Downing Reports

Turkish troops cross into Kurdistan  The war between Turkey and its Kurdish population in the southeast is spilling over into Kurdistan. Turkish troops have crossed the border into Kurdistan in pursuit of PKK fighters. Kurdistan cannot be pleased by this, but it is utterly dependent on Turkey for exporting its oil. Iranian Read More …

Saudis to cut budgets Facing sharply lower oil revenue from plunging prices, Saudi Arabia announced it will cut state budgets. The Saudis are spending lavishly abroad on Salafi schools, Sunni military forces, and wars in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq. Lower- and middle-class Saudis will not like to see domestic cuts. Read More …

US warns Russia on expected Syrian moves Russia is expected to boost its presence in Syria in upcoming weeks to demonstrate support for the beleaguered Assad regime. It already has personnel with Syrian troops who are more than advisers – they are firing on rebel forces. Russia is thought to be about to Read More …

Islamist attack in Tajikistan Several security personnel were killed when their compound in the country’s capital  was attacked, probably by the Islamic Revival Party. Islamist ferment is underway in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The leader of Tajikistan’s elite security force is thought to have left the country to fight with Read More …

Putin says Assad willing to share power The Russian president says that Syrian president Assad is willing to hold elections and share power with a “responsible” opposition. Let’s see if Assad agrees with this and proceeds. The opposition is unlikely to trust Assad and furthermore they have the upper hand. Read More …

Russians serving alongside Syrian troops Syrian television has aired footage of Russian-speaking soldiers firing upon rebel position and using new Russian-made armored vehicles. Other reports, unconfirmed at present, claim that Russian aircraft are operating over Syria. Russia will not let its Syrian ally fall, though it may be amenable to Read More …

Congressional approval of Iran deal highly likely  The Obama administration needs only one more senate vote to assure it is able to proceed. This despite a concerted effort by some pro-Israel groups to block it. This is a win for the president and a loss for AIPAC. Majority of GOP Read More …

Al Shabab overruns AU base Al Shabab, an al Qaeda affilate in Somalia, has shown surprising strength in attacking and overrunning an African Union base in southern Somalia which is supporting regional efforts to stabilize the country. Al Shabab once controlled and administered large parts of the country before irritating Read More …

Downing Reports: Brian M Downing and the world at war Large gas field found off Egypt Egypt, in conjunction with Italy’s ENI, has discovered a sizable gas field in the Mediterranean. This could solidify authoritarian rule, even though it would reduce the country’s reliance on Saudi money, which is of course tied Read More …

Downing Reports: Brian M Downing and the world at war Not long ago, American power and beliefs appeared unchallenged in the world. The Soviet Union was gone, generals in developing nations were heading back to the barracks, and democracy was everywhere on the rise. We had, in the famous words, reached Read More …