Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing The US full-spectrum pressure on Iran has thus far not gotten Iran out of Syria, isolated Hisbollah, fomented an uprising, or brought down the regime of mullahs and generals. The policy seems counterproductive, solidifying the guardians in Tehran, weakening Washington’s respect in the world, and strengthening Beijing’s Read More …
Brian M Downing Tensions between the US and China are deepening as they vie for influence, markets, and military bases in many parts of the world. Iran, with its oil wealth, strategic position, and large population, is clearly leaning toward China. It has recently signed an agreement on trade that Read More …
Brian M Downing Three explosions have hit Iranian targets in the last few days. A medical site in Tehran, the Natanz centrifuge site, and Ahvaz in the Arab Khuzestan province. Such attacks have been going on for well over a decade. The Mujahedin-e Khalq and the Arab Struggle Movement for Read More …
Brian M Downing The effort to oust the Assad government is all but over. The US and Turkey are still occupying swathes of the north and east, Idlib remains in rebel hands for now, but Damascus has clearly won. Nonetheless, the US has imposed stricter sanctions on Syria. Foreign countries Read More …
Brian M Downing Historical analogies The shift from youthful idealism to terror is clear in several countries. Russian youth went to the countryside to learn from simple people and bring reform. It didn’t work well at all and as tsarist repression continued, they became nihilistic and violent. Nechaev and Zasulich Read More …
Brian M Downing The United States and Iran have been at daggers drawn since the Trump administration accused Iran of violating the JCPOA and reimposed more and more sanctions. The policy is not bringing anything positive for the US or the region. Today Iran is suffering high numbers of Covid-19 Read More …
Brian M Downing When the Baghdad government ordered US troops out late in Bush the Younger’s second administration, it seemed we were rid of a bad situation. Shortly thereafter, however, AQ began to reconstitute in Sunni regions and Baghdad asked for US counterterrorism help. It was granted. In 2014 ISIL Read More …
Brian M Downing The situation in Iraq is worsening. The government is unpopular and struggling to form a coalition amid public unrest from militias, young people, and a burgeoning women’s movement. And the US and Iran are staring each other down there, at least when the issue comes to the Read More …
Brian M Downing Relations between the US and Iran have been varying degrees of bad since the revolution and embassy seizure of 1979. The JCPOA of 2015 opened the door to better relations. The Obama administration and Rouhani government were amenable but the mullahs and generals, who oversee Rouhani, were Read More …
Brian M Downing Unrest is again sweeping Iranian cities. This time it was set off by official deceptions about the Ukrainian airliner disaster. Iran has a long history of large-scale protests stretching back a century. Last November the government raised gasoline prices which led to jarring protests in many cities. Read More …