Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing Twenty years in Afghanistan brought only waste and tragedy. The army and state we built fell apart and the Taliban walked into Kabul. No meaningful inquiry followed, only occasional jabs in last year’s presidential contest. Most of the blows hit Biden but every president since the September Read More …
Brian M Downing Retired general and former National Security Advisor HR McMaster published a Veterans Day op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal. Reflecting on the defeat in Afghanistan and pondering future conflicts, he warns that leaders must have the will to see things through. Otherwise young Americans will not Read More …
Brian M Downing IS-K, heretofore a small network of Pakistani Pashtuns and a miscellany of foreign jihadis, is now taking in former Afghan army soldiers. The view here has been that tens of thousands of ANA veterans are eager to regain the honor they lost in the ignominious collapse last Read More …
Brian M Downing IS-K was lying low for the last few years. It set up cells in Afghanistan in 2015, comprising mostly Pakistani militants, hoping the success of ISIL, its parent unit in the Levant, would attract jihadis from throughout Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia. The new franchise would conquer Read More …
Brian M Downing The Afghan opposition may find that a promising path to bettering their country runs through Beijing. Former Afghan officials in exile will argue that China will benefit from leaning on the Taliban. The situation on the ground will make a stronger case. Beijing already sees the Taliban Read More …
Brian M Downing The Taliban, al Qaeda, and the rest The Taliban government’s ties to al Qaeda and a slew of related jihadi groups in eastern areas are an embarrassment that threaten relations with the outside world, even China. A look into the ties will not be welcome in Pakistan Read More …
Brian M Downing In previous essays, warlords, women, humiliated former soldiers, and anti-Pashtun peoples have been identified as bases of opposition to the Taliban. At present, women seem to be the most insistent and they will become an international cause that will burden the Islamist militants. Other groups will announce Read More …
Brian M Downing Shortly after the Taliban regained power last month, opponents rallied in Kabul and other cities. Afghan flags were waved to show rejection of the Taliban’s white banners. Most demonstrations have ebbed. Those by women remain though, as do their videos and blogs and day-to-day resistance. Women have Read More …
Brian M Downing The Taliban, against even its own expectations, has overwhelmed the Kabul government and apparently the organized Tajik resistance too. They do not yet control the country and their ability to ever do so is doubtful. The Taliban’s success hinged not on popularity or military mastery but on Read More …
Brian M Downing Not long ago it was thought that in the event of a Taliban victory, Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Hazara would put up spirited resistance in northern and central redoubts. American generals warned the conflict might shift from the ANA against the Taliban to northern warlords against the Read More …