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In search of a grand U.S. strategy

August 17, 2017  •  The Washington Times

Richard Nixon's rapprochement with China, the end of the Cold War, President Obama's outreach to "the Muslim world," the growth of the (largely American-funded) United Nations — weren't such developments supposed to lead to a safer world, one in which the "international community" would embrace "universal values" and pursue common interests — peace and security key among them?

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Not everyone can join the American nation

August 9, 2017  •  The Washington Times

This is a peculiar moment in history, one in which we have come to expect the unexpected. Even so, I was surprised to see this: a reporter and a White House official debating poetry.

I'm referring, of course, to the dustup between CNN's Jim Acosta and administration adviser Stephen Miller over "The New Colossus," Emma Lazarus' famous sonnet, written in 1883 and inscribed on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty 20 years later.

Mr. Acosta took the position that the poem established policy: an American commitment to admit — in perpetuity and presumably ever increasing numbers — "your tired, your poor the wretched refuse of your teeming shore."

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Preaching violence from the pulpit

August 2, 2017  •  The Washington Times

Imagine if a priest, minister or rabbi were to call for Muslims to be annihilated. It would be a scandal and it would spark a nation-wide controversy over Islamophobia, hate speech and incitement to violence. So why is that not the case when an imam calls for the annihilation of Jews?

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Does Al Jazeera deserve to die?

July 27, 2017  •  The Washington Times

The Gulf Cooperation Council comprises six nations, all of them Arab, Muslim, ruled by royals, and fabulously wealthy thanks to vast reserves of petroleum. With so much in common, you might expect they'd be best friends forever. In recent weeks, however, the emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has been the odd monarch out.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have cut diplomatic, commercial and even transportation ties with Qatar. They've been joined by Egypt which, though neither oil-rich nor monarchical, agrees that Sheikh Al Thani has been much too cozy with terrorist groups (including al Qaeda, ISIS and Hezbollah), terrorist financiers, the Muslim Brotherhood and Iran's mullahs.

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Make Saudi Arabia's vision of tolerance a reality

July 23, 2017  •  Deseret News

Last year, Saudi Arabia unveiled Saudi Vision 2030, a bold plan to transform the kingdom's oil-dependent economy to make it much more diversified and durable, no matter how global energy markets change. Vision 2030 makes it clear: to accomplish that would require Saudi Arabia to become "a tolerant country with Islam as its constitution and moderation as its method." Who can argue with that goal?

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