Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing The decades-old partnership between the US and Saudi Arabia is showing strain. Relations will worsen over US oil exports, human rights concerns, antipathy toward the kingdom, support for Israel, fiscal problems, and changing priorities. Oil production The cornerstone of the US-Saudi partnership has long been oil. Read More …
I long for the vanished gardens of Cordoba. However, before the gardens must come the fighting. Prince Feisal, in Lawrence of Arabia Brian M Downing The United States and Saudi Arabia have been aligned since President Roosevelt and King Abdul Aziz parleyed aboard a US warship near the end Read More …
Brian M Downing A new Arab Spring may be coming. It’s not as widespread as the one eight years ago. Only Algeria and the Sudan are presently experiencing serious protests. Nonetheless, Saudi Arabia is determined to prevent democracy from taking hold in the Middle East. It was instrumental in weakening Read More …
Director: Margarethe von Trotta Stars: Barbara Sukowa, Heino Ferch, Hannah Herzsprung 8/10 A biopic of the famed German abbess who lived 1098 – 1179, near Mainz. She is best known for her music, which caught on in New Age circles in the 80s and 90s. However, she also wrote on Read More …
Brian M Downing The Arab Spring was so promising back in 2011. In Libya, Qaddafi was overthrown and killed by a coalition of popular militias. People power in the Maghreb. A representative government was sure to follow, once all those militias disbanded and their leaders formed a transitional government. Didn’t Read More …
Brian M Downing Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Israel are collaborating to gravely weaken or even fragment Iran. The view here is the alliance cannot last long, especially if it succeeds against Iran. A triumphant Mohammad bin Salman would likely turn on Israel. His Wahhabi creed is deeply hostile Read More …
Brian M Downing Last month, the Maduro government appeared to be on the way out. Millions of Venezuelans were hungry and demonstrating angrily in the streets. Juan Guadio, a prominent opponent, declared himself interim president and urged his fellow Venezuelans, especially officers and soldiers, to rally to his side. Foreign Read More …
Brian M Downing The US has officially recognized Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights, the narrow strip of elevated land overlooking western Syria. Israel took control of it in the Six-Day War of 1967 and battled for it again six years later in the Yom Kippur War. The US has Read More …
Brian M Downing The American phase of Afghanistan’s wars began after al Qaeda’s 9/11 attacks. Since then, however, the group’s significance declined. The war became a Taliban-based insurgency, al Qaeda lost many leaders and fighters, and ISIL seized territory while al Qaeda was in hiding. Today, after 17 years of Read More …
Brian M Downing The Arab Spring of 2011 was so promising. Centuries of corrupt, oligarchic rule would come to an ignominious end and government would be in the hands of young, educated people. The smartphone and social media would overwhelm clubs and tear gas. A few years on, little has Read More …