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I write about history, politics, religion, culture, travels, and conflict in the Islamic World, viz., the Islamic Middle East and Eurasia/Central Asia (see Publications page). I have lived and traveled in throughout these regions for over two decades (see About Me). I am primarily a historian of the medieval Islamic east (Levant and Iraq to Muslim Eurasia and Delhi Sultanate), Mongol Empire, and Timurids (Tamerlane’s dynasty). The empire-building and military feats of Chingiz Khan and Tamerlane are fascinating.

I have expertise with Asymmetric Warfare: “warfare that is between opposing forces that differ greatly in military power and that typically involves the use of unconventional weapons and tactics (e.g., guerilla warfare).” To this end, I have specialized in the study of military entities like al-Qaiʾda, Pak and Afghan Taliban, al-Hashd al-Shaʿbi (Iraq), Hizballah (Lebanon), and Ansarallah (“Houthis”; Yemen). Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) utilize asymmetric methods, some of which they have imparted to their Arab Shiʿa allies. IRGC’s asymmetric defensive triad comprises: Missiles (hypersonic, ballistic, cruise missiles), Drones, and Electronic Warfare (EW). I shall also write about the technologies, tactics, and strategies that comprise the Triad; and about intelligence history, from WWII to the Cold War and “Global War on Terrorism.”

This site is also about fun stuff: amazing peoples encountered on my travels—Persians, Arabs, Pakistanis, Turks, Afghans, Tajiks, Berbers; Muslims, Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians—diverse cultures, languages, fantastic cuisines, archaeology, and stunning Islamic architecture and art.

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