[CitizensTruth] ARTICLE - Freeman hits Israeli lobby on way out

[Walterb306 at cs.com]

All,

FYI,

Beverley

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/19856_Page2.html
Freeman hits 'Israel lobby' on way out
By BEN SMITH | 3/10/09 5:01 PM EDT

President Barack Obama's controversial pick for a top intelligence post 
blasted the "Israel lobby" on his way out the door Tuesday, intensifying a debate 
on the role Israel's allies played in the latest failed Obama appointment. 

Charles W. Freeman Jr.'s abrupt withdrawal from his appointment as chairman 
of the National Intelligence Council came after he drew fire on a number of 
fronts - including questions about his financial ties to China and Saudi Arabia. 

But the most heated opposition came from supporters of Israel - and Freeman's 
departure shows Obama's reluctance to signal a change to a U.S. policy in the 
Middle East that centers on standing beside Israel. 

Throughout his presidential campaign, Obama jettisoned aides and backed off 
statements that appeared to imply a change in the Bush Administration's firm 
support for hawkish Israeli governments. 

As president, Obama dispatched Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the 
Middle East last week with a tough message for the Palestinians, saying it was 
hard for Israel to make peace with people who are hurling rockets into their 
country. 

And the attacks on Freeman, in the end, hinged primarily on the question of 
Israel, something the Democratic senators who helped break the back of the 
nomination Tuesday made clear. 

"His statements against Israel were way over the top and severely out of step 
with the administration," said Senator Chuck Schumer in a statement. "I 
repeatedly urged the White House to reject him, and I am glad they did the right 
thing." 

Hours before the Director of National Intelligence, Dennis Blair, expressed 
his "regret" at Freeman's withdrawal, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) told Blair 
he was concerned about "statements that [Freeman]'s made that appear either to 
be inclined to lean against Israel or too much in favor of China." 

In particular, Freeman has described "Israeli violence against Palestinians" 
as a key barrier to Mideast peace, and referred to violence in Tibet last year 
- widely seen in the United States as a revolt against Chinese occupation - 
as a "race riot." 

Freeman left no doubt about where he places blame in a written statement 
after his withdrawal. 

"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, still less to factor in American understanding of trends 
and events in the Middle East," he wrote. 

"The tactics of the Israel Lobby plumb the depths of dishonor 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." 

Freeman's departure echoed moments during last year's presidential campaign 
when Obama - generally willing to ignore the daily political tempests - 
abandoned aides and advisers who drew strong, persistent criticism on the question of 
Israel, which became, in the politics of the presidential campaign, a proxy 
issue for more general toughness on Islamic terrorism. 

He forced an informal advisor, former Clinton administration peace negotiator 
Rob Malley, to resign after he met with Hamas officials on behalf of the 
International Crisis Group. And he distanced himself from Carter National Security 
Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, who had been, briefly, a high-profile campaign 
figure. Later Obama, asked about his views on Israel, dismissed Brzezinski as 
"not one of my key advisers." 

Pro-Israel groups and congressional critics were at pains to avoid labeling 
the Freeman withdrawal as a scalp for the "Lobby," stressing instead the role 
Freeman's financial ties played in his fall. Saudi royals financed Freeman's 
think tank, and he served on the board of a Chinese state oil company. 

"I think he would have been able to withstand that if it was just a policy 
difference," said Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), a leading congressional critic. "What 
was fatal was a lack of disclosure
Some may see the hand of the 'Israel Lobby,'" said Ira Forman, the executive 
director of the National Jewish Democratic Council. "But given Freeman's lack 
of intelligence experience, and his willingness to offend multiple 
constituencies, that would be a terribly simplistic view of the world."
But the campaign against Freeman certainly originated in pro-Israel circles - 
though Freeman was nominated after those concerns became known. 

The first public opposition to the pick came on the blog of Steve Rosen, a 
former lobbyist for the pro-Israel group AIPAC who is facing trial for 
mishandling classified information. The story was driven on the website of The Weekly 
Standard by the magazine's blogger, Michael Goldfarb, a former aide to Senator 
John McCain and an outspoken Israel hawk. 

But Jewish and pro-Israel organizations largely decided not to make the fight 
against Freeman a public crusade, though they were the first, and fiercest, 
Freeman opponents and made their views known privately. 

"The vast majority of the Jewish community [were] very careful not to make 
this a Jewish community issue," said a top official at one major pro-Israel 
organization.
And indeed, some officials said Israel's allies might be winning the Freeman 
battle at the expense of larger goals. 

"This is another example of what I call the 'cosmic oy vey,'" said Aaron 
David Miller, a former longtime Mideast policy official. "It's an inability of 
many in the pro-Israeli community to understand the fundamental commitment of 
this government to Israel." 

