Thomas Lauren Friedman (born July 20, 1953) is an American journalist. He is an op-ed contributor to The New York Times, whose column appears twice weekly and mainly addresses topics on foreign affairs. Friedman is known for supporting a compromise resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, modernization of the Arab world, environmentalism and globalization. He is considered to be a pluralist and most of his commentary is left leaning. He is an outspoken critic of the Bush administration and in particular the Iraq War.