The Bazaar of War

The Iran War Is Not a War: Military Contests vs. Strategic Objectives

One of the frustrating things about much of the early commentary around the Iran war was how it framed the relationship between military force and…

May 8

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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