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 …
The battles of Fallujah and Mosul – and the future or ISIL Brian M Downing I may be crazy, but it looks like the Japs have quit the war, at least in this sector. – Message at outset of the battle of Okinawa Delete all after ‘crazy’. – Admiral Nimitz’s Read More …
Netanyahu builds up his majority – and the “iron wall”? Brian M Downing Last week Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu replaced his defense minister with Avigdor Lieberman – a conservative who has found a niche to the right of the PM. Lieberman’s public support is in the Russian immigrant community and Read More …
The US wades into Libya Brian M Downing The West is stepping up its activity in the Libyan civil war. Fearing that ISIL is establishing a statelet, the West is about to provide arms and more advisers to the forces backing the Government of National Accord. NATO troops and airpower 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 …
During World War Two, soldiers of the American 1st Infantry Division observed that the army consisted of them and millions of rear-echelon troops. Big Red One indeed led the way into North Africa and Normandy, but the comment was more lament or boast than fact. Special forces troops of Afghanistan Read More …
ISIL conquered a large amount of territory in June 2014, scattering Iraqi troops and startling the world. Its fighters were the best in the region, perhaps the best the region has seen in centuries. However, after their impressive offensive they were overextended and outnumbered. Since then, they have suffered setbacks Read More …
Russia departed unceremoniously from Afghanistan in 1988. The US left a few years later, with more dignity, on the winning side, but exasperated by postwar infighting. Islamist terrorism brought the US back hurriedly in 2001. The spread of Islamist militancy is leading to greater Russian interest. Russia has recently parleyed Read More …
The Taliban haven’t heard that the fighting season ended in November. Less an insurgent force and more a conventional army fighting above ground, they continue to press their offensive in the southwestern province of Helmand and have taken key districts. Helmand may fall, imperiling the government’s position in adjacent Kandahar Read More …