Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing Long game Mohammed bin Salman may opt to slow down the Yemen war, use his and allies’ clout in Washington, and hope to change Biden’s position – or wait him out and hope for a more sympathetic president in a few years. No war, no peace. Support Read More …
Brian M Downing Mohammed bin Salman can’t be happy. A new administration in Washington is pausing support for his war in Yemen. Presidents Obama and Trump supported him, with varying levels of enthusiasm, but those days are over. The Biden administration is signaling a stronger stance on human rights. That Read More …
Brian M Downing The US has been involved in the long war in Yemen since it erupted in 2015. The Obama administration supported the Saudi-Emirati forces who backed the southern Sunnis against the northern Shia. It did so out of concern that amid the chaos AQ and ISIL were finding Read More …
Brian M Downing Warping our foreign policy States have to make policies with allies in mind. That’s a regrettable part of acting in the world. Ties with Saudi Arabia make this all the more vexing, embarrassing, and complicating – especially with Mohammed bin Salman calling the shots from the throne. Read More …
Brian M Downing The Biden administration faces several foreign policy issues. Some are the result of his predecessor’s inattention, inconsistency, and missteps. Others go back to the Obama and Bush years. One of the more vexing, longterm problems is our relationship with Saudi Arabia. That goes back to Franklin Roosevelt’s Read More …
Brian M Downing In coming decades Saudi Arabia could be much more powerful than it is today. Its young ruler, Mohammad bin Salman, has ambitious plans for himself and his kingdom. Israel and the US are helping him, for now. Those three states may gravely weaken Iran in coming years. Read More …
Brian M Downing The monarchies in opposition The Saudi monarchy adamantly opposed creation of a Jewish state. Abdul Aziz made that clear to FDR when they met on a US warship in the Suez Canal back in early 1945. Nonetheless, the US recognized the new state soon after it Read More …
Brian M Downing The US effort to weaken Iran is failing. It has alienated longstanding allies, strengthened authoritarian rule in Tehran, and shown the limits of American power. The US may now be holding secret talks with Iran that will allow the US to climb down from escalation. If so, Read More …
Brian M Downing Word came this week that the Saudi cadet who killed three American servicemen in Pensacola in January had ties to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Someone with deep hatred for the US and almost certainly for Saudi Arabia, or at least its monarchy, got through the Read More …
Brian M Downing Saudi Arabia has been accustomed to immense export revenue since at least the 1973 embargo. MBS, scion of the ruling House of Saud, was raised in limitless opulence and has ruled in the manner of a Bourbon or Romanov, though not an especially judicious one. The young Read More …