per published reports. The announcement came from Dennis Blair, the director of national intelligence. Stating that Freeman asked that his name be removed.
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Sonuvabitch.
It's a shame.
I wonder if he just got fed up with it, or if he was asked to politely opt out?
Nobody said it was going to be easy. The incredible wealth and power of Israeli advocates is going to win more than they lose.
But the tide is still turning, and this should not deter Middle East peace advocates in the least.
Bah…
A Pyrrhic victory for the Israel lobby? It was the first example I know of organised mainstream pushback to their smears on national security appointments. If they are victorious in one more battle like that, they will be ruined.
The Repubs got Cantor to go after him?
put a fork in him. obama, i mean
What Israel lobby?
Wonder what they had on him….or if he simply wasn't comfortable having the Senate scrutinize his past comments and affilations.
Freeman must not be circumcised.
They got to him:
DiFi Calls Freeman to the Hill
Greg Sargent reports:
Dianne Feinstein Bringing In Chas Freeman For Chat With Senators
Okay, another key development in the war against Charles “Chas” Freeman, Obama’s pick for National Intelligence Council chief, who’s taking heavy fire from neocons and the pro-Israel lobby over his views on Israel and his foreign ties.
Dianne Feinstein, the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a high-profile voice on intel matters, is summoning Freeman to meet with Senators from both parties on the committee to assuage any concerns they might have about the pick, Feinstein spokesperson Gil Duran confirms to me.
This could be a make or break moment for Freeman. The fact that Feinstein is bringing Freeman in could signal that some Dem Senators are on the verge of going public with opposition to him.
This is highly unusual. Sargent adds that Feinstein's efforts may help smother the controversy around Freeman's appointment which has been building for weeks. Perhaps that is her goal. But the fact that these meetings are necessary at all is a sign that this appointment has become a serious problem — and that the problem remains unresolved.
Update: And JTA produces a background quote from one "Capitol Hill insider" who thinks Freeman won't survive:
This person argued that Freeman's comments on China and Tibet, and his involvement with CNOOC, the oil company, are what will end up derailing the appointment.
“He was never vetted, where these kinds of things would come out,” said the source, referring to the announcement last week that the examination of Freeman's finances that is customary for all top appointments has not yet occurred. “While the initial point of contention may have been Israel, people became aware of a multitude of problems.”
DiFi Calls Freeman to the Hill
Was he defiant in the meeting? If so, he was told he'd be smeared to no end. I'd like to have been a fly on the wall in that room…
The fleas still control the dog.
scary
I wonder who made this decision. Freeman himself? Blair? Obama? I