Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing Discipline is essential to armies. It can be achieved through able and perhaps even personable leaders, an unquestionably just cause, pay incentives, or corporal punishment. Most armies have all four. The Russian army’s leaders are of dubious quality, pay is low, and there hasn’t been a just Read More …
Brian M Downing European militaries were once led mainly by aristocrats. Owning an estate bestowed the privilege of leading regiments and armies. The middle-classes were only sparsely found; navies were more welcoming to them. The Napoleonic conflicts and a few decades later the Crimean War showed deep problems with aristocratic Read More …
Brian M Downing The Russian army is immense and well-equipped and backed by a large air force and cyber-warfare section. The war is only in its second week but thus far it isn’t going well. The military faces fierce urban battles and guerrilla warfare which in months to come will Read More …
Brian M Downing China and Russia put aside centuries of conflict and forged an alliance to weaken US global power. Each power has pricked US positions along the Eurasian land mass, looking for weaknesses in Washington and its allies. China is an economic power with a growing navy. Russia Read More …
Brian M Downing During the buildup to war, western analysts expected Putin to understand military and global realities. The view here was that his campaign would be limited to seizing territory in the east and driving toward Kiev in order to force Zelensky’s hand. Others thought the effort would be Read More …
Brian M Downing The war has begun. Russian ground, air, and naval forces have attacked the Ukraine along several fronts. The view here since early December was that Putin would restrict his campaign to seizing the east and securing lines of communication to the Crimea, which he invaded and annexed Read More …
Brian M Downing Putin’s rule is highly personal and despotic. He’s built a cult of personality – something that Russians had hoped ended with Stalin. There’s no institution or process to ensure orderly succession, leaving Russia open to turmoil upon his death. That concerns many Russians. Putin’s foreign policy may Read More …
General Ivashov challenges President Putin, part one Brian M Downing Vladimir Putin is riding high. Oil prices are way up. His alignment with China is posing trouble for the US around the world and restoring Russia’s prestige. His position at home looks solid. A recent event, however, suggests disquiet in Read More …
Brian M Downing Tensions over the Ukraine have brought firm responses from the United States and NATO in the form of troop deployments into Eastern Europe and threats of sanctions. Turkey is nominally in NATO but has opted to triangulate between Russia and the US. A Russian invasion of the Read More …
Brian M Downing Israel and Russia were once enemies. Moscow backed Arab states against the emerging Jewish state in 1948 and then in the 1956, 1967, and 1973 wars. Things changed. Israel and Russia now have important ties based on trade and geopolitics. The Ukraine crisis, though seemingly beyond Israel’s Read More …