Robert
Malley, a top Middle East advisor that US President-elect Barack Obama
promised months ago would play no role in his administration due to
ties to Hamas, has reportedly been sent out on the next
administration's first diplomatic mission.
According to a report in Middle East Newsline, Obama dispatched
Malley to Egypt and Syria late last week with a message that the he
intends to mend and bolster relations with both nations, and to give
greater weight to their concerns regarding regional conflicts than did
President George W. Bush.
During the Democratic Party primaries, Obama was lashed by
critics for having Malley on his team after the latter admitted to
being in regular contact with Hamas as part of his work with the
International Crisis Group.
Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt quickly responded at the time that
Malley had provided "informal advice to the campaign in the past," but
insisted that he had "no formal role in the campaign and he will not
play any role in the future."