Elliott Abrams makes America’s Middle East Policy not Condoleezza Rice.

Alastair Crooke and Mark Perry.
"The same confusion was apparent at the White House, where National Security Council (NSC) official Elliott Abrams, the architect of US policy in the Middle East, was growing increasingly irritated with Rice's attempt to restart Israeli-Palestinian talks. Abrams, supported by officials in the Office of the Vice President, had consistently argued that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was a morass better left in the hands of the Israelis. That viewpoint was clear from the first days of the administration of President George W Bush, when Vice President Dick Cheney knocked down any attempt to re-engage with Israelis and Palestinians." (Alastair Crooke and Mark Perry ‘How the Saudis stole a march on the US’ http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IC06Ak04.html March 06, 2007).

"Elliott Abrams was enraged and more surprised by King Abdullah's initiative than any other US official. (The first meeting of Abu Mazen, Meshaal and King Abdullah took place in Mecca on the morning of February 6, 2007). The Saudis had calculated his opposition and taken steps to dampen it. In the immediate aftermath of the Mecca meeting, Abdullah dispatched Bandar bin Sultan for consultations with Abrams, Cheney and Bush. Bandar reassured the Americans that Abdullah's initiative would have long-term positive consequences, weaning Hamas away from Iran and allowing the Fatah old guard to rebuild their organization. It was the only way they could hope to compete. . Privately, he remained convinced that Rice's opening with Abu Mazen to restart the peace process had undermined his own program of support for Fatah radicals. The biggest loser in Mecca, however, was not Fatah, but Elliott Abrams. Abrams' program of arming Fatah - first to spark a "hard coup" and then, when it was clear that that would not work, a "soft coup" - has failed. Abrams convinced the Quartet, the Europeans, the Israelis, the Saudis and even some Palestinians that his program to undermine Hamas would succeed. Give us one year, he had said. Now, one year later, two important supporters of his program - the Saudis and the Abu Mazen government - have changed their views. The Europeans are not far behind." (Alastair Crooke and Mark Perry ‘How the Saudis stole a march on the US’ http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IC06Ak04.html March 06, 2007).

Nathan Guttman.
"As Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice presses Israelis and Palestinians to meet a new set of policy benchmarks, the White House is reassuring Jewish groups and conservatives that the president has no plans to pressure Jerusalem. Deputy National Security Advisor Elliott Abrams told a group of Jewish communal leaders last week that the president would ensure that the process does not lead to Israel being pushed into an agreement with which it is uncomfortable. Also last week, at a regular gathering of Jewish Republicans, sources said, Abrams described President Bush as an "emergency brake" who would prevent Israel from being pressed into a deal; during the breakfast gathering, the White House official also said that a lot of what is done during Rice’s frequent trips to the region is "just process" - steps needed in order to keep the Europeans and moderate Arab countries "on the team" and to make sure they feel that the United States is promoting peace in the Middle East." (Nathan Guttman ‘Top Bush Adviser Says Rice’s Push For Mideast Peace Is ‘Just Process’’ http://www.forward.com/articles/top-bush-adviser-says-rice-s-push-for-mideast-p/ May 11, 2007).

Charles Hagel
"The columnist also said Hagel quoted foreign ministers, ambassadors and former Americans officials as saying they believe Abrams "is making policy in the Middle East." Israel, according to sources close to decision-makers in Jerusalem, also sees Abrams as the leading policy figure in the administration on Middle East issues, a status that has led Olmert to keep an open channel of communications with Bush’s senior adviser." (Nathan Guttman ‘Top Bush Adviser Says Rice’s Push For Mideast Peace Is ‘Just Process’’ http://www.forward.com/articles/top-bush-adviser-says-rice-s-push-for-mideast-p/ May 11, 2007).

Jim Lobe.
"If the reports prove true and Blair accepts the post, the move is likely to mark a victory by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice over more hawkish forces within the administration led by Deputy National Security Adviser Elliott Abrams and Vice President Dick Cheney's office. The latter have repeatedly frustrated her efforts to press Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to bolster Abbas by dismantling illegal Jewish settlements and to ease travel restrictions on Palestinians." (Jim Lobe ‘Tony Blair as Middle East czar’ http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IF22Ak03.html June 22, 2007).

Jonathan Steele.
"Arming insurgents against elected governments has a long US pedigree and it is no accident that Elliott Abrams, the deputy national security adviser and apparent architect of the anti-Hamas subversion, was a key player in Ronald Reagan's supply of weapons to the Contras who fought Nicaragua's elected government in the 1980s." (Jonathan Steele ‘Hamas acted on a very real fear of a US-sponsored coup’ http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2108820,00.html June 22, 2007).

Patrick Seale.
Condoleezza Rice, the unfortunate U.S. Secretary of State whom some had thought was planning a new push for Arab-Israeli talks, has clearly been outgunned by pro-Israeli hawks, such as Elliott Abrams at the National Security Council." (Patrick Seale ‘Israel Seems Determined to Dig its own Grave’ http://english.daralhayat.com/opinion/contributors/06-2007/Article-20070622-537a929a-c0a8-10ed-01b1-6996ee6d515a/story.html June 22, 2007).