Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing The IDF is pressing ahead in Gaza. Thousands of residents have been killed and about 1.5 million have been driven from their homes and pushed south toward the Egyptian border. The Netanyahu government plans to expel them altogether and wants Arab states to take them in. In the Read More …
Brian M Downing The Hamas attack with its torture, rapes, and mutilations was appalling. A firm, violent response was understandable and in accordance with international law. However, the destruction Netanyahu has unleashed on Gaza and its 2.4 million people is disproportionate. Whole blocks and neighborhoods lie in ruins. Reliable sources Read More …
Brian M Downing The Islamic Republic is on the move and taking advantage of Israeli-American missteps. The view here has long been that the US would benefit from better ties with Iran. Sunni-Shia enmity would ease and China’s rise in the Gulf would be put off. Israel would benefit too Read More …
Brian M Downing The Israeli government is being criticized for ignoring Egyptian warnings of a major Hamas strike. There may be a larger intelligence failure – one stretching back years and posing great danger for Israeli security and American standing. The present war isn’t just against Iran, Hamas, and aligned Read More …
Brian M Downing Hamas wasn’t thought capable of disciplined large-scale ground attacks. Israeli citizens and soldiers have taken serious casualties. Atrocities like those ISIL visited on Iraqis and Syrians took place. Israelis see them as the most recent horrors going back to Ma’alot, Lod, Munich, Russian pogroms, and of course Read More …
Brian M Downing Hamas has launched large-scale, well-organized attacks on Israel. They started on the fiftieth anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. There are similarities. Both entailed serious Israeli intelligence failures, high casualties, and international ramifications. The Soviet Union urged Egypt and Syria to avenge their losses in the Six-Day Read More …