"If the pro-Israeli community wants to worry about something, let them worry 
about the predicament the Israelis are now in" with Hamas, Hezbollah, and 
Iran, he said. 

But with the news of Freeman's withdrawal, some in that community were glad 
to take credit. 

"What it showed is that there's no place for that kind of hostility to 
America's closest friend and most loyal ally," said a top official at a major Jewish 
organization who had worked against the choice. 

Freeman and his allies were quick to place blame. 

"If they withdraw his appointment prior to the conclusion of [Freeman's 
formal vetting] that would be seen as abject caving in on people who are extreme 
partisans of Israel," Nicholas Veliotes, a former Ambassador to Egypt, and one 
of 17 former diplomats who signed a letters supporting Freeman, said Tuesday 
before the withdrawal was announced. 

Another prominent former diplomat who, like Veliotes, signed a letter 
supporting Freeman warned that the withdrawal would be perceived "right or wrong as a 
major victory of Israel lobby, and it will be read in a substantial part of 
the Arab or Palestinian world as 'these guys - [the Obama administration] -- 
can't broker a peace.' " 

And Freeman warned in his emailed statement that the campaign against him ran 
counter to American interests. 

"I believe that the inability of the American public to discuss, or the 
government to consider, any option for U.S. policies in the Middle East opposed by 
the ruling faction in Israeli politics has allowed that faction to adopt and 
sustain policies that ultimately threaten the existence of the state of Israel. 
It is not permitted for anyone in the United States to say so," he wrote. 
"This is not just a tragedy for Israelis and their neighbors in the Middle East; 
it is doing widening damage to the national security of the United States." 

One place where Freeman found no defenders, though, was the Obama White House 
- which prepared talking points and dossiers to defend other troubled 
nominees - but which stayed on the sidelines during the Freeman fight. 

"The political people, and the [National Security Council] didn't seem to be 
in the loop on this," said one official who spoke to Obama aides about the 
question.

    
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Reader's Comments (362)
read all 362 comments 
Show the first 20 comments
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Replies: 362      
    Hardrada
Party: Liberal  Reply #1
Date: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:11 PM EST 
________________________________________
Boo... I liked this guy. He's a straight shooter.
 Reply      Quote      Report Abuse

    Claudius
Party: Republican   Reply #2
Date: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:13 PM EST 
________________________________________
Score another victory for Israel which continues to dictate our foreign 
policy. AIPAC 1 American 0. The tail continues to wag the St. Bernard.
________________________________________
THE GOP IS PART OF THE TALIBAN CULT AND IS LEAD BY OMAR BEN LIMBAU 
 Reply      Quote      Report Abuse

    DieHardFredHead
Party: Conservative Reply #3
Date: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:19 PM EST 
________________________________________
 Reply      Quote      Report Abuse

    Hank G
Party: Independent  Reply #4
Date: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:27 PM EST 
________________________________________
TeamPOLITICO: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:01 PM EST 
But Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), one of Freeman's leading critics, said the 
appointee could have "withstood" the attacks on policy grounds, but ultimately was 
torpedoed by the fact that he headed an institute funded by Saudi royalty and 
sat on the board of a Chinese state oil company.
It's beginning to look like there isn't clean 'Rat to found...anywhere. 
Either that or Obama's choices have all been taken from the FBI's most wanted list!
________________________________________
Make the world a better place...teach a liberal to think, but understand, 
it's a tiring grueling thankless job, Shucks it's even scary sometimes! 
 Reply      Quote      Report Abuse

    claudiatucsonaz
Party: Democrat Reply #5
Date: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:29 PM EST 
________________________________________
It is amazing to me how the Repubs, all of a sudden, have a conscious. Where 
were they when Jr. Bush was appointing inept people? Look where they led us! I 
really hate to see our appointees buckle down to the GOP
claudiatucsonaz
 Reply      Quote      Report Abuse

    I Do Vote
Party: Democrat Reply #6
Date: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:35 PM EST 
________________________________________
TeamPOLITICO: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:01 PM EST 
The withdrawal came after Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) grilled Blair at a 
Senate Armed Service Committee hearing Tuesday. Lieberman cited his "concern" 
about "statements that [Freeman] has made that appear either to be inclined to 
lean against Israel or too much in favor of China."
Former President Jimmy Carter should consider serving in that position.
 Reply      Quote      Report Abuse

