Chas Freeman on Israel-Palestine 3 of 3

4 May 2011
The Palestine Center, DC
notable excerpt from 2/3: http://www.youtube.com/user/anonymouscommentss?feature=mhum#p/c/F9CB524399DAB...
3 of 3
Original hosted here: http://www.thejerusalemfund.org/ht/display/ContentDetails/i/29130/pid/897

Chase Freeman:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_W._Freeman,_Jr.

On February 26, 2009 the Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair named Freeman as chair of the National Intelligence Council,[9] which culls intelligence from sixteen US agencies and compiles them into National Intelligence Estimates. Blair cited his "diverse background in defense, diplomacy and intelligence."[10]
News of Freeman's nomination met with criticism from a number of pro-Israel commentators and Chinese dissidents of his views about Israel and Arab nations and his ties to Saudi Arabia and China, with Steve J. Rosen, a former top official with AIPAC conducting the "opening salvo" according to professor John Mearsheimer.[1][11][12][13][14] The Zionist Organization of America called for rescinding "the reported appointment."[15] U.S. Representative Steve Israel wrote to the Inspector General of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence calling for an investigation of Freeman's "relationship with the Saudi government" given his "prejudicial public statements" against the state of Israel.[16] All seven Republican members of the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence signed a letter raising "concerns about Mr. Freeman's lack of experience and uncertainty about his objectivity."[5][17] 87 Chinese dissidents wrote a letter to President Obama asking him to reconsider the appointment.[18] House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was said to be "incensed" by Freeman's alleged views of the Tiananmen Square massacre, reportedly urged President Obama against the selection.[19] Freeman explained that the remarks were taken out of context and represented "his assessment of how Chinese leaders had seen things."[5]
Freeman then issued a full statement on his reasons for withdrawal, stating, "I do not believe the National Intelligence Council could function effectively while its chair was under constant attack by unscrupulous people with a passionate attachment to the views of a political faction in a foreign country;" he identified the country as Israel. He questioned whether the "outrageous agitation" following the leak of his pending appointment meant that the Obama administration would be able to make independent decisions "about the Middle East and related issues." He cited especially interference by Israel supporters, writing:
"The libels on me and their easily traceable email trails show conclusively that there is a powerful lobby determined to prevent any view other than its own from being aired. The tactics of the Israel lobby plumb the depths of dishonour and indecency and include character assassination, selective misquotation, the willful distortion of the record, the fabrication of falsehoods, and an utter disregard for the truth."..... "The aim of this lobby is control of the policy process through the exercise of a veto over the appointment of people who dispute the wisdom of its views, the substitution of political correctness for analysis, and the exclusion of any and all options for decision by Americans and our government other than those that it favours."
—Charles W. Freeman[20][21]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123672847973688515.html
-------
After being run out, transparently by "pro-Israel" AIPAC types (partly "covert" and not openly for some), he withdrew. I watched the nomination go from a sense of hope, to what was a sad reminder of how ruthless, disingenuous, and effective the right wing "pro-Israel" lobby is. They performed wholly disingenuous character assassination, and often even enlisted the help of the regular AIPAC lackeys in congress and elsewhere, in order to attempt to cover their role in the affair. The bottom line is this: he was run out, and considered unacceptable, as he was a wise and objective person who actually spoke the truth on all matters, including Israel. Speaking the truth on Israel, as DC insiders know, is detrimental to your career. What a sad state. Further, our bias is not good for Jews, or Israelis, as it is perpetuating the endless conflict, thwarting peace, and ruining US standing in the world. Also, such bias is injurious to Israelis who are not religious expansionist zealots, as the only thing we foster is the continuation of Israeli expansionism, at the expense of BOTH Israelis and Palestinians.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Chas
• Freeman
• 3of3