Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing Assad’s rule is over. Russia couldn’t come to his aid, Iran wouldn’t act on its own, and Hisbollah had been whittled down and decapitated. His troops looked around, saw no help, and called it quits. His family’s reign lasted 53 years. Once foreign aid vanished, it fell Read More …
Brian M Downing A week ago, Putin’s fortunes were promising. Events in Syria have complicated things. Turkey’s proxy offensive has turned stalemate into rout and Russia faces manpower troubles in its far-flung system. Ten years ago, Assad’s hold seemed to be slipping away. Rebel armies, backed by Gulf princes, Turkey, Read More …
Brian M Downing The Houthis began as a movement opposed to rising Saudi-Wahhabi influence in Yemen. They are Shia but their identity and cause are tied more to regional differences than to sectarian doctrines. The north has been fighting the Sunni south for a decade. After many offensives and counteroffensives, Read More …
While running tests on the microprocessor that runs the world’s hi-tech, gifted chip designer Ethan Alon makes a puzzling discovery: an undocumented section with unknown functions. He and colleague Rina Hardin unravel the secret and discover a clandestine network monitoring defense systems around the world, especially those in the Middle Read More …
Brian M Downing Benjamin Netanyahu has returned to power astride a stridently majoritarian religious-nationalist bloc. His initial acts were harsh crackdowns on Palestinians, dire warnings to Iran, and attempts to weaken the judiciary. In so doing he’s created fierce civil unrest, alienated a good deal of American-Jewish support, and threatened Read More …
Brian M Downing The Yemen war has been going on since 2014. It’s the most recent civil war since the 1960s when north and south were formed into a single country, despite widely disparate cultures and histories. Today, each side is backed by foreign powers – the north by Iran, Read More …
Brian M Downing Tensions over the Ukraine have brought firm responses from the United States and NATO in the form of troop deployments into Eastern Europe and threats of sanctions. Turkey is nominally in NATO but has opted to triangulate between Russia and the US. A Russian invasion of the Read More …
Brian M Downing Protests over the expulsion of Palestinians from their homes in Jerusalem escalated into violence and more recently into widespread fighting. The outcome isn’t in doubt. The Palestinians have only inaccurate homemade rockets and light weapons. The IDF has armor and airpower. Israeli intelligence has infiltrated Hamas and Read More …
Brian M Downing The Emirates and Bahrain have recently recognized Israel and hinted at meaningful ties. Other Sunni monarchies may soon follow. Jerusalem’s effort in the Gulf has been one of the most remarkable diplomatic feats since Nixon established relations with China almost a half century ago. What might rapprochement Read More …
Brian M Downing The US full-spectrum pressure on Iran has thus far not gotten Iran out of Syria, isolated Hisbollah, fomented an uprising, or brought down the regime of mullahs and generals. The policy seems counterproductive, solidifying the guardians in Tehran, weakening Washington’s respect in the world, and strengthening Beijing’s Read More …