Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
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 …
The US wades into Libya Brian M Downing The West is stepping up its activity in the Libyan civil war. Fearing that ISIL is establishing a statelet, the West is about to provide arms and more advisers to the forces backing the Government of National Accord. NATO troops and airpower Read More …
Is Iran wading deeper into the Euphrates? Brian M Downing Over the years, since the Assad government crushed peaceful calls for reform, foreign power after foreign power has intervened with money or arms or troops – Western and Middle Eastern, Shia and Sunni, Arab and Persian. Iran has sent money, Read More …
Revisiting the end of World War Two, again Brian M Downing Later this year President Obama will visit Hiroshima – the southern Honshu city that was destroyed by an atomic bomb at the end of World War Two. The White House insists that no apology will be made, but the Read More …
The Islamic world continues to break apart – Pakistan Brian M Downing Rand-McNally must be a busy place. Europe has seen the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia break apart; the Ukraine is being broken apart. The Islamic world has been even more tumultuous. The Sudan broke in two; Iraq is Read More …