Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing A Sunni-Shia conflict has been underway at least since Khomeini took power in Iran in early 1979. Fearing Shia uprisings and Sunni ones as well, Saudi Arabia and its allies formed a league to oppose Iran. They supported Iraq against Iran in the 80s and have aligned Read More …
Brian M Downing When Barack Obama became president in 2009 he inherited the Bush administration’s wars. The new president had good reason to think he’d be entirely rid of the one in Iraq, After all, the Baghdad government had ordered all US out even before he took office. Obama could Read More …
Brian M Downing Candidate Trump promised a more aggressive fight with ISIL and a return to military victories. He has not thus far disappointed supporters of tougher stances in world affairs. In the last month, a few hundred marines took up positions around ISIL’s Syrian capital of Reqqa, an unspecified Read More …
Brian M Downing President Trump ordered the Pentagon to present him with a more aggressive strategy for fighting ISIL, and the chiefs are about to offer options. One option calls for deploying more troops to Syria. The units would not be ground combat units, rather they would be primarily support troops to help Read More …
Obama’s foreign policy and the Nixon Doctrine Brian M Downing Politicians and the public at large are voicing frustration at the slow pace of the ISIL War. Some claim the administration doesn’t have a strategy. Many are eager to see more US troops sent back into the Middle East. Owing Read More …
Revisiting the end of World War Two, again Brian M Downing Later this year President Obama will visit Hiroshima – the southern Honshu city that was destroyed by an atomic bomb at the end of World War Two. The White House insists that no apology will be made, but the Read More …
From AL Monitor This is one of the benefits of the opening to Iran: the US can play one of against the other and better manage the animosities in the Gulf. The sectarian hatreds may get out of hand and endanger world oil supplies and economic growth. A smart Read More …
Brian M Downing The Iranian nuclear talks ended without agreement, except to extend the deadline on negotiations until next July. Over the next few months, world events may change the positions of the powers involved. The pause also offers time to better understand each power’s viewpoint. Each country, including Iran, 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 On taking the reins of power in January 2009, the Obama administration wanted to be rid of the Iraq war which its predecessor elected to begin six years earlier. The new and reasonably democratically-elected government in Baghdad had already ordered US troops out by the end of Read More …