Another ex-CIA guy, the great Michael Scheuer relates his expulsion from the Jamestown Foundation following a speech in December criticizing the special relationship:
My speech seemed well received, but in January I received a call from Jamestown's president telling me I had been terminated as a senior fellow by the Foundation's board of directors. Why, I asked? He responded by citing my comments about Obama doing the "Tel Aviv two-step" and my description of Emanuel's record, both of which he said might be in a speech by Rep. Ron Paul. My remarks about Emanuel apparently sparked particular anger among the Foundation's directors, as Jamestown's president referred to them at least three times in a short telephone conversation. In any event, the president said several major financial donors to Jamestown threatened to withdraw funding if I remained a senior fellow, so I was getting the boot. Then he added that my every-other-week essays for Jamestown's Terrorism Focus had attracted readers and praise for the Foundation, so the directors said I could keep writing for the journal. I declined this honor, which seemingly was a bribe made in the hope that I would not speak publicly about being terminated as a senior fellow for saying the current state of the U.S.-Israel relationship undermined U.S. national security.
I regret leaving Jamestown, as I have great respect for its analysis on several vital U.S. security issues. But at the same time, I am grateful to the Foundation's directors for terminating me. In the hardcover of Marching Toward Hell, I condemned the U.S.-Israel relationship and those who take it "upon themselves to decide who is and who is not a 'good American,'" based on his or her views of U.S.-Israel relations, and "then mete out punishment to those of their countrymen who do not make the grade." At the time, my view was based on what pro-Israel U.S. citizens had done to Pat Buchanan, President Carter, and Professors Walt and Mearsheimer.
Now, however, I have the personal experience of losing both position and income for condemning Washington's status quo Israel policy as a threat to U.S. national security. The introduction to my paperback, therefore, can be said to be credibly written by an author with firsthand knowledge of how the Israel Lobby works. After my experience with the "nonpartisan" board of directors at Jamestown, I can only say of them what FDR said of his domestic foes: "They are unanimous in their hatred for me – and I welcome their hatred."
Weiss adds: Beautiful statement. Thrilling conclusion. Welcome aboard. Where is the bandwidth? Let this go prominently into the file for when Ezra Klein who is wet behind the ears and others say that you don't get punished for taking this position. Note that in his original speech, Scheuer said that critics of the US-Israel policy should not be labelled antisemites. When I have time, I will look at those financial donors to Jamestown...
Jefferson, when informed that religious fundamentalists in Connecticut or some other New Engalnd State were very actively and effectively opposing his candidacy for President, because of his strong position on separation of church and state, replied that they had good reason to oppose his candidacy, because he had "sworn on the altar of god eternal hostility to every form of tyranny over the human mind." Actions such as those described by Sheuer by the Israel Lobby represent a similar form of tyranny over the human mind, which must be opposed by Americans dedicated to our founding principles. It is one thing to advocate for their beliefs, it is another to pretend to be independent and non-partisan, while actively being the opposite.
Sheuer's welcoming their action against him recalls Jefferson's memorable response. Let's keep exposing those places where the Israel Lobby's efforts are inconsistent with American core values. Then let us reassert our core values.
"It is one thing to advocate for their beliefs, it is another to pretend to be independent and non-partisan, while actively being the opposite."
Well put. This is the underlying reason the Israel lobby cannot be said to be "just like any other lobby." Unlike the AARP or the NRA, it can never be entirely truthful about its aims.
Where are the Hasbara-bots to smear Scheur or claim that either a) this sort of thing doesn't happen, or b) when it does it's deserved and private foundations have the right to fire anyone they want for any reason they want (especially when large donors make noise)?
Mr. Scheuer will probably be ignored for as long as possible to keep this off the radar, then slammed for telling the truth, and we will all learn that telling the truth is considered anti-Semitic, when it feeds into negative stereotypes.
For shame, Mr. Scheuer!
Unfortunately Mr. Scheuer has been absolutely right on his Near East policy assessments. This is not tolerable in our society today.He follows in the foot steps of other patriots who tried to warn the American people. Unfortunately today we are witnessing the rapid decline of our beloved country,
Just saw the BBC TV discussion with Scheuer on the panel.
The guy was right when he said about Scheuer, "Boy, does he hate Jews!" Is he Jewish? I wouldn't be surprised. As another guy said, "There's no Jew hater like a Jewish Jew hater."
Why don't all the critics of Israel educate themselves about the intentions of the groups fighting against a right of Israel to exist. Why don't they just read one constitution by a Palstinian group. Just study the plans of the Palastinian Authority. there is not one muslim terrorist party in the world that ever intends to let Israel exist unmolested, and any peace treaty signed will ultimately end in an attack on the nation of Israel