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I write about history, geopolitics, religion, culture, travels, and conflicts (past and present) in the Islamic World, viz., the Islamic Middle East and Eurasia/Central Asia (see Publications page). I have lived and traveled 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).” I have specialized in the study of entities such al-Qaiʾda; and Pak and Afghan Taliban, al-Hashd al-Shaʿbi (Iraq), Hizballah, and Ansarallah/Houthis.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) utilize asymmetric methods. Iran’s asymmetric defensive triad comprises: Missiles, Drones, and Electronic Warfare (EW). I write about the technologies, tactics, and strategies that comprise the Triad; about intelligence history, from WWII to the end of the Cold War; and on America’s misguided “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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