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Noted 'neocon' finds surprising support from Democrats in Trump's America

Iraq war cheerleader Elliott Abrams is in the running for the No. 2 spot at the State Department. Will Democrats put their misgivings behind them in order to rein in Trump?
Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the council on Foreign Relations Elliott Abrams (L), President of the International Republican Institute Lorne Craner (C) and Executive Director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy Robert Satloff (L) testifies before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, February 9, 2011 on the recent developments in Egypt and Lebanon.                AFP PHOTO/Jim WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

If any other Republican president were running the country, Elliott Abrams' hawkish pro-democracy views would be a liability with Democrats. With Donald Trump in charge, they're a badge of honor.

The president was due to meet Feb. 7 with Abrams at the White House, fueling speculation that the longtime diplomat will shortly be getting the nod to be deputy secretary of state. Senior department officials are gunning for an experienced lieutenant to help Secretary of State Rex Tillerson steer America's massive diplomatic corps, but Trump advisers such as Steve Bannon are said to be wary of a man who criticized the president throughout the campaign.

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