Election year petro-politics: Obama, Iran and the Saudis

Election year petro-politics: Obama, Iran and the Saudis

Special to WorldTribune.com By Brian M. Downing, FreePressers.com A few months ago, Saudi Arabia lowered oil production and attributed it to excess world supply. Oil experts saw this as odd because Libyan and Syria production were way down and Nigerian production was thought in jeopardy from bombing incidents. Some thought the long awaited “twilight in […]

Putin’s chess move in Syria, with an eye on the region at large

Putin’s chess move in Syria, with an eye on the region at large

Special to WorldTribune.com By Brian M Downing Shortly after Vladimir Putin and Secretary of State John Kerry agreed to seek a negotiated settlement to the Syrian civil war, the Russian president bolstered his support for the embattled Assad government. Putin announced an impending transfer of anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles to the Syrian military. It was […]

Ten years after start of Iraq War: Geopolitical shifts have favored Iran, China

Ten years after start of Iraq War: Geopolitical shifts have favored Iran, China

Special to WorldTribune.com By Brian M Downing The ten years since the outset of the Second Gulf War have provided time to assess the geopolitical consequences it has brought, though a fuller judgment will come only after many more years. Putting aside the justifications and criticisms from the war period, we might look at how […]

Syria’s future: Israel favors fragmentation while Saudis want reliable counter to Iran

Syria’s future: Israel favors fragmentation while Saudis want reliable counter to Iran

Special to WorldTribune.com By Brian M Downing The Syrian rebellion is bringing new security concerns to many countries, especially Israel. Under the Assads, Syria had been cowed by Israeli military superiority. Syria’s future, its intentions and capabilities, are in doubt. Israel cannot determine the outcome of events there – no state or group of states […]

China’s intensifying showdown with Japan is distracting from its growing internal crisis

China’s intensifying showdown with Japan is distracting from its growing internal crisis

Special to WorldTribune.com By Brian M Downing, FreePressers.com The dispute between China and Japan over the Senkakus group of uninhabited islands and barren rocks jutting up from the East China Sea has intensified in recent days. China has sent armed vessels to the island and anti-Japanese demonstrations have broken out in Chinese cities. Japan has […]