Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing President Trump arrived in Hanoi this morning to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. However, before the meeting the president surprised reporters with an unexpected announcement. The Vietnamese officials were all the more surprised. “I’m using this occasion to announce an executive order bestowing the Read More …
by Brian M Downing Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered US special forces out of Wardak province. It lies southwest of and near to Kabul, where he resides – isolated and dependent on foreign protection. The US soldiers are said to have assisted local forces in kidnapping locals and beheading Read More …
Brian M Downing President Trump announced a complete pullout from Syria late last year. Not long thereafter, generals and allies talked him out of it. His most recent “position” is to withdraw the bulk of the 2,000 troops but keep a force of 200 in eastern Syria. The pullout hasn’t Read More …
Brian M Downing Whistleblowers this week released information on the Trump administration’s keen interest in selling nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia. The deal was being pushed ahead without adequate scrutiny by Congress or the public – despite, or because of, considerable mistrust of Saudi Arabia. Congress and the public are Read More …
Brian M Downing Mohammad bin Salman, heir apparent to the Saudi throne, is using his petrodollars to isolate and perhaps destroy Iran. He’s already won the support of the US defense industry and Washington. They are backing his war in Yemen and ignoring his murder of Khashoggi in Turkey. This Read More …
Brian M Downing The US and Pakistan have been uneasy partners ever since the latter came into existence in 1947 and the Cold War began. Since then, Pakistan had several descents into military rule, started wars with India (and lost every time), produced nuclear weapons in violation of the NPT, Read More …
Brian M Downing [T]here is no such thing as an independent terrorist group and there never has been. [A]ll terrorism is the product of one or another regional powers meddling in the affairs of its neighbors. – former Iranian president Bani Sadr. Iran’s southeastern region is home to a restive Baloch population. The Read More …
Brian M Downing Backed by western advisors, the Syrian Democratic Forces, an amalgamation of Kurdish-Arab militias, has launched an offensive on a remaining ISIL position in eastern Syria. Reports indicate that, despite ISIL’s heavy losses and string of defeats over the last 4 years, resistance is fierce. The position here Read More …
Brian M Downing The US is trying to oust Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro from power. Though the US presently has little goodwill around the world, the effort has broad international support as Maduro’s government is becoming as repressive as it is incompetent. Several countries in and out of the region Read More …
Brian M Downing There’ve been signs of progress in the on-and-off talks to end the Afghan war. President Trump, applying a business-like approach, wants to liquidate the war and has mentioned halving the US presence there. The Taliban note progress in the Doha parleys and have sent an important figure Read More …