Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
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 hostile era The Soviet Union provided limited support to the Jewish revolt against British rule after WW2 – anything to weaken an opponent in the emerging Cold War. Moscow quickly shifted to Arab states, and Britain and France backed Israel. Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Libya, and others Read More …
Brian M Downing National security bureaus worry. That’s what they’re paid to do and they look for threats day and night. Sometimes they overstate dangers, often they seize upon worst-case scenarios. Israeli security figures must be looking on events in the US and wondering if fiscal and political problems will Read More …
Brian M Downing The effort to oust the Assad government is all but over. The US and Turkey are still occupying swathes of the north and east, Idlib remains in rebel hands for now, but Damascus has clearly won. Nonetheless, the US has imposed stricter sanctions on Syria. Foreign countries Read More …
Brian M Downing Moscow has had a number of disappointments in the Middle East over the years. During the Cold War it backed Arab states against Israel and its western backers and even goaded them into starting wars. The disastrous results were showcases of second-rate Soviet hardware and corrupt, inept Read More …
Brian M Downing Israel is more secure now than at any time since its founding. Regional enemies have either signed peace agreements (Egypt, Jordan), all but disintegrated from internal divisions (Syria, Libya, Iraq), or aligned with it against Iran (Saudi Arabia). Furthermore, Jerusalem has skillfully built ties with Moscow. Without Read More …
Brian M Downing Relations between Israel and Russia have shifted, even reversed, more than once since the former’s inception in 1948. This isn’t surprising given the region’s volatility and Moscow’s power vicissitudes. The Soviet Union, in keeping with its policy of weakening Western powers, supported Jewish settlers in the 1948 Read More …
Brian M Downing Escalation in the Saudi-Iranian conflict reached a new high last week with aerial strikes on Saudi oil facilities. The US immediately blamed Iran and expectations were that punishing retaliation was coming. Thus far, however, the US has only imposed more sanctions on Iran and sent an air 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 …