Mass killing has very clearly not been eliminated, nor has the ‘international community’ developed a response that will avert it or bring it to a quick end. – Elliott Abrams
The Iranians don’t want the same thing we do in Iraq, not really; they want to control Iraq… the Ayatollah hates the United States; the Iranians are enemies of the United States. – Elliott Abrams
It seems clear to me that the Obama Administration has no human rights policy. That is, while in some inchoate sense they would like respect for human rights to grow around the world, as all Americans would, they have no actual policy to achieve that goal – and they subordinate it to all their other policy goals. – Elliott Abrams
The threat that Syria might transfer more advanced weapons to Hezbollah has existed for a long time. – Elliott Abrams
There is no softer target in GOP primaries than the United Nations and foreign-aid spending. – Elliott Abrams
The early reviews of Dick Cheney’s memoir have not evaluated the book, but instead have used its publication as an occasion for attacks on Cheney and his record, with general assaults on George W. Bush’s administration thrown in for good measure. – Elliott Abrams
Gadhafi has established no national institutions, not even allowing a fake parliament of the Mubarak or Ben Ali variety that could perhaps be turned into something real. – Elliott Abrams
Refusing to lift sanctions and adopting tougher rhetoric toward Iran would not be partisan issues. Plenty of Democrats think that those actions are both good politics and good policy. – Elliott Abrams
When freedom of the press is threatened, the United States should be leading efforts to protect it. – Elliott Abrams
People are entitled to believe the government is constantly lying to them, but it isn’t. – Elliott Abrams
In Kuwait there is already a real, elected parliament with genuine power, but the prime minister is always a member of the ruling al-Sabah family. That must end. – Elliott Abrams
The Middle East that Obama inherited in 2009 was largely at peace, for the surge in Iraq had beaten down the al Qaeda-linked groups. U.S. relations with traditional allies in the Gulf, Jordan, Israel and Egypt were very good. Iran was contained, its Revolutionary Guard forces at home. – Elliott Abrams
If you say to the White House, ‘Obama has been very unfriendly to Israel,’ they say, ‘What do you mean? It’s the best military-to-military relationship ever.’ And that part is true. – Elliott Abrams
There isn’t any way for the people of Nicaragua to find out what’s going on in Nicaragua. – Elliott Abrams
Opponents of U.S. sanctions have made ‘unilateral sanctions’ their special target. They argue that sanctions observed by many nations would be much more effective. True enough. Far better for trade with an outlaw regime to be restricted by many nations than by just one. – Elliott Abrams
It is a keen measure of the fall of American influence in the region when a Palestinian leader responds to intense American pressure to go to the negotiating table by waiting to see if Arab League foreign ministers will let him take that step. – Elliott Abrams
Obama’s foreign policy is strangely self-centered, focused on himself and the United States rather than on the conduct and needs of the nations the United States allies with, engages with, or must confront. – Elliott Abrams
The raids on Freedom House, the National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute, the Adenauer Foundation, and other groups helping Egyptians move toward respect for democratic politics and human rights were of a piece with the practices of Hosni Mubarak – only bolder and more repressive. – Elliott Abrams
While all Alawites fear vengeance against their entire community should Assad fall, there are varying degrees of loyalty to the Assads. – Elliott Abrams
The logic of collective security is flawless, provided it can be made to work under the conditions prevailing on the international scene… The odds, however, are strongly against such a possibility. – Elliott Abrams
It’s time to bury the unreal, failed ‘realism’ of those who have long thought that dictators brought stability. – Elliott Abrams
Arab states continue to send the Palestinians gifts of extravagant rhetoric and countless Arab League resolutions – but not much cash. – Elliott Abrams
Both Bibi and Obama realize that they are going to have to face the problem of Iran together. – Elliott Abrams
The United States should encourage Israel to take further steps to improve the Palestinian economy. – Elliott Abrams
In 2004, President Bush gave Prime Minister Sharon certain guarantees about American policy, but the Obama administration treated those as a kind of private letter having no binding policy impact. – Elliott Abrams