Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Cohesion and Disintegration from the Great War to Vietnam © 2002 and 2023 Brian M Downing W Somerset Maugham observed in The Razor’s Edge, “For men and women are not only themselves; they are the region in which they were born, the city apartment or the farm in which they Read More …
Brian M Downing Five weeks on, the war has changed remarkably, welcomingly, and probably irreversibly. The Russians are withdrawing from areas northwest of Kyiv, abandoning pockets of soldiers and tons of equipment. Troops around Kharkiv may soon hie north too. Ukrainian troops will soon near the border with Belarus. This Read More …
Brian M Downing The Russian invasion of Ukraine is becoming increasingly murderous. Ukrainian soldiers and civilians are putting up fierce resistance and the West continues to send in effective weaponry. Wars, as John Nef tells us, bring innovation. One innovation can inflict considerable damage on Russia’s ability to wage war. Read More …
Brian M Downing The September 11 attacks brought overwhelming unity to the American people. Comparisons were drawn to the spirit that followed Pearl Harbor and led to determined campaigns in Europe and the Pacific. Victory came in less than four years. The al Qaeda attacks killed three thousand Americans and Read More …
Brian M Downing Rulers often establish their power prestige through military victory. Alexander, Charlemagne, and Napoleon stand out. Communism might not have long endured in Russia had Stalin’s rule not been infused by defeating the Third Reich. The same is true of the House of Saud’s rule. Abdul Aziz vanquished Read More …
Brian M Downing In coming years, a decade or two at most, domestic fiscal and political pressures will force a pullback from many of the US military bases in some eighty-five countries across the globe. For reasons elaborated upon earlier, Persian Gulf bases might be on the cut list. Oil Read More …
Brian M Downing Economic events jolt world affairs. Rising nations look for greater security, power, and territory. Borders change. European powers and the US pursued this agenda in the 19th century. Declining nations seek to hold on to what they have, along their borders and around the globe. Some rethink Read More …
I long for the vanished gardens of Cordoba. However, before the gardens must come the fighting. Prince Feisal, in Lawrence of Arabia Brian M Downing The United States and Saudi Arabia have been aligned since President Roosevelt and King Abdul Aziz parleyed aboard a US warship near the end Read More …
Brian M Downing Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Israel are collaborating to gravely weaken or even fragment Iran. The view here is the alliance cannot last long, especially if it succeeds against Iran. A triumphant Mohammad bin Salman would likely turn on Israel. His Wahhabi creed is deeply hostile Read More …
Brian M Downing Negotiations to settle the war in Afghanistan might be leading somewhere. A major Taliban official has taken part and the Trump administration is looking to get out of the failed venture. Should an agreement come, the Taliban will govern large parts of the south and east. They Read More …