U.S. Institute of Peace

November 6, 2024 | Clifford D. May |

The Sting Doctrine

Haven’t its flaws become obvious?

October 2, 2022 | Cleo Paskal |

US moves on Pacific islands, but barely

The last two weeks have seen some of the most frantic US activity related to the Pacific Islands since the end of World War II. A lot happened. It’s like a plane suddenly dropped a cargo of randomly-sized boulders into a lake with varied depths. Some initiatives will sink, others may become essential islands of security in rough weather, some might inadvertently hit and sink the boats of allies.

February 4, 2021 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Biden Must Reckon With the Failed Doha Deal

Leaving U.S. troops in Afghanistan past May 1 threatens their safety. Withdrawing all of them would further weaken the Afghan government.

September 12, 2018 | Clifford D. May |

Extremism and fragile states

Last year, Congress asked the United States Institute of Peace, a government-funded think tank, to develop “a comprehensive plan to prevent the underlying causes of extremism in fragile states in th...

June 13, 2018 | Clifford D. May

Ronald Reagan’s freedom agenda

Ronald Reagan was tough on totalitarians. On March 8, 1983 -- and to the chagrin of many of his advisors – he disparaged the Soviet Union as an...

September 13, 2017 | Clifford D. May |

Fixing the United Nations

The United Nations was created in the wake of World War II by the major Allied nations that had prevailed – at an enormous cost in blood and treasure -- over the Axis powers.  Its foun...

August 4, 2016 |

Clifford D. May Appointed to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on August 2, 2016 appointed Clifford D. May to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). “USCIRF...

December 10, 2014 | Clifford D. May

Giving Peace a Chance

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 “instituti...

October 2, 2012 | |

Rebels With a Cause, But Not Much Consensus

Syrian opposition fighters are committed to Bashar al-Assad's ouster, but disagree on just about everything else.

September 25, 2012 | Ammar Abdulhamid Syrian Revolution Digest |

The Shredded Tapestry: The State of Syria Today

A Trip Report (Turkey, August 10-30) Background The trip was arranged for the purpose of helping an independent American film company do...

June 29, 2012 | James Kirchick Haaretz |

Paper Trail Leads to Damascus

In December 2010, the New York Times' Robert F. Worth wrote an article about the newspaper Al-Akhbar, "the most dynamic and daring in Lebanon, and perhaps anywhere in the Arab world." The pa...

June 15, 2011 |

Fighting for Hearts, Minds and Souls

The first concept to grasp is that the global conflict now underway involves both a clash of arms and a clash of ideas. To succeed in this war will require effective combat on both fronts....

January 28, 2010 | Dr. J. Peter Pham World Defense Review

Emerging West African Terror-Drug Nexus Poses Major Security Threat

Over the course of the last month, the foiled attempt by would-be "underwear bomber" Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to blow up a Detroit-bound passenger flight on Christmas Day has underscored the dan...

July 10, 2008 |

FDD President Clifford May Nominated to Serve on Broadcasting Board of Governors

FDD President Clifford May Nominated to Serve on Broadcasting Board of Governors Washington, D.C. (July 11, 2008) – Pre...

December 20, 2007 |

FDD Welcomes Ambassador Max Kampelman as Distinguished Advisor

Washington, D.C. (December 21, 2007) -- Former U.S. Ambassador Max Kampelman has joined the Foundation for Defense of Democracie...

November 6, 2006 |

Secretary Rice Appoints FDD President Clifford May to Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion

“From its inception days after the 9/11 attacks, FDD has been working to support democratic reformers and educate citizens throughout the Middle East about the benefits of freedom, and the...

October 15, 2003 | The GW Hatchet

Change needed from within

By Jeffrey Azarva Islamic Awareness Week at GW recently drew to a close, yet it remains clear that the religious intolerance of Islam persists in the post 9/11 world. Despite the week-lo...