  We report the first abundance analysis of 17 M giant stars in the inner
Galactic bulge at $(l,b)=(0\deg,-1\deg)$, based on $R=25,000$ infrared
spectroscopy $(1.5-1.8 ~\mu \rm m)$ using NIRSPEC at the Keck telescope. Based
on their luminosities and radial velocities, we identify these stars with a
stellar population older than 1 Gyr. We find the iron abundance $\rm < [Fe/H] >
= -0.22 \pm 0.03$, with a $1\sigma$ dispersion of $0.14\pm 0.024$. We also find
the bulge stars have enhanced [$\rm alpha$/Fe] abundance ratio at the level of
+0.3 dex relative to the Solar stars, and low $\rm <^{12}C/^{13}C>\approx
6.5\pm 0.3$. The derived iron abundance and composition for this inner bulge
sample is indistinguishable from that of a sample of M giants our team has
previously studied in Baade's Window $(l,b)=(0.9,-4)$. We find no evidence of
any major iron abundance or abundance ratio gradient between this inner field
and Baade's window.
