Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing The Obama administration is reluctantly upping its involvement in the Syrian civil war. Though the White House offers few details, reports indicate that American personnel will arm and train teams of rebel fighters on Jordanian territory, then send them across the border to fight the Assad government. Read More …
Brian M Downing The Egyptian generals stand to come out of the present crisis more powerful than before, if they play it right. The old regime – Mubarak’s regime – comprised family cliques, business oligarchs, and the army elite. Two years ago, the army objected to Mubarak’s son as president-in-waiting Read More …
Brian M Downing Relations between the United States and Pakistan have deteriorated badly over the past year. Pakistan was initially embarrassed when US Special Forces found and killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden just down the street from a Pakistani army camp, but the country – or at least its Read More …
Brian M Downing The escalation of tensions in the Persian Gulf and attendant positioning of military assets in the region gives the impression that war is all but inevitable. Machinery is in gear and turning faster and faster by the day, as it was in the lead-ups to the Gulf Read More …
Trita Parsi’s first book, Treacherous Alliance (2008), displayed a masterful understanding of the open and hidden dealings between Iran, the US, and Israel over the last thirty-five years. This impressive follow-up study of events since President Barack Obama came to office in 2009 is welcome and exceptionally well-timed. The new administration Read More …
Brian M Downing United States President Barack Obama announced on Friday that US troops would be out of Iraq by the end of 2011, little more than two months away. This date was set three years ago with the Iraqi government’s status of forces agreement, but two US administrations have Read More …
Brian M Downing Conservative attacks on President Obama and his agenda are fierce and seemingly everywhere, especially on talk radio. The president’s healthcare program is alleged to contain provisions for government bureaus to decide who lives and who dies. His fiscal policies are said to have created or at least Read More …
Brian M Downing The United States will soon double the number of its troops in Afghanistan from about 30,000 to 60,000, and several other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries will also up their troop levels. The move comes with little surprise and considerable bipartisan support in the US, but Read More …
Brian M Downing Senator Barack Obama has repeatedly assured the public that, if elected to the presidency, he will withdraw US troops from Iraq, and in a manner more cautious than the way in which the US went in. He is unclear as to how many troops he would withdraw, Read More …
Brian M Downing As Hillary Clinton persists in efforts to become the Democratic nominee for president, she is angering many in the party. It would be better to say she is further angering them. She will also be damaging her image – and that may present serious problems in future Read More …