The Sagacity Of Elliott Abrams | Hoover Institution

Thursday, February 8, 2024
Hoover Institution | Stanford University
Elliott Abrams has had the ear of Republican presidents from Reagan to Trump. Here is what he told them...

[@carnakthemagnificent336]

Thank you. Very grateful I listened in.

[@pdd60absorbed12]

.....when adults were in charge and the children knew it.

[@brucevilla]

Thanks for Uploading.

[@007.M-D]

Interesting calm and precise way, to contextualise historical decisions and people's thoughts when they took them. We all learn a lot .

[@Time_Chance]

The insanity of “2 State Solution” explained succinctly. Magical incantation, indeed.

[@user-bt8vn3dj6o]

Those individuals could not work in either political party.

[@lomotil3370]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:22 *🔄 Elliott Abrams began his political career as a Democrat, working for Scoop Jackson and Daniel Patrick Moynihan.* 02:12 *🌐 Abrams believes that if Scoop Jackson had become president instead of Jimmy Carter in 1976, the foreign policy outcomes, especially in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, might have been more favorable.* 03:07 *🌐 Abrams emphasizes the interconnectedness of global events and how one crisis can affect another, citing the withdrawal from Afghanistan and its potential impact on situations like Putin's invasion of Ukraine or an invasion of Taiwan.* 04:41 *🇮🇶 Reflecting on the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Abrams expresses optimism, suggesting that Iraq could become a stable democratic state in the future if Iran's influence diminishes.* 05:09 *🇮🇷 Abrams criticizes President Biden's statement on the lack of clear evidence linking Iran to recent events in Israel, asserting that the evidence of Iranian support for groups like Hamas is clear.* 07:15 *⚔️ Abrams advocates for punishing Iran directly for its actions, rather than focusing solely on its proxies, arguing for a change in the longstanding approach of not holding Iran accountable.* 09:31 *🇵🇸 Abrams opposes the two-state solution for Israel-Palestine, questioning the feasibility and the potential consequences of creating an independent Palestinian state without proper conditions and safeguards.* 15:47 *🤝 Abrams stresses the importance of imposing conditions and expectations on Palestinians before creating a state, highlighting the need for reforms, human rights, and demilitarization.* 20:51 *🇨🇳 Reflecting on Henry Kissinger's realpolitik, Abrams criticizes the approach for not considering societal aspects, especially in the case of China, where the focus on leadership might have overlooked the complexities of Chinese society.* 23:33 *🏛️ Abrams discusses the term "neoconservative," acknowledging its historical relevance but noting that it's less meaningful now, often used as an invective, and few individuals accurately fit the label today.* 24:40 *📢 Abrams, appointed by President Biden to the US Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, clarifies that it's a bipartisan commission, and his appointment involves providing oversight for broadcasting and public diplomacy activities.* 25:32 *🌍 Elliott Abrams discusses the US Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, emphasizing its role in assessing the effectiveness of public diplomacy activities conducted by the State Department and other agencies.* 26:29 *🇨🇺 Reflecting on Cuba, Abrams expresses limited optimism for significant change in the next 10 years, highlighting the continued challenges with communism, lack of freedom, and political repression.* 28:16 *📚 Abrams mentions he is currently reading "President Garfield," a book about the last president born in a log cabin who had promising potential but was assassinated.* 29:38 *🤔 Abrams shares his favorite historical counterfactual, pondering the outcome if Ottoman reformers had not sided with the Germans in 1914, exploring the potential impact on World War I dynamics and the Middle East.* Made with HARPA AI

[@big1boston]

Eliot most people see you as a criminal, how do you respond,