Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing Recent events have shown the ineffectiveness of armies in the Middle East, from Libya to Iraq, and extending beyond the region into Afghanistan. Training missions can teach troops to shoot and march and salute, but not to hold up under fire. Several armies have struggled or collapsed Read More …
Brian M Downing In June of 2014, well equipped Iraqi troops, trained by the US and other powers, collapsed before a smaller and less well equipped force led by men who had little military experience until they plunged into wars in Iraq and Syria. Shadows of doubt have been cast Read More …
Brian M Downing The four armed groups warring in Iraq – Islamic State (IS), the Kurdish peshmerga, the Iraqi army, and Sunni tribal levies – have strengths and weaknesses. They also have varying levels of foreign support and capacities for cooperation. IS troops have a marked qualitative edge but are Read More …
Brian M Downing In June, well equipped Iraqi troops trained by the US and other powers collapsed before a smaller and less well equipped force led by men who had little military experience until they plunged into wars in Iraq and Syria. Shadows of doubt have been cast on the Read More …
Brian M Downing The West and key Gulf states are trying to find a political arrangement to bring ground troops to bear on the Islamic State. Clearly, Kurdish troops are one of the most promising options. Though landlocked, Kurdistan’s oil resources, militias, and increasing autonomy from Baghdad will make it Read More …
Brian M Downing The astonishing and alarming Islamic State (IS) drive into northern Iraq and Kurdistan has led to American airstrikes and also to arms sales and additional support from Britain, France, and Germany to defeat the militants. The US response comes amid considerable criticism over the Obama administration’s less Read More …
Brian M Downing Sunnis ruled Iraq since the country’s creation after World War I. That state of affairs was overturned, unjustly and unwisely in their view, in 2003 when Saddam Hussein was ousted and a Shia majority came to power shortly thereafter. Though composing only about 16% of the population, Read More …
Brian M Downing Russia’s annexation of the Crimea has raised national security concerns in Eastern Europe, especially in Poland and the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Are they next on Vladimir Putin’s agenda of restoring the Great Russian empire? How reliable are the military forces of Eastern Europe? Read More …
Brian M Downing Russian actions in the Eastern Ukraine have taken hold of world attention. The US has responded by sending military aircraft to Poland and Rumania and by seeking to coordinate with EU partners an array of sanctions on Russian political and business elites. Responses, however, will be constrained Read More …
Brian M Downing Russian leader Vladimir Putin has audaciously seized the Crimea and positioned troops to move into eastern Ukraine and the Trans-Dniester region of Moldova. The Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are to say the least dismayed and look upon their sizable ethnic Russian populations with suspicion. Read More …