Thomas Friedman

Thomas L. Friedman (born July 20, 1953) is an American journalist, columnist, and author, currently working as an Op-Ed columnist for the New York Times. His columns, concentrating mainly on foreign affairs, appear in the Op ed page on Wednesdays and Fridays. Friedman is known for advocating a compromise peace between Israel and the Palestinians, modernization of the Arab world, and globalization and laissez-faire capitalism, while sometimes remarking on their potential pitfalls. His books address various aspects of international politics, from a centrist perspective on the political spectrum.

Friedman after 9/11

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Friedman's writing focused more on the threat of terrorism, for which he won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary ("for his clarity of vision, based on extensive reporting, in commenting on the worldwide impact of the terrorist threat"). These columns were collected and published as the book "Longitudes and Attitudes." Friedman supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq, saying that the establishment of a democratic state in the Middle East might force other countries to liberalize and modernize as well, although he has since expressed alarm over the conduct of the war by the

Related Topics:
September 11, 2001 attacks - Terrorism - 2002 - Pulitzer Prize for Commentary - 2003 invasion of Iraq

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George W. Bush administration. Nevertheless, his recent columns have remained at least open to the possibility of a positive outcome to the Iraq conflict. In January 2004 he participated in a forum on Slate.com called "Liberal Hawks Reconsider the Iraq War," in which he stated:

Related Topics:
George W. Bush administration - Slate.com

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"the right reason for this war, as I argued before it started, was to oust Saddam's regime and partner with the Iraqi people to try to implement the Arab Human Development report's prescriptions in the heart of the Arab world. That report said the Arab world is falling off the globe because of a lack of freedom, women's empowerment, and modern education. The right reason for this war was to partner with Arab moderates in a long-term strategy of dehumiliation and redignification."

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After the 7 July 2005 London bombings, Friedman called for the U.S. State Department to begin producing a "War of Ideas Report" that would spotlight religious leaders and writers advocating violence as well as anyone who suggests that "imperialism, zionism, colonialism or Iraq" explains why the terrorists acted. "These excuse makers are just one notch less despicable than the terrorists and also deserve to be exposed," he said in his 22 July column. Critics at Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting point to this as part of a wider trend to marginalise and censor critics of U.S. foreign policy.http://www.indexonline.org/en/news/articles/2005/3/united-states-a-new-blacklist-for-excuse-mak.shtml

Related Topics:
7 July 2005 London bombings - U.S. State Department - 22 July - Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting

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