I don't buy the "great powers rise and fall like organisms" theory of history — Gibbon's ghost still haunts a lot of American anxiety about decline, and it's mostly wrong. Empires and civilizations don't have lifespans like people. Countries are not people. Nearly all countries are born, and born in blood. But they don't necessarily mature, become powerful, or decline. They simply exist, their power and importance are only relative to their time and objectives they set out fo

“It is only when a man tames his own demons that he becomes the king of himself if not of the world.” - Joseph Campbell Joseph Campbell's...

I've recently been engrossed in Erica Benner's "Machiavelli's Ethics," a book that sheds light on the political machinations of...

In a world marred by conflict and divisiveness, it’s disheartening to note how little we've evolved when it comes to the wisdom of war...

Writing has always been more than a simple pastime for me; it's been a channel for my deepest passions and convictions. When I sat down...

Welcome to The Reed Pen, the official writing corner of Cary Reed. Here, you'll find a unique blend of ancient warfare and modern...