Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing Diplomatic history knows of the Zinoviev letter and Zimmerman telegram. One day President Trump’s tweets may be recorded. Over the weekend he scuttled impending talks with the Taliban, apparently because of a recent terrorist attack. No one can be sure that in a day or two he Read More …
Brian M Downing SDF troops supported by American, British, and French advisors have greatly reduced ISIL territory in Syria. Only a small portion of land near Deir Azour remains. ISIL’s positions in Iraq are negligible too. Most ISIL troops fight to the end, though recently, near Deir Azour, several dozen Read More …
Brian M Downing President Trump announced a complete pullout from Syria late last year. Not long thereafter, generals and allies talked him out of it. His most recent “position” is to withdraw the bulk of the 2,000 troops but keep a force of 200 in eastern Syria. The pullout hasn’t Read More …
Brian M Downing [T]here is no such thing as an independent terrorist group and there never has been. [A]ll terrorism is the product of one or another regional powers meddling in the affairs of its neighbors. – former Iranian president Bani Sadr. Iran’s southeastern region is home to a restive Baloch population. The Read More …
Brian M Downing Backed by western advisors, the Syrian Democratic Forces, an amalgamation of Kurdish-Arab militias, has launched an offensive on a remaining ISIL position in eastern Syria. Reports indicate that, despite ISIL’s heavy losses and string of defeats over the last 4 years, resistance is fierce. The position here Read More …
Brian M Downing ISIL has been driven from large tracts of land which it boasted to be a restoration of an Islamic empire – a romantic idea that inspires many in the region. The twin capitals of Mosul and Reqaa have fallen to local forces supported by American advisors and Read More …
Brian M Downing Over the last decade, Vladimir Putin has embarked on a program of reasserting his country’s power prestige, often at the expense of the United States. Russian naval and air assets menace US ships and planes. The Crimea has been invaded and annexed, the eastern Ukraine is halfway Read More …
Brian M Downing As the British and Russian Empires expanded into Central Asia in the 19th century, remote and seemingly irrelevant Afghanistan became contested. Each side sent emissaries to parley with its tribes and peoples. Ever since the days of Durand, Kipling, and Ignatiev, foreign powers have vied for influence Read More …
Reviewed by Brian M Downing ISIL has lost most of its territory in Iraq and Syria, though it’s still present in the arid, sparsely-populated lands straddling the two fragmented countries. The Islamist group also has a presence in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and surrounding areas. ISIL calls this region “Khorasan” – a Read More …
Brian M Downing President Trump issued a warning to Pakistan last January and this week he cut $300 million in military aid to our putative ally. Other forms of aid are continuing, however. The reason for the cuts is Islamabad’s support for the Taliban, which has been gaining ground in Read More …