Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Massacres in Paris and San Bernardino have underscored the slow progress in the ISIL War. The Islamist army’s defeats at Kobane and Sinjar barely register. Nor is it remembered that last summer Generals Dempsey and Odierno cautioned that the war would be a long one, lasting decades. Yet, many Americans Read More …
Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of a 34-member alliance to fight terrorism in the Islamic world.1 It comes after growing annoyance in the West over the Islamic world’s paltry response to ISIL and its obvious preference to let the West do the heavy lifting in Syria and Iraq. Anti-terror Read More …
Expectations that Iran would move closer to the US after the nuclear deal have to be put aside, at least for the foreseeable future. Supreme Leader Khameini has closed off further dialog with Washington, synchronized the media with the mullahs and generals, tested the limits of the nuclear deal, and aligned his country’s foreign policy Read More …
The Afghan War is seasonal. Most ground fighting takes place from spring to early winter, after which intermittent bombings and terrorist strikes occur. The Taliban showed considerable strength in this year’s fighting season, more than thought possible by many observers (yes, including me). The Taliban nonetheless face critical fissures that Read More …
The grisly executions of last year and the recent Paris attacks have brought increased commitment from major powers to fight ISIL. The US, France, Germany, and Britain are conducting or supporting airstrikes in Syria and Iraq. Russia purports to be doing the same in Syria, and occasionally does. The agreement Read More …
Over the last eighteen months the territory ISIL controls in Iraq and Syria has shrunk significantly. The Kurds have driven its forces out of most of their autonomous region. The Iraqi army, despite egregious corruption and a dearth of fighting spirit, has retaken Tikrit and is encircling Ramadi. ISIL, and Islamist militancy Read More …
The Iran nuclear deal led many to think that Iran was opening up to the world, including the West, especially the US. Theocracy would give way to reform. This, it would appear, was a false hope. Americans have been detained and convicted under unclear circumstances. Iranian troops have deployed to Read More …
ISIL expanded suddenly over the last year and a half, from half-forgotten bombing outfit in western Iraq to regional danger. It has won the allegiance of unaffiliated Islamist groups as well as those formerly bound to al Qaeda. Attention is on North Africa and the Middle East, but conditions conducive to Read More …
The Syrian civil war, despite movement of the lines here and there, has been stalemated for well over a year. The ongoing Russian-Iranian offensive may retake Aleppo and Idlib, though without having the momentum or numbers to defeat the rebels. World leaders are looking for a solution but trust is low Read More …
Only a few years ago the US was confident it had left behind combat operations in the Middle East. It’s back, albeit reluctantly. The US has bolstered its training mission in Iraq and begun air support missions. To the west, in Syria, the US failed to build a rebel force Read More …