Articles by Taylor Dibbert

Taylor Dibbert is a writer based in Washington, D.C. and a contributing editor at “The Diplomat Magazine”. He is the author of “Fiesta of Sunset: The Peace Corps, Guatemala and a Search for Truth”. The views expressed here are his own. Follow him on Twitter @taylordibbert

A disgraceful New York Times opinion piece

Criticisms of Trump are more than warranted. But papers like the New York Times shouldn’t provide a platform for senior members of his administration to display such cowardly, destructive and self-serving behavior
by Taylor Dibbert - 12 September 2018
Stop panicking about John Bolton

John Bolton is an accomplished, very smart person with principled, hawkish instincts on foreign and defense policy. He's wrong about the 2003 invasion of Iraq, but liberal hysteria against him is just that. Oh, and please leave out the comments about his mustache
by Taylor Dibbert - 8 April 2018
Trump off to a better start than commonly believed

Donald Trump's first 100 days have not been the foreign policy disaster, or even the major break with long standing US goals, that many feared. There's a long way to go, and he really needs to stay off Twitter, but he could hardly be worse than his predecessor. Give Trump a chance?
by Taylor Dibbert - 1 May 2017
People aren’t even giving Trump a chance

We need a more nuanced less hsyterical approach to the Trump presidency. A number of his moves are not sensible. But he has made some excellent appointments and nominations, not least to the Supreme Court. Context also helps. Obama's presidency was one of unbridled arrogance and ideological straightjackets
by Taylor Dibbert - 12 February 2017
Donald Trump Is doing just fine

Despite the hysteria, Trump is hitting the ground running in his preparations for the presidency. His top choices for defense and secretary of state are masterful. This is gping to be a very different cabinet from Obama's. Just what America needed
by Taylor Dibbert - 15 December 2016
Reconsidering the Left’s anti-Trump hysteria

Even if you weren't a Trump supporter, the Left’s post-election anti-Trump hysteria is anti-democratic and will ultimately prove counterproductive. Obama has been a disaster. Let's see if Trump can do better
by Taylor Dibbert - 28 November 2016
The next steps for a successful Donald Trump

Those who would like for the bedrock of the Republican Party to be built upon white nationalism and identity politics are morally and politically misguided. Donald Trump needs to build a broad coalition, unite the nation, and sideline the dangerous mavericks. If he does that, we should wish him success
by Taylor Dibbert - 23 November 2016
Good riddance, Mr. Obama

This American writer didn't vote for either Trump or Clinton. But, after eight long, rudderless years, the narcissist Obama is thankfully, finally, on his way out. Let's hope Trump can confound the critics and do a better job
by Taylor Dibbert - 10 November 2016
The Obama doctrine: Don't blame me...

In Obama's worldview, there is plenty of blame to go around about the state of the world as long as it’s not ascribed to the current occupant of the White House. His arrogance and aloofness never cease to amaze
by Taylor Dibbert - 6 April 2016
Tea Party ruining things for Republicans

It’s obvious that the Tea Party is ruining the Republican Party over the speakership fiasco. The House can be a bit of a circus, but this is absolute nonsense
by Taylor Dibbert - 17 October 2015
Hillary Clinton’s increasingly awkward campaign

Even leaving Hillary's awkwardness aside, the Clintons are a walking scandal machine. Essentially, this is not a couple that deserves more time in the White House, is it?
by Taylor Dibbert - 10 October 2015
The "Obama Doctrine" is just misguided dithering

Barack Obama's foreign policy is now bound to leave the world a more dangerous place than when he came to office. The so-called Obama doctrine is a manual for inaction which revolves around misguided thinking
by Taylor Dibbert - 3 October 2015
Obama’s shameful Syria policy

From the discarding of red lines to an unwillingness to meaningfully arm or train the Syrian rebels to looking the other way as a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions unfolds across the Middle East, Syria is a tragic exemplar of U.S. President Barack Obama’s out to lunch foreign policy
by Taylor Dibbert - 8 September 2015
Has Obama given up on Iran... in favour of golf?

On one of the most important strategic questions of our time, Iran's nuclear ambitions, it appears that President Obama has given up. As a sign of his priorities, however, he is playing an extraordinary amount of golf. So now we can all relax, right?
by Taylor Dibbert - 18 June 2015
Time to loosen America’s foreign policy straightjacket

Obama needs a new strategy in Iraq and Syria, yet will probably remain hindered by his own ideological constraints. He's still locked inside a narrow-minded rejection of the Bush years, and the world is paying a heavy price
by Taylor Dibbert - 2 June 2015