Elliott Abrams

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Elliott Abrams works at the Council on Foreign Relations, as a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies.[1] He is also best known for his hardline zionist advocacy, and he lists among the early neocons.[2] In March 1980, Abrams married Rachel Decter, daughter of conservative pundits Norman Podhoretz and Midge Decter.

He previously served as Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush and Deputy National Security Advisor for Global Democracy Strategy.[3] In the Bush Administration, Abrams assisted Stephen J. Hadley "in work on the promotion of democracy and human rights, and will provide oversight" to the National Security Council's directorate of Democracy, Human Rights, and International Organization Affairs and its directorate of Near East and North African Affairs. Abrams will work with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Hadley, and "will maintain his involvement in Israeli/Palestinian affairs," the White House said.[3]

"Abrams has served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Near East and North African Affairs since December 2002. Prior to holding that position, he was Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Democracy, Human Rights and International Operations."[3]

Abrams was first appointed to serve as a deputy national security advisor to President George W. Bush and the National Security Council. He also served as Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American affairs in the Reagan administration as Assistant Secretary of State under Ronald Reagan.

Controversy

PNAC

Abrams, considered to be a "neo-con", was a signatory of the 26 January 1998, Project for the New American Century sent to President Clinton.[4]

Iran-Contra Scandal

Abrams was heavily involved in the Iran-Contra scandal. In 1991, Abrams was indicted by the Iran-Contra special prosecutor for giving false testimony before Congress in 1987 about his role in illicitly raising money for the Nicaraguan Contras. He pleaded guilty to two lesser offenses of withholding information to Congress in order to avoid a trial and a possible jail term.[5]

He was pardoned by President George H.W. Bush along with a number of other Iran-Contra defendants on Christmas night 1992.[6]

Profiles

  • Elliott Abrams was appointed Dec. 3, 2002, as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Near East and North African Affairs, including Arab/Israel relations and U.S. efforts to promote peace and security in the region.[7]
  • Mr. Abrams began his service in the U.S. Government in the 1970s as Assistant Counsel to the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, as Special Counsel to Senator Henry Jackson, and as Special Counsel and then Chief of Staff to Senator Daniel P. Moynihan. During the Ronald Reagan Administration, Mr. Abrams served as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, as Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, and then as Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs.[8]
  • "Before assuming his post at the State Department, he was an attorney with the law firm of Verner, Lipfert, Bernhard and McPherson of Washington, DC, in 1979 - 1981. He was special counsel to Senator Daniel Moynihan (D - NY) in 1977 - 1979. In 1973 - 1975 he was an attorney with the firm of Breed, Abbott and Morgan of Boston, MA."[9]
  • Elliott Abrams received his bachelor's degree from Harvard (1969), earned a master's in International Relations from the London School of Economics, and received his J.D. from Harvard Law School (1973).[10]

Affiliations

Government Service

  • National Security Council: Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Near East and North African Affairs, 2002-present ; Senior Director for Democracy, Human Rights, and International Operations, 2001-2002[11]
  • U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom: Chairman, 2000-2001; Commissioner, 1999-2001[11]
  • State Department: Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, 1985-1989; Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, 1981-1985; Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, 1981[11]
  • U.S. Senate: Chief of Staff for Sen. Daniel P. Moynihan, Special Counsel, 1977-1979; Office of Sen. Henry M. Jackson, Staffer/Special Counsel, 1975-1976[11]
  • Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations: Assistant Counsel, 1975[11]

Private Sector

  • Verner, Lipfert, Bernhard, & McPherson: Associate, 1979-1981[11]
  • Breed, Abbott, & Morgan: Attorney, 1973-1975[11]

Education

  • Harvard University: B.A., 1969[11]
  • London School of Economics: M.Sc., 1970[11]
  • Harvard Law School: J.D., 1973[11]

Published Works

  • Democracy How Direct?: Views from the Founding Era and the Polling Era, 2002 ISBN 0742523187
  • The Influence of Faith, 2001 ISBN 0742507629
  • International Religious Freedom (2001): Annual Report: Submitted by the U.S. Department of State, editor 2001 ISBN 0756713382
  • Secularism, Spirituality, and the Future of American Jewry 1999 ISBN 0896331903
  • Close Calls: Intervention, Terrorism, Missile Defense, and 'Just War' Today 1998 ISBN 0896331873
  • Undue Process A Story of How Political Differences are Turned into Crimes 1998 ISBN 0029001676
  • Honor Among Nations: Intangible Interests and Foreign Policy 1998 ISBN 0896331881
  • Faith or Fear: How Jews Can Survive in a Christian America 1997 ISBN 0684825112
  • Security and Sacrifice: Isolation, Intervention, and American Foreign Policy 1995 ISBN 1558130497
  • Shield and Sword 1995 ISBN 002900165X

Resources and articles

Related Sourcewatch

References

  1. [1]
  2. RightWeb: profile
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 President George W. Bush, "Personnel Announcement", Media Release, 2 February 2005.
  4. Elliott Abrams et al, Letter to The Honorable William J. Clinton, Project for the New American Century, January 26, 1998.
  5. Lawrence E. Walsh, United States v. Elliott Abrams, Chapter 25 from Final Report of the Independent Counsel for Iran/Contra Affairs, August 4, 1993.
  6. Robert Parry, "Rehnquist's Legacy: A Partisan Court", Consortium News, September 7, 2005.
  7. George W. Bush, "Zalmay Khalilzad, Elliot Abrahms named to new positions", Media Release, December 3, 2002.
  8. Condoleezza Rice, "Statement by the Press Secretary", Media Release, June 28, 2001.
  9. "Appointment of 17 Members of the Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution, and Designation of the Chairman", Media Release, June 25, 1985.
  10. George W. Bush, "Personnel Announcement", Media Release, February 2, 2005.
  11. 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 11.15 11.16 11.17 11.18 11.19 11.20 11.21 11.22 11.23 11.24 11.25 11.26 11.27 "Profile: Elliott Abrams", RightWeb, December 22, 2008.
  12. 2000 Annual Report, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, accessed September 20, 2007.
  13. Human Freedom Advisory Council, George W. Bush Institute, accessed November 14, 2015.

External articles