Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing Serious negotiations have been underway to find a settlement for the eighteen-year war there. Actually, wars have been going on there since 1979 when local insurrections brought instability and Soviet intervention. All sides are weary of war. China wants stability to better exploit the country’s mineral wealth Read More …
Tess (Roman Polanski, 1979) – 8.5/10 I’ve wanted to see this since it came out, in part because my gf back then looked a bit like Nastassja Kinski and had the somber demeanor of the title character. Well, lo and behold, I relinked with her a couple years ago after Read More …
Brian M Downing War seemed imminent not long ago. Not between Saudi Arabia and Iran, of course, but between the US and Iran. Saudi Arabia and its allies have been hostile toward Iran for generations and their predecessors have despised Shiiism for almost fourteen centuries. They’ve prevailed upon an inexperienced, Read More …
Brian M Downing Last week President Trump halted strikes on Iran which he ordered in retaliation for attacks on a US drone and several foreign tankers. He avers it was because of last-minute casualty estimates from generals, but this is unlikely. More likely it was because of opposition from the Read More …
Brian M Downing The Trump administration’s Iran policy stumbles ahead. An attack was authorized, then suddenly called back. The president spoke of making Iran great again, then returned to threats. The only clear thing coming from last week’s step back from war is that our generals and admirals are not Read More …
Brian M Downing Late last week President Trump ordered airstrikes on Iran in retaliation for attacks on a US drone and several foreign oil tankers. The reprisals were called off not long before launch. The president claims he canceled them because generals apprised him of sobering casualty estimates late in Read More …
Brian M Downing Over the last week Iran has been accused of attacking more oil tankers near its shores. It responded to the deepening tensions by announcing intentions to exceed uranium-enrichment limits set by the JCPOA – an agreement the US walked away from long ago. The US is blaming Read More …
Brian M Downing The Trump foreign policy team came to power amid growing competition between the US and a Sino-Russian alignment. That alignment is determined to reduce American power in the world and replace it with their own. The competition has been underway since China emerged as an economic power Read More …
Brian M Downing This week marks thirty years since the remarkable student demonstrations in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. The movement is often seen as a pivotal moment in China’s history. A potent democratic opposition challenged a statist leadership. It was crushed by the People’s Liberation Army. Estimates vary but at least Read More …
Brian M Downing One of the most divisive decisions the Supreme Court has ever issued was Roe v Wade (1973). Brown v Board of Education (1954) was unpopular, especially in the South, but it was a unanimous decision and in time, and after federal troops were sent in, school integration Read More …