Clifford D. May

CLIFFORD MAY: Obama’s secret terrorism strategy accommodates Iran

It seems like only yesterday that President Obama was being criticized for having no strategy to counter the jihadi threat. In fact, it was about 10 days ago. Peggy Noonan's Feb. 1 Wall Street Journal column was headlined: "America's Strategy Deficit."

February 10, 2015

CLIFFORD MAY: Islamic aggressors posing as victims

There are victims and then there are victims. Too often, I think, we worry about the wrong ones.

February 3, 2015

CLIFFORD D. MAY: In Argentina, terrorists and gangsters get away with murder

"When heads of state become gangsters, something has to be done." Winston Churchill said that. It's a proposition not many people nowadays endorse. Fewer still take it upon themselves to stand up to the thugs-come-statesmen.

January 27, 2015

CLIFFORD MAY: Iran and the case for deadline-triggered sanctions

Experienced negotiators know this: The side most willing to walk away from the table generally wins. The side that seems desperate for a deal loses. Yet President Obama is telling the entire world that he needs an agreement with Iran's rulers more than they need an agreement with him.

January 20, 2015

CLIFFORD MAY: West’s irresponsible attitude toward Iran is dangerous

Let's get a few things straight: The slaughter of eight satirical journalists in Paris last week was not a tragedy. It was an atrocity. While you may have been shocked by the attack on Charlie Hebdo, anyone who was surprised has not been paying close attention to the events unfolding over recent decades.

January 13, 2015

CLIFFORD MAY: Lessons from Napoleon’s war against an Islamic empire

A few pages into "Napoleon: A Life," historian Andrew Roberts notes that the great general regarded himself as "of the race that founds empires."

January 6, 2015

CLIFFORD MAY: Korea cyberattack follows Islam wars on U.S. free speech rights

Last Friday, in his end-of-the-year press conference, President Obama scolded Sony Pictures. Canceling the theatrical release of "The Interview" following cyberattacks from North Korea, he said, was "a mistake." Two days later, on CNN, he added that North Korea had committed an act of "cybervandalism."

December 23, 2014

CLIFFORD MAY: Jon Stewart torture doctrine lacks logic of war

In spring 2009, I was invited to debate "torture" with Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show." He gave me an opportunity to make a case with which he vehemently disagreed. He didn't spout prepackaged sound bites — he presented thoughtful counterarguments. Not many television talk show hosts are willing — or able — to do that.

December 16, 2014

CLIFFORD D. MAY: Why fighting extremists can’t be politically correct

Rarely do so many distinguished members of the foreign policy community gather in a single room. But this was the Great Hall of the United States Institute of Peace: a Washington "institution established and funded by Congress to increase the nation's capacity to manage international conflict without violence."

December 9, 2014

CLIFFORD D. MAY: Recep Tayyip Erdogan divides Turkey from the West

Turkey should have been part of the solution. Instead, it's become part of the problem. The problem, of course, is the spread of jihadism throughout the Middle East, North Africa and beyond.

December 2, 2014

CLIFFORD MAY: Israel’s Palestinian enemies are as barbaric as the Islamic State

Executioners for the Islamic State use knives to cut the throats of Christians, Yazidis and "apostate" Muslims. Palestinian executioners last week used knives and a meat cleaver to slaughter Jewish worshippers at a synagogue in West Jerusalem.

November 25, 2014

CLIFFORD MAY: Betting on Iran: Odds are the Islamic republic won’t dismantle nuclear weapons program

Negotiations with Iran are set to conclude on Monday. What are the odds they will end with Iran's rulers agreeing to verifiably dismantle their illicit nuclear weapons program? I'd wager 100 to one against that outcome — but I doubt I'd find a bookie willing to take my bet.

November 18, 2014

CLIFFORD MAY: The Economist misjudges Iran

"The revolution is over." When journalists at The Economist, one of the world's most influential publications, run that headline on a cover story, "a special report" on the "new Iran," you assume they have solid evidence to support their thesis.

November 11, 2014

CLIFFORD D. MAY: Building a shining Palestinian city on a hill

Trust me on this: Reconciliation between Palestinians and Israelis will not be achieved anytime soon, no matter what the professional peace processors say or do. Here in Rawabi, though, modest progress toward that goal is at least possible to imagine.

November 4, 2014

CLIFFORD D. MAY: Israel and the war of words

Last week, a terrorist drove his car into a crowd at a light-rail station, killing a three-month-old baby. Eight others were injured, including a 22-year-old woman who died a few days later.

October 28, 2014

CLIFFORD D. MAY: ‘Homeland’ under attack

Are the cast, crew and fans of "Homeland" — Showtime's television series about a brilliant but neurotic CIA agent — Islamophobes?

October 21, 2014

CLIFFORD D. MAY: The demise of ‘responsibility to protect’ at the U.N.

Remember R2P? Not to be confused with R2-D2 (a robotic character in the "Star Wars" movies).

October 14, 2014

MAY: The truth about diversity

In theory, we Americans are great proponents of diversity.

October 7, 2014

MAY: Iran taking advantage of the focus on ISIS

In his address to the United Nations General Assembly last week, President Obama called the conflict in the Middle East "a fight no one is winning."

September 30, 2014

MAY: Why Scotland decided to keep the United Kingdom united

I imagine James Bond is relieved. After all, one can't very well be "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" if one is no longer Her Britannic Majesty's subject — which one would not be had a majority of Scots voted for independence, thereby severing the knot Scotland and England tied 307 years ago.

September 23, 2014