Iranian-backed militias in Syria. Early reports indicate the bombs killed seventeen troops. Washington said the strike was in response to rocket attacks by Iran-backed militias in Iraq. There was more at work than just that. It sent signals, as they Read More …
Brian M Downing The US has responded to the failing effort by sending in more troops, asking the Afghan government to reform, shifting to counterinsurgency operations, demanding cooperation from Pakistan, sending in more advisors, and increasing the number of airstrikes. They have all failed to halt the Taliban. It has Read More …