Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Bomb blast in Saudi mosque Another Saudi mosque has been bombed. Previous ones have been Shia and ISIL is thought to have executed them. This blast, however, targeted Saudi security forces in southwestern Saudi Arabia, not far from the Yemeni frontier. ISIL has claimed responsibility for it. How many supporters does Read More …
Locusts swarm in Southern Russia Crop damage is extensive. Along with low oil prices and sanctions over the Crimean anschluss, another blow to the Russian economy. Israel arrests settler extremists and places them under administrative hold This is in response to the firebombing of a Palestinian house which killed a Read More …
The black flags of ISIL have spread from Iraq and Syria to many other parts of the Islamic world, from North Africa to Central Asia. In recent months they have been seen in Afghanistan, or Khorasan as it is known in Islamic apocalyptic texts – the land where the Read More …
Cossack and Russian separatists clash in the Ukraine The multi-ethnic nature of Russia and the Ukraine is becoming increasingly clear. We’ve long known that ethnic Russians wanted to separate from the eastern Ukraine, with Putin’s help of course. Now we learn that ethnic Cossacks have also been seeking to separate Read More …
Kerry gets support for Iran deal from Sunni monarchies. Signs that NY senator Schumer opposes deal. Houthis pushed back near Aden, possibly with help of Emirati ground troops.
The nuclear pact inked by the P5+1 and Iran, though not yet ratified, offers the opportunity for Iran to shed its parish-state label and reenter the world of nations. It has been largely excluded since the 1979 Revolution but especially so after opposition grew to its nuclear program in recent Read More …
After Vietnam, the American military was scorned, the prospect of another war seemed impossible. Yet since then, the military has become lionized and has fought two wars and numerous smaller actions. Andrew Bacevich – West Pointer, Vietnam veteran, and professor of international studies – attributes this change to the creation of two powerful Read More …
Saudi Arabia building economic and security ties in region Saudi Arabia is expanding its influence in the region. It has already been instrumental in ousting the Muslim Brotherhood from power in Egypt and it is now inking arms deals, financial aid, and security arrangements. Riyadh wants to build its power Read More …
Fighting in Afghanistan is largely seasonal. As winter nears, soldiers return to their lands and herds. Fighting is light; bombings continue in cities and along convoy routes. With warmer weather, Taliban fighters assemble and conduct operations directed by regional and local commanders, all of whom answer to shura councils in Read More …
Is Taliban leader Mullah Omar dead? Reports are circulating that Mullah Omar is dead. However, reports of the deaths of Taliban regional commanders often turn out to be wrong. There are only a few photos of the reclusive Taliban chief; he’s been in hiding, probably in Pakistan, since the US drove his group out of Read More …