Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing The US has been aligned with Saudi Arabia since the 1940s when Washington determined it had expended too much domestic oil in World War Two. Saudi oil was coming on line and deemed an attractive alternative to further depletion of tracts at home. Ties continued for several Read More …
Brian M Downing The US has entered into an alliance with Saudi Arabia, Israel, and several Gulf states to weaken Iran. The project is based less on American security interests than on those of the partners. It aims to weaken Iran by imposing sanctions, supporting insurgencies, and encouraging internal opposition Read More …
Brian M Downing Sunday marks the centenary of France’s surrender to Germany, ending the Great War (1914-1918). Though the guns fell silent, the effects of the war continued to reverberate across the continent for decades. Historians will debate many aspects of the Great War but they can agree that the Read More …
Brian M Downing Regime strengthened The entente’s efforts to weaken the Iranian government may have the reverse effect, especially if more aggressive actions are taken. The importance attached to urban middle classes is overestimated owing to their parallels to westernized people and an attendant faith that they must represent Iran’s Read More …
Brian M Downing It’s been 73 years since the US dropped atomic bombs on Germany, ending the stalemated world war and the Third Reich as well. The anniversary scarcely elicited mention in world media, though the occasion was marked in Berlin. The bombs were dropped a year after the failure Read More …
Brian M Downing A Sunni-Shia conflict has been underway at least since Khomeini took power in Iran in early 1979. Fearing Shia uprisings and Sunni ones as well, Saudi Arabia and its allies formed a league to oppose Iran. They supported Iraq against Iran in the 80s and have aligned Read More …
Brian M Downing Sectarian conflict, chiefly between Saudi Arabia and Iran, has been underway for decades. Based at least as much on religious hatred as national security, it reached intense levels with the Iran-Iraq War of the 80s and took hundreds of thousands of lives. Afterward, animosities lessened but picked up Read More …
Modern War and the Decline of the Old Regime, 1763-1856 © 2001 Brian M. Downing The basis of democratization is everywhere purely military in character. . . . Military discipline meant the triumph of democracy because the community wished and was compelled to secure the cooperation of the non-aristocratic masses Read More …
Brian M Downing Wars bring formidable changes to countries, even if they are fortunate enough not to have fighting on their own soil. The US was transformed by the Second World War and Vietnam, both politically and culturally, in the course of only a few years. The Middle East was Read More …
Brian M Downing A rebellion in Mali that might have otherwise excited little interest commanded international attention when word came of its hardline Islamist nature and, more importantly, its ties to al Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM). In recent days, French, Malian, and other African troops have launched attacks into Read More …