Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
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 …
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 …
The battles in Baghdad and the future of Iraq Brian M Downing Just as Iraqi units were beginning to clear the approaches to Mosul and prepare to retake the city, the Baghdad government has fallen into crisis. Its reform efforts have stalled in parliament. Angry demonstrators broke into the heavily Read More …
Donald Trump takes on Saudi Arabia – and foreign policy Brian M Downing Throughout the presidential campaign Donald Trump has spoken freely and often harshly of many individuals and groups. He recently bluntly noted Saudi Arabia’s AWOL status in the ISIL War, even though it takes place not far from Read More …
Putin pulls back in Syria Brian M Downing As unexpectedly as it sent forces into Syria last fall, Russia is now withdrawing them – or least it has begun to. Monday’s announcement referred to the “main part” being pulled out. What has the short-lived deployment accomplished? What lies ahead for Read More …
The Islamic Republic of Iran has held its first elections since the inking of the nuclear deal and the lifting of sanctions. The results indicate a significant increase of reformers in the national assembly. Reformers are also doing well in the Assembly of Experts which will likely appoint a new Read More …
Riyadh has announced it would participate in coalition ground operations in the Syrian civil war. The statement loses boldness when it’s noted that there are no such ground operations in the offing. The Saudis have accomplished two things with the proclamation. First, they have, to some extent, countered the Read More …
Israel and Iran were once allies, both before and after the 1979 revolution that brought the mullahs to power. Hostility began in the nineties and sharpened as suspicions of an Iranian nuclear weapons program grew over the last decade. The recent agreement has done little to soften things. The Israeli government opposes rapprochement between the Read More …
North Korea detonated a sizable explosion this week. Pyongyang claimed it was a thermonuclear bomb but experts think it unlikely. Whatever the nature of the explosion, it has alarmed many East Asian countries and western ones too. This is what it was intended to do. The detonation is part of Read More …
Saudi Arabia’s execution of a respected Shia figure has led to outrage in the Shia world and concern in western capitals and human rights organizations. Protesters in Iran, upholding a venerable tradition, attacked and partially burned the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Sunni powers have broken or reduced diplomatic ties with Read More …