The Bazaar of War

The Triumph of Sea Power: The Contest for the Indian Ocean, Part 3

The final two Franco-British wars in the Indian Ocean showcase the importance of sea power—not as a decisive factor by itself, but as an enabler of land…

May 1

8

April 2026

Warfare in an Aging World

The issue of low global birthrates and aging populations, which has been a subject of much discussion and anxiety lately, also has great consequences…

Apr 20

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Book Discussion on Raider, Rulers, and Traders: The Horse and the Rise of Empires

This book gives a valuable understanding of Eurasian military history from the perspective of the horse trade and the ability of states to mount their…

Apr 11

22

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The Foundations of Empire: The Contest for the Indian Ocean, Part 2

We left off in Part 1 on the Franco-British rivalry in the Indian Ocean on the last day of 1750, with the French governor in India, Joseph-Francois…

Apr 6

7

2

March 2026

War at Stand-Off Range: Thinking About the Iran Conflict

As the fighting in Iran nears four weeks, it is worth looking at the dynamics of the conflict thus far.

Mar 25

25

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Strategic Width: The Broad Horizons of Strategic Decision-Making

“But governing oneself by examples is undoubtedly very dangerous in similar circumstances if the conditions do not correspond, not only in general but…

Mar 21

21

2

The School of Strategy, the Art of Amateurs

No two heads of state could be more dissimilar in ambitions or temperament than Abraham Lincoln and Louis XIV.

Mar 9

38

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February 2026

The Indian-European Alliance System: The Contest for the Indian Ocean, Part 1

From 1746 to 1783, France, Britain, and their Indian allies engaged in a massive struggle for control of the Indian Ocean.

Feb 27

16

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Against Abstraction: Military Theory and Clarity of Thought

It is difficult to appreciate just how much Western—especially American—military thinking is pervaded with abstraction.

Feb 13

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Interview on Saladin with Memory Medieval

I was recently a guest on the Memory Medieval podcast, talking about Saladin as part of his ongoing series on Richard the Lionheart.

Feb 9

8

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Triumph of the Byzantine System: The Arab-Byzantine Frontier, Part 3

By the time of Byzantium's triumph in the 10th century, it had developed a systematic approach to campaigning which formalized methods from earlier…

Feb 1

26

2

January 2026

Swarms, Packs, and Stigmergy: Animal Analogs for Drone Behavior

“Drone swarm” is a phrase that has come to be used indiscriminately to refer to the high number of drones on the modern battlefield.

Jan 22

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