Clifford D. May

Dear President Biden: War in Ukraine isn’t just about Ukraine

First, kudos to you for going to Kyiv. Not many sitting American presidents have visited active war zones. I'm told that Vladimir Putin was informed you'd be there. Published February 28, 2023

China’s red balloon: Best-case scenario is that it’s just for spying

China's rulers have accused the U.S. government of "a clear overreaction" to the flight of its balloon across our country. Published February 14, 2023

Iran’s arsenal of tyranny

More than 3,000 assault rifles, 578,000 rounds of ammunition and 23 anti-tank guided missiles. Published February 7, 2023

Soldiers of misfortune: Putin’s Wagner Group isn’t playing

The Wagner Group is not, as the name might suggest, a club for lovers of epic German operas. Its members are often called mercenaries, but that's imprecise. Published January 31, 2023

What is Putin thinking?

I've begun talking to myself. Not good. But who else can I talk to? I'm surrounded by fools and incompetents. Published January 24, 2023

Biden doesn’t intend to defend America’s borders

In Mexico City last week, the president of the United States met with the president of Mexico and the prime minister of Canada for what was dubbed the "Three Amigos Summit." Published January 17, 2023

Why a Jew’s visit to the holiest Jewish site provokes outrage

Imagine if Pope Francis said: "Only Christians are permitted in the Vatican! No Muslims and no Jews!" Published January 10, 2023

A sorry summit: Biden avoids pivotal issues in meeting with African leaders

Last month, President Biden hosted 59 African leaders in our nation's capital. Published January 3, 2023

Strategery 101: When enemy Russia attacks friend Ukraine, back the friend

A week ago Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, made a surprise visit to Bakhmut, where his troops are engaged in a bloody battle with Russian invaders. Published December 27, 2022

Why Jordan has not joined the Abraham Accords

Some years ago, a colleague and I were in Israel at the home of a former member of the intelligence community who maintained his international connections. Published December 20, 2022

Extremist ideologies proliferate in a world where anything goes

Extremist ideologies are proliferating, and it has become taboo in what we used to call polite society to criticize ideas that, not long ago, would have been seen as shockingly beyond the pale. Published December 13, 2022

China’s Communist ruler Xi not playing games with U.S.

It's become common to speak of the "U.S.-China rivalry" or the "U.S.-China competition" -- phrases that suggest a game with one nation winning today and another tomorrow. Published December 6, 2022

COP27 indictment: Americans are climate criminals and must pay

Three weeks ago, I warned you, dear reader, that the "climate summit" getting underway at the chic Egyptian seaside resort of Sharm El-Sheikh was up to no good. Published November 29, 2022

Why sic the FBI on the Israeli Defense Force?

Covering armed conflict is risky business. Shireen Abu Akleh, a reporter for al-Jazeera, must have known that. Published November 22, 2022

The speech Biden should give (but don’t hold your breath)

Good afternoon! Well, as you know, I'm just back from the Middle East and Asia. I've been doing a lot of thinking -- no joke! -- and I want to share some of my thoughts with you, my fellow Americans. Published November 15, 2022

United Nations’ climate summit COP27 threatens our planet

COP27 began on Sunday and I'm following the action. By action, I mean 12 days of mind-numbing meetings, speeches, and virtue signaling, spiced up with misrepresentations of scientific research. Published November 8, 2022

Left is having second — and third — thoughts on Putin’s Ukraine war

The Congressional Progressive Caucus, as I suspect you know, is the club for far-left House members. Published November 1, 2022

United Nations goes DEFCON 3 on Israel

Vladimir Putin is slaughtering Ukrainian men, women and children. Xi Jinping is committing genocide against the Muslims of East Turkistan. Published October 25, 2022

Mohammed bin Salman has legitimate grievances against U.S.

President Biden is hopping mad that Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince and, since last month, prime minister, refused his request not to cut oil production -- or at least to wait a month before doing so. Mr. Biden is threatening "consequences" in retaliation. Published October 18, 2022