"Thomas W. Lippman" (born 1939) is a journalist and author, specializing in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia–United States relations. Lippman attended Regis High School (New York City)/Regis High School in Manhattan and graduated from Columbia University. Lippman spent more than 30 years with The Washington Post as a writer, editor and diplomatic correspondent, also serving as the Middle East News bureau/bureau chief for the Post.

Lippman currently serves as an adjunct scholar at the Middle East Institute.

More Thomas Lippman on Wikipedia.

It is not because Muslims as individuals do not value individual rights or aspire for political freedom. Islam itself represents obstacles to the establishment of democratic systems.

The biggest issue for Saudi Arabia and its neighbors is what happens after Abdullah and Sultan.

The most stunning thing you can do is go to Riyadh [the capital of Saudi Arabia] and walk around the streets downtown, ... After you have had lunch at McDonald's, coffee at Dunkin Donuts and shopped at Saks Fifth Avenue, one has to wonder if they actually hate Americans or not.

When you engage in discussion of Islam and democracy, you can say I believe that Muslim people are compatible with democracy.