Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Where’s the Taliban offensive? Brian M Downing The Taliban offensive of last year was remarkably strong. They struck in the east, south, and the north where they seized the provincial capital of Kunduz and held it for several days. Special forces units, which are about the only effective fighters in the Read More …
The House of Saud comes down on ISIL Brian M Downing Saudi Arabia was jolted by three ISIL bombings earlier this week. One of them shook the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina – a centerpiece of the Kingdom which confers prestige from much of the Islamic world. The bombing calls into Read More …
Obama’s foreign policy and the Nixon Doctrine Brian M Downing Politicians and the public at large are voicing frustration at the slow pace of the ISIL War. Some claim the administration doesn’t have a strategy. Many are eager to see more US troops sent back into the Middle East. Owing Read More …
Is the United States breaking apart? Brian M Downing Previous centuries saw political consolidation into nation-states and empires, which dominated world affairs and became, apparently, an end point in regional histories. Many have fallen apart in the last quarter century. The Soviet Union and Yugoslavia are gone. The Islamic world Read More …
The battles of Fallujah and Mosul – and the future or ISIL Brian M Downing I may be crazy, but it looks like the Japs have quit the war, at least in this sector. – Message at outset of the battle of Okinawa Delete all after ‘crazy’. – Admiral Nimitz’s Read More …
Israeli security and the Arab wars Brian M Downing The promise of political reform and greater tranquility in countries around Israel is largely gone, at least for the foreseeable future. Only Jordan and Tunisia have representative governments. Elsewhere, civil wars, insurgencies, terrorism, and autocrats are the rule. To Israel’s west, Read More …
The Iraqi army falters, again (Will the US army step up, again?) Brian M Downing The Iraqi army, despite being humiliated by ISIL in 2014, despite training and support from the US, has failed to develop into a competent fighting force. Whatever offensive capability it has shown has come not Read More …
Kurdistan fights ISIL at Mosul Brian M Downing In recent days, Kurdish forces have engaged ISIL counterparts around the northern city of Mosul, which fell to the Islamist forces two years ago. The Iraqi army’s drive from the south was halted by fierce ISIL resistance and by turmoil in the Read More …
Netanyahu builds up his majority – and the “iron wall”? Brian M Downing Last week Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu replaced his defense minister with Avigdor Lieberman – a conservative who has found a niche to the right of the PM. Lieberman’s public support is in the Russian immigrant community and Read More …
Israel and Iran square off in Syria, as Russia takes notes Brian M Downing Israel and Iran once aligned against the Arab states. The partnership reaches back to Israel’s founding in 1948 and persisted even after the Khomeini Revolution in 1979. Geopolitics won out over ideology. The two powers diverged Read More …