Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing Over the past 10 years, the Taliban have recovered from their ouster and established a presence in half of Afghanistan’s districts, where they have become a de facto government in many of them. The Afghan government is frail and unwilling to reform. The United States is war-weary Read More …
Reviewed by Brian M Downing Peace talks between the US and the Taliban are in the offing and the relationship between the latter and al-Qaeda will figure highly in them. Strick Van Linschoten and Kuehn argue that the two Islamist groups have never had close ties. This will strike longtime Read More …
Brian M Downing Hopes for a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan are beginning once more, but the problematic Byzantine geopolitics are not readily apparent. It is not the bipolar confrontation between Britain and Russia that it was in the 19th century. Nor is it simply the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Read More …
Brian M Downing Following the announcement on Wednesday by United States President Barack Obama, the US will have 10,000 fewer troops in Afghanistan by the end of the year, from a total of over 100,000, with another 23,000 to depart by the middle of 2012. With the reduction, the Read More …
Brian M Downing I know it was you, Fredo. That Osama bin Laden has been living comfortably in Abbottabad and evidently directing al Qaeda from there – all within earshot of a Pakistani military facility – has been a tremendous embarrassment to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), but it comes as Read More …
Brian M Downing The United States is seeking a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan. It hopes to reverse the Taliban’s momentum and bring them to the bargaining table through a counter-insurgency program, diplomacy with indigenous tribes and foreign powers, and the attrition of Taliban forces. This, the US expects, will give Read More …
Brian M Downing Much of the world is befuddled by the actions and ineptitude of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. It has led to speculation that he is manic depressive, an opium addict, or just singularly unskilled in politics. As with assessing a figure as “evil” or “insane,” this tends to Read More …
Brian M Downing Russia’s use of its military and security forces has historically not been known for economy of force or strategic subtlety. Injudicious invaders and troublesome satellites have been met with overwhelming force. However, in the decades after Joseph Stalin and his successors belatedly departed the scene, Russia has Read More …
Brian M Downing Pakistan has closed the legendary Khyber Pass through flow critical NATO supply convoys. The stated reason for the closing, now in its fifth day, is in retaliation for an attack inside Pakistani territory by American forces on a Taliban band that had sought safe haven in Pakistan. Read More …
Brian M Downing Russia’s use of its military and security forces has historically not been known for economy of force or strategic subtlety. Injudicious invaders and troublesome satellites have been met with overwhelming force. However, in the decades after Stalin and his successors belatedly departed the scene, Russia has used Read More …