Making sure foreign enemies fear the United States military
Americans are smart enough to figure out how to make fighting the United States militarily -- conventionally, asymmetrically or in other ways -- stupid. Published January 28, 2020
Clifford D. May
Articles by Clifford D. May
Iranian regime's 'gray-zone' war tactics are the new norm
You heard it last week from smart people on both the left and right. President Trump's droning of Gen. Qassem Soleimani put America "on the brink of another war," wrote Martin Indyk, a distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Echoed Fox News' Tucker Carlson: "It looked like we were on the brink there!" Published January 21, 2020
Khamenei misjudges Trump and loses his leading terrorist
At 80 years of age, Ali Khamenei is an old man in a hurry. The ruler of the Islamic Republic of Iran regards himself as the leader of a global revolution, one that began years before the advent of al Qaeda, that jihadi-come-lately. Published January 7, 2020
Nikki Haley, all-American neo-Trumpian
From 2017 to 2019, Nikki Haley served as United States ambassador to the United Nations. She was a breath of fresh air -- proud of American achievements, unashamed of American power. Published December 31, 2019
The war against Christians
Grinch that I am, in the days leading up to Christmas I immersed myself in "The Thirty-Year Genocide: Turkey's Destruction of its Christian Minorities, 1894-1924." Published December 24, 2019
Anti-Semites suffer defeats in the U.K. and the U.S.
If you happen to be an anti-Semite, you've had a disappointing week. In Britain, the Labor Party suffered its worst defeat in decades. The election was a stunning rejection of Jeremy Corbyn, the party leader who has called members of Hamas and Hezbollah his "friends." Published December 17, 2019
America must stop helping China's regime grow richer and more oppressive
Is there a moral case for continuing to intertwine our economy with China's, for helping the regime prosper? Published December 10, 2019
'Did you have a horrible Thanksgiving?'
Among the blessings for which I was grateful last week: I did not sit down for Thanksgiving dinner with Charles Blow. Published December 3, 2019
Troubles between Congress and religious freedom
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is a small government agency that has done good work in the past and may do good work in the future -- if it's not transformed into a politicized bureaucracy. Published November 26, 2019
Palestinian Islamic Jihad provokes Israel and finds itself a lonely combatant
Palestinian Islamic Jihad has been supported and directed by the theocrats in Tehran who regard the annihilation of Israel as a goal that unites Islamists, whether Shia like themselves, or Sunni such as PIJ and Hamas. Published November 19, 2019
Clarence Thomas: An exceptional American who defied the odds
"Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words" is the story of one exceptional American, but it's also a story about America, Published November 12, 2019
Sanders, Omar not concerned about world's most oppressive empires
At a rally for Bernie Sanders in Minneapolis on Sunday, Rep. Ilhan Omar told a cheering crowd that she was excited to campaign for a presidential candidate who "will fight against Western imperialism and fight for a just world." Published November 5, 2019
The end of al-Baghdadi but the Islamic State marches on
The elimination of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is a battle won. But it is not, by any stretch of the imagination, the end of the "endless war." Islamism, in all its fury and diversity, goes marching on. Published October 29, 2019
The Kurds are not angels
Angels don't make great soldiers. And the Kurds, with American training, assistance, advice and combat air support, were enlisted to fight the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, a barbaric enemy of Americans, Kurds and other civilized nations. Published October 22, 2019
President Trump not ending the endless war in Syria
Mr. Trump's defenders say he is doing it for the troops, bringing them home where they'll be safe. But America's warriors volunteer not to be safe at home but to keep their fellow Americans safe at home by targeting our enemies wherever they live and plot. Published October 15, 2019
George Will and American power
For more than 40 years, George Will has been producing erudite political commentary. Most often, I find myself agreeing with the arguments presented in his twice-weekly columns for The Washington Post. When I don't, I have to wrack my brains to figure out why, and how I might frame a cogent dissent. Published October 8, 2019
Columbia University celebrates anti-Semitism
Malaysia's most celebrated Jew-hater is Mahathir Mohamad, the country's 94-year-old prime minister. Last week, Columbia University joined in the celebration. Published October 1, 2019
Why making deals with despots is difficult
Why are diplomats such clever negotiators? That's a trick question. They often are not. How would they acquire such skills? Published September 24, 2019
If John Bolton still had the president's ear, he'd counsel against appeasing Iran
I'd sleep better if Ambassador Bolton were still on the job. He'd be the loudest and most vehement voice opposing both appeasement and isolationism. Published September 17, 2019
Another unhappy September 11 anniversary
On September 11, 2001, a sparkling late summer morning, enemies of America hijacked four passenger jets and turned them into guided missiles. Published September 10, 2019