    RightStuff
Party: Republican   Reply #7
Date: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:36 PM EST 
________________________________________
We elected a straw man for president. He has no following that is not corrupt 
in some way. President Obama is not up for the task. He needs to humble 
himself, start doing the right things, find some honest people to work with him, 
and above all, stop ticking off the pope. The Obama "administration" so far, is 
a train wreck.
________________________________________
Man's nature is to be free. Government's nature is to control. The despot's 
nature is to enslave through fear. Is everyone happy now? 
 Reply      Quote      Report Abuse

    Claudius
Party: Republican   Reply #8
Date: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:36 PM EST 
________________________________________
claudiatucsonaz: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:29 PM EST 
I really hate to see our appointees buckle down to the GOP
Pobrecita de ti muchacha, they buckled to Lieberman and AIPEC.
________________________________________
The Tire Safety Division of the Department of Transportation has declared 
Rush to be dangerously over-inflated. 
 Reply      Quote      Report Abuse

    W. Axl Rose
Party: NA   Reply #9
Date: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:37 PM EST 
________________________________________
Another one bites the dust!! I love it!!
________________________________________
I hope he fails. 
 Reply      Quote      Report Abuse

    Constitutional Lawyer
Party: Liberal  Reply #10
Date: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:38 PM EST 
________________________________________
Finally. Those of us who personally know this guy and are willing to speak 
without the political spin that Denny must use by virtue of his position, know 
this guy is a buffoon. He has and would continue to make the wrong choice for 
the Middle East that would result in prolonging the establishment of the 
Palestinian State .
Too many times he has spoken under his breath about his support for HAMMAS 
and HEZBOLLA as well as his true hatred for Israel. Wrong ideas, wrong 
intentions,wrong guy. What's even more scary is the failure of this administration to 
operate as executives. They are making Carter look good. If they do not get 
their act together soon, then we are all in trouble, regardless of the political 
ilk.
 Reply      Quote      Report Abuse

    RightStuff
Party: Republican   Reply #11
Date: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:41 PM EST 
________________________________________
claudiatucsonaz: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:29 PM EST 
It is amazing to me how the Repubs, all of a sudden, have a conscious. Where 
were they when Jr. Bush was appointing inept people? Look where they led us! I 
really hate to see our appointees buckle down to the GOP
Are you illiterate, or what? "Conscious"? "Jr. Bush"? "buckle down"?
How did you do in high school American Government class?
________________________________________
Human liberty and the nanny state are mutually exclusive. 
 Reply      Quote      Report Abuse

    Tamsin Crozier
Party: NA   Reply #12
Date: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:41 PM EST 
________________________________________
TeamPOLITICO: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:01 PM EST 
Freeman has described "Israeli violence against Palestinians" as a key 
barrier to Mideast peace
Israel is of course in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions calling 
for an end to its illegal immoral occupations by which it has instituted 
apartheid conditions in the West Bank and turned Gaza into a death camp. We were 
attacked on 9/11 because of our foreign policy favoring Israel, and it's clear 
that if the Israel Lobby maintains its stranglehold on the politicians and the 
media, our country is doomed. We will forever be going bankrupt fighting 
unnecessary wars for Israel. 
Freeman was just trying to point out that an evenhanded policy would be in 
the better interest of the US. This has been well-documented in professors 
Mearsheimer and Walt's classic book The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy. 
Unfortunately the Israel-firsters like Joe Lieberman love the status quo. 
 Reply      Quote      Report Abuse

    I Do Vote
Party: Democrat Reply #13
Date: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:42 PM EST 
________________________________________
RightStuff: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:36 PM EST 
We elected a straw man for president. He has no following that is not corrupt 
in some way. President Obama is not up for the task. He needs to humble 
himself, start doing the right things, find some honest people to work with him, 
and above all, stop ticking off the pope. The Obama "administration" so far, is 
a train wreck.
A train wreck? If this 50 day old administration is a train wreck, how do you 
compare the 8 year old Bush administration?
 Reply      Quote      Report Abuse

    Joe_D
Party: Conservative Reply #14
Date: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:43 PM EST 
________________________________________
claudiatucsonaz: Mar. 10, 2009 - 5:29 PM EST 
It is amazing to me how the Repubs, all of a sudden, have a conscious. Where 
were they when Jr. Bush was appointing inept people? Look where they led us! I 
really hate to see our appointees buckle down to the GOP
It has nothing to do with conscious, or political philosophy. It has to do 
with the ineptness of the Obama administration to vet its appointees. Both Bush 
and Clinton had a few surprises with their nominees, but for the most part the 
nominees were properly vetted and a closet full of skeletons did not fall out 
when the nominee showed up for a congressional interview. Appointing someone 
to the National Intellegence Council that worked with the Saudi's and Chinese 
may not have been the smartest move. 

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