Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Brian M Downing In recent years American policies in the Middle East have met with mixed success. Key allies are reasonably secure and arms sales are on the rise. However, intermittent efforts to liberalize the region have brought more chaos than democracy, in large part because most Arab rulers oppose Read More …
Brian M Downing President Obama recently made a gaff by referring to a four-star flag officer as “General” McRaven. McRaven, in fact, is an admiral. For the president’s legions of foes, this underscores the president’s cluelessness regarding military matters. I presume they think that Bush the Younger and Cheney the Read More …
Brian M Downing The United States faces another embarrassment amid its difficult wars in the Islamic world. Following close on the heels of atrocities and miscues in Afghanistan, it has come to light that Colonel Matthew Dooley, an instructor at a military graduate school, taught his officers that the US Read More …
Brian M Downing Something hits me every time I see American troops in Iraq or Afghanistan. Several World War Two veterans and fellow Vietnam veterans I know have the same reaction. It has nothing to do with the politics of the wars. It’s the uniforms of our soldiers today, the Read More …
Brian M Downing It’s probably not the right time to institute military reforms. The prospect for pushing through ill-advised changes or opposing sound ones based on short-term passions is too great. But it is the right time to think about and debate them. One reform should aim at the military’s Read More …
Brian M Downing The Iraq war is the first in American history to steadily worsen our national security. Our generals, through action and acquiescence, despite their sworn duty to protect the nation, have played no small role in endangering America. This is all the more paradoxical and alarming because Read More …