Elliott Abrams

Venezuela is at a crossroads. Over the past month, we have witnessed a massive outpouring of hope and courage and tenacity by the Venezuelan people.

The Arab Spring came from the bottom up.

I think Ms. Frankel is right in saying that we are, in many ways, weakening our diplomatic instruments.

Should we continue with this policy of significant financial support for the LAF when it seems not at all to be working?

If we are trying to strengthen Lebanon's independence we are failing. If we are trying to limit Hezbollah's power, we are failing.

That is why I think this committee and others need to reassess those expenditures.

If we are trying to strengthen the Sunni or Druze or Christian influence inside Lebanon against Hezbollah, we are failing.

If we are trying to eliminate the degree to which Hezbollah serves Iran, we are failing.

This terrible death of Taylor Force is what really got people to stand up and say, wait a minute, now we understand it, and it is intolerable.

The moral point is crystal clear, and now is the time to act.

I do not think we should be under the illusion that we are going to solve this problem overnight.

I think by cutting off the direct payments now, you would be sending a very clear message to the Palestinian leadership that this is intolerable.