Clifford D. May
Columns by Clifford D. May
War of choice prevents war of necessity as Iran threat expands and critics look away
On the illiberal left and the defeatist right, America's military campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran is being condemned as "a war of choice, not a war of necessity." Published March 24, 2026
America’s victory against Iran passes through Strait of Hormuz
Forty-seven years ago, the Islamic Republic of Iran vowed "Marg bar Amrika!" ("Death to America!") Published March 17, 2026
Tucker Carlson ‘has lost his way’
Tucker Carlson watches the great battle against the world's leading sponsors of jihadi terrorism and calls it "evil and disgusting." Published March 10, 2026
WATCH: Trump’s Iran strike fulfills ‘America First’ promise despite partisan outrage
On Saturday, President Trump made one of the best -- and, at eight minutes, briefest -- speeches of his career. Published March 3, 2026
Secretary of State Rubio saving the European-American marriage
One of the most popular magazines in the years after World War II was the Ladies' Home Journal. One of its most popular features was "Can this marriage be saved?" Published February 24, 2026
Free Jimmy Lai
Last week, a Hong Kong court imposed a 20-year prison sentence on Jimmy Lai, China's most prominent advocate for freedom of speech and the press. Published February 17, 2026
A few words of advice on Iran and Gaza
"Carthago delenda est!" In case your Latin is rusty, that means "Carthage must be destroyed!" Cato the Elder would repeat this demand in every speech he gave in the Roman Senate. Published February 10, 2026
Repairing Western alliance essential to winning the current cold war
Hindsight isn't always 20/20. It's reassuring to recall the Cold War as a time when the nations of the Free World (we capitalized the term back then) were united in a great struggle against communism Published February 3, 2026
Trump’s Greenland deal: Defending the Arctic with America leading and NATO following
Tina Turner introduced performances of "Proud Mary" by informing her audience: "We never, ever do nothing nice and easy. We always do it nice and rough." President Trump could say the same. Published January 27, 2026
The people of Iran, Venezuela and Ukraine deserve America’s support
Iran, Venezuela and Ukraine are very different countries, but most Iranians, Venezuelans and Ukrainians want the same thing: to not be ruled by tyrants. Published January 20, 2026
After Maduro’s arrest, Venezuela’s corrupt power brokers still remain
Nicolas Maduro was led to believe that Russian air defense systems would keep American helicopters from landing near his fortified compound in Caracas. He was misinformed. Published January 13, 2026
The many shades of Islam
After the massacre on Bondi Beach this month, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters that the killers were adherents of a "radical perversion of Islam." Published December 30, 2025
All about Trump’s revised National Security Strategy
Every U.S. president publishes a National Security Strategy because, as the one recently released by the Trump administration says, "all Americans need to know what ... we are trying to do and why." Published December 23, 2025
Hamas continued disinformation war fuels a global assault on Israel’s survival
The hostage release and ceasefire President Trump brokered in October has brought Israelis palpable relief and renewed optimism. However, they also recognize that peace is not yet at hand. Published December 16, 2025
Fixing Putin’s Russia-Ukraine war peace plan
President Trump is a master multitasker, but I doubt he had time last week to carefully examine the 28-point "peace" plan drafted by Steve Witkoff, his special envoy, and Kirill Dmitriev, Putin's envoy. Published November 25, 2025
New York, New York, it’s a socialist town
My beat is national security and foreign policy, so I don't usually weigh in on municipal elections, but when the world's foremost capitalist city elects a socialist mayor, I make an exception. Published November 18, 2025
The war against Christians
"Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria," President Trump asserted on X last week. HIs concern is justified. Published November 11, 2025
Meet the Muslim Brotherhood
In 1918, V.I. Lenin renamed the Bolshevik Party the Russian Communist Party. Published November 4, 2025
America needs energy dominance
National security requires energy security. American greatness -- by which I mean the maintenance of American power second to none -- requires more than that. It requires energy dominance. Published October 28, 2025
Letter to Trump: Putin wants to out-negotiate you, Stalin-style
Dear President Trump: I understand you're thinking about meeting with Vladimir Putin again, this time in Budapest. Published October 21, 2025
