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Clifford D. May

Clifford D. May

Clifford D. May is president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a columnist for The Washington Times. He can be reached at cliff@fdd.org.

Columns by Clifford D. May

Israel's war of independence illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Israel’s second War of Independence

It has been 18 months since Hamas' invasion of Israel and the barbaric pogrom that followed. Hamas is still holding and torturing hostages. Published April 8, 2025

Putin and Trump's Russia policies illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Obama and Biden’s failed Russia policies

In 2008, Vladimir Putin's troops invaded neighboring Georgia and seized control of two regions. That chilled Russia's relations with the United States. Published March 25, 2025

Vladimir Putin's Russian war against Ukraine peace illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Trump’s Ukraine diplomacy faces Putin test

First, President Trump muscled Volodymyr Zelenskyy into accepting, without guarantees, a 30-day ceasefire in the brutal war that Vladimir Putin has been waging against Ukraine. Published March 18, 2025

Green energy and fossil fuels illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

The clean energy revolution that never happened

Cast your mind back to Sept. 6, 2019, when candidate Joseph R. Biden took the hand of a 24-year-old activist. "Kiddo," he said, "look in my eyes. I guarantee you. I guarantee you. We're going to end fossil fuel." Published March 11, 2025

Vice President JD Vance, right, speaks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, as President Donald Trump listens in the Oval Office at the White House, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/ Mystyslav Chernov)

Getting the U.S. and Ukraine back on track

Vladimir Putin doesn't drink much, but I bet he poured himself a glass of Rossiyskoye Shampanskoye after watching relations between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump meltdown last Friday. Published March 4, 2025

Russia's Vladimir Putin illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Putin’s imperial playbook leaves no room for mystery

Churchill famously called Russia "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." Is the same true of Vladimir Putin, who has ruled Russia with an increasingly tight fist since 1999? Published February 25, 2025

Arab leaders in Middle East with or against the United States of America illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Are Arab rulers with or against America?

More than 6 million Syrians fled their homeland during that country's almost 14-year-long civil war. Other nations took them in. It was the humanitarian thing to do. Published February 11, 2025

A Houthi soldier escorts released prisoners loyal to the Yemeni government after their release, in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)

Defeating the Houthis

President Trump has re-designated the Houthi rebels of Yemen as a foreign terrorist organization. That they deserve the label is indisputable. Published February 4, 2025

Securing America’s border from illegal immigrants illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Border security is national security

Not long ago, Republicans, Democrats and even big-time TV reporters agreed that secure borders were both good and necessary. Published January 7, 2025

Illustration on America's military strength versus tyranny by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

American greatness requires great military power

Most Americans understand that the only winning strategy for the U.S. is "peace through strength" -- shorthand for what became known as the Reagan Doctrine. Published December 31, 2024

Iran's anti-Israel axis illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Assad exits and Khamenei’s strategy unravels

The fall of the Assad regime and the fracturing of Ali Khamenei's anti-American and anti-Israeli axis have created a chance to restructure the Middle East. Published December 10, 2024

Antisemitism and attacks on Jews and Israel illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Another week of attacks on Israel

For more than a year, Israel has been fighting a brutal multifront war against Iran's rulers and their terrorist proxies: Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Shia militias in Syria and Iraq. Published November 26, 2024