Clifford D. May

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

The Islamic Republic lashes out

It's been 40 years since I've been to Iran. I'd love to return. At present, that seems inadvisable. Published September 3, 2019

Why Hong Kong has a right to self-determination

The other day, President Trump took it into his head to buy Greenland. That stirred outrage and anger. "Thankfully," said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, "the time where you buy and sell other countries and populations is over." Published August 27, 2019

Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib: The anti-Israel lobby

While Ms. Tlaib and Ms. Omar support boycotting Israelis they profess outrage that Israelis might choose to boycott them. Published August 20, 2019

In Afghanistan, no deal is better than a bad deal

Two years ago this month, Zalmay Khalilzad, the distinguished diplomat who has served as America's ambassador to both Iraq and Afghanistan, praised President Trump for adopting "a realistic position regarding peace talks" with the Taliban, "moving away from President Barack Obama's pursuit of reconciliation regardless of the deteriorating military situation." Published August 13, 2019

Why endless wars can’t be ended

"Only the dead have seen the end of war." Plato made that incisive observation a rather long time ago. Published August 6, 2019

How art imitates life in Ukraine

Just over a year ago, Volodymyr Zelensky was a comic actor. One day, his rant against Ukrainian politics and politicians, surreptitiously recorded, goes viral on social media. The result: He's elected president of Ukraine with 67 percent of the vote. Published July 30, 2019

Getting human rights right

At the State Department, human rights have generally been a not-so-high priority. The big kahunas tend to focus on war and peace, allies and adversaries, national security and global economics. Published July 16, 2019

Who’s afraid of nationalism?

Is a new "age of nationalism already upon us?" That premise will be debated in Washington, July 14-16, at the "kick-off event" of the Edmund Burke Foundation, a fledgling public affairs institute dedicated to "strengthening the principles of national conservatism in Western and other democratic countries." Published July 9, 2019

Palestinians’ ‘opportunity of the century’

Abba Eban, who was serving as his country's foreign minister after Israel defended itself from Egypt, Syria and Jordan in the Six-Day War, is said to have lamented that Palestinians "never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity." Published July 2, 2019

Hong Kong freedom fighters deserve more support than they’re getting

"God has planted in every heart," President George W. Bush famously said, "the desire to live in freedom," I've never been convinced that's true. But the desire to live in freedom has been planted in some hearts. In Hong Kong in recent days, we've been witnessing a bracing demonstration. Published June 25, 2019

Why the Trump brand of nationalism works

Donald Trump strutted on the European stage last week and, it seems to me, put in a boffo performance. He wore white tie and tails. He charmed Queen Elizabeth. He gave the heroes of Normandy what may be, sadly, their final curtain call. Published June 11, 2019