Credit: wikipedia / Gage Skidmore / Elliott speaking at CPAC in Washington D.C. on February 10, 2012.

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC TIMES

Elliott Abrams, a foreign  policy wonk for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, has a colorful past. Abrams is most infamous for being convicted of withholding information from Congress about the Iran–Contra affair while serving under Reagan.  U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Friday named Abrams as the Trump administration’s new special envoy to crisis-stricken Venezuela. 

“Elliott Abrams is coming aboard to lead our efforts on Venezuela.  Elliott will have responsibility for all things related to our efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela.  His critical work will get started right away. Tomorrow, he will travel with me to the UN Security Council, where the United States has called a long overdue meeting to urge other nations to support Venezuela’s democratic transition.”

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Jan. 25, 2019 press conference

Abrams’ appointment as new point person in Venezuela no doubt shocked a lot of foreign policy veterans who  are familiar with his hawkish, interventionist  style of diplomacy.  Critics say Abrams had his fingers in the infamous U.S. Invasion of Panama in 1989 and America’s questionable policies in Latin America that included backing “death squads” in the region.

Meanwhile, Pompeo praised Friday’s appointment of Abrams. “Elliott’s passion for the rights and liberties of all peoples makes him a perfect fit and a valuable and timely addition. This week, the Venezuelan people have rejected former President Maduro’s illegitimate rule. Consistent with Venezuela’s constitution, and with the support of the Venezuelan people and the National Assembly, Juan Guaido has declared himself the interim president of Venezuela. These are just the first steps on Venezuela’s road to liberty. Elliott will be a true asset to our mission to help the Venezuelan people fully restore democracy and prosperity to their country.”

Abrams Is Ready To Get To Work On Difficult, Dangerous Situation in Venezuela

“Thank you. Very briefly, I left this building 30 years ago this week, last time I worked here. So it’s very nice to be back. This crisis in Venezuela is deep and difficult and dangerous, and I can’t wait to get to work on it. Thank you.”

MR. ABRAMS,  Jan. 25, 2019 press conference U.S. Department of State Washington D.C.

Credit: US Department of State/  Elliott Abrams with Pompeo  Jan. 25, 2019 press conference Washington D.C. 

“Elliott will have responsibility for all things related to our efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela. It’s a global challenge. There are multiple dimensions to how we hope to assist the Venezuelans in achieving democracy there, and he will be responsible for leading that effort,”   Secretary of State Pompeo.  “We have an enormous team here that’s done truly remarkable work to date to get us to the point we are at today, and they’ve done this over certainly my eight months, but long preceding that as well. I’m incredibly proud of the work that our State Department team has done to date. Elliott will now lead our effort that relates directly to our efforts on behalf of the Venezuelan people.”