Clifford D. May
Columns by Clifford D. May
The brave few on the front line for freedom deserve America’s support
In this already stormy century, freedom has many powerful enemies, and few powerful defenders. Published April 6, 2021
China’s rulers have a new and unimproved version of rules-based order
China's Communist rulers are making clear that they intend to wrest the torch of global leadership from America's hands. Published March 30, 2021
Why Assad crossed Obama’s red line
"Ayman" was a skilled Syrian scientist producing chemical weapons at Institute 3000, a facility within the deceptively named Scientific Studies and Research Center near Damascus. Published March 23, 2021
President Macron deserves credit for trying to unite France
What holds a nation together? In some cases, it's blood, soil and language (think Japan). In some cases, it's a police state (think Iran). Published March 2, 2021
Biden must deter and not appease Moscow, Beijing, Tehran, and Pyongyang
We all disapprove of appeasement, right? The term evokes Munich, where British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain made concessions to Adolf Hitler in the hope that would sate, rather than whet, the fuhrer's appetite for conquest. Published February 23, 2021
Despots dominate the WHO and the UNHRC
I understand why Joe Biden wants to rejoin the World Health Organization and the United Nations Human Rights Council. The new president is a multilateralist. Published February 16, 2021
Who killed Lokman Slim?
"Killing for them is a habit," Rasha al-Ameer told reporters last week. Published February 9, 2021
U.N. General Assembly simply remembering the Holocaust is insufficient
International Holocaust Remembrance Day is meant to serve two purposes: to memorialize the victims of the Nazi genocide of the 1940s, and help prevent future genocides. Published February 2, 2021
Is America prepared for a catastrophic cyberattack?
Attacks intended to shut down financial systems, electricity, water supplies, transportation, communications -- perhaps even the entire U.S. economy could happen. What's the plan? Published January 26, 2021
The many reasons Biden should not enrich Iran’s rulers
Tehran sponsors Hezbollah in Lebanon, Syria and other countries, Shia militias in Iraq, Houthi rebels in Yemen, and Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza. Published January 19, 2021
Biden must heal the nation and show world adversaries a unified America
What a marvelous time to be America's enemy! Despots, dictators and other assorted villains are gloating. Published January 12, 2021
Europe capitulates to China’s rulers
The challenges facing what we used to call, with pride and confidence, the Free World are daunting. Illiberal authoritarians of various stripes are increasingly assertive and audacious. Published January 5, 2021
Islamic Revolution 101: Ambitious Iranian theocrats seizing power still widely misunderstood
In early 1979, I was sent to Iran to report on the rebellion then underway. I was woefully ignorant of Iranian history, politics and theology. Published December 29, 2020
Will Biden learn from Trump and keep making America secure again
"Build Back Better" was Joe Biden's campaign slogan. How different is that, really, from "Make America Great Again"? Both BBB and MAGA suggest the need for restoration, for reversing deterioration and decline, for fixing what's broken. Published December 22, 2020
We can’t predict what Biden’s foreign policy advisers will advise
We are now in that quadrennial season when Washington wonks spend an inordinate amount of time attempting to divine the policies of the next administration based on the individuals named as presidential advisers. Published December 15, 2020
The forgotten refugees of the Middle East
How much does the average Palestinian know about the Jewish refugees from Arab countries? My guess: very little. Published December 8, 2020
The Cold War with China has begun
China has been waging a Cold War against America for years. The current administration has recognized that reality. Published December 1, 2020
Abu Muhammad al-Masri’s assassination exposes relations between Tehran and al Qaeda
The assassins were professionals and they had planned carefully. On Aug. 7, 2020, around 9 o'clock on a warm evening, they rode a motorcycle down a street in Pasdaran, a well-off Tehran neighborhood. Published November 24, 2020
U.N. and other international organizations hijacked by despots
With the defeat of the Axis Power in 1945, the United States emerged as the strongest military, economic and cultural power on earth. Published November 17, 2020
The death threat to free speech in France
How consequential will it be if the French acquiesce, agreeing to carve out an exception to free speech in deference to Islamists? Very. Published November 10, 2020
