Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Little surprise that there is a sizable ISIL following inside Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom’s Wahhabi understanding of Islam is militant and anti-western and meshes fairly well, though not precisely, with jihadi thought. Many of the fighters in ISIL and the several al Qaeda franchises come from Saudi Arabia and a Read More …
Brian M Downing Wars bring formidable changes to countries, even if they are fortunate enough not to have fighting on their own soil. The US was transformed by the Second World War and Vietnam, both politically and culturally, in the course of only a few years. The Middle East was Read More …
Brian M Downing As the Iranian nuclear talks neared preliminary agreement, and as the Houthis drove into southern Yemen, world leaders and commentators warned that Iran is on the rise in the Middle East. This, they continued, had to be stopped by imposing tougher sanctions and opposing the Houthis, perhaps Read More …
Brian M Downing The Islamist State is seeking to capitalize on its summer offensives in Syria and Iraq by establishing itself as the leader of Islamist militancy – this, at the expense of al Qaeda. Some militant groups, including the Pakistani Taliban, have sworn allegiance to IS, but thus far Read More …
Brian M Downing Islamist State forces have been blunted since their offensive into Iraq last summer. ISIL troops enjoy a considerable qualitative edge over the various Iraqi forces arrayed in front of them but are badly outnumbered by Iraqi army, Kurdish troops, Shia militias, and Sunni tribal fighters. ISIL has Read More …
Brian M Downing Kurdistan will stay within an Iraqi political framework, at least for now. After years of conflict, including being on the brink of war, Iraq and Kurdistan have signed an agreement for sharing oil revenues. The deal allows the Kurds to export their oil and gives them a Read More …
Brian M Downing The Islamic State (IS) offensive in Iraq has been blunted. Kurdish troops and the Iraqi national army have even made slow progress in pushing IS back. US and allied airpower has played an important role, hitting IS positions and convoys hard. However, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Read More …
Brian M Downing Three years after US troops left Iraq, Washington is considering reintroducing ground troops to fight the Islamic State. Not advisers, not beefed up embassy details; regular infantry and special forces battalions. IS’s bold victories contrast with the tired proclamations of aging al Qaeda leaders, and with the Read More …
Brian M Downing The Islamic State offensive in Iraq has been blunted, but forming an effective counteroffensive has proved elusive. That will first require a political agreement among the antagonistic Shia, Kurdish, and Sunni peoples. The Sunnis are only about 15% of Iraq’s population, they are despised by the others, Read More …
Brian M Downing The Islamic State’s fearsome offensive in northern and central Iraq has stalled owing to indigenous ground troops and Western airpower. In some places, IS has been forced to retreat, beginning a new phase in its effort to bring unification to Muslims of the world, whether they want Read More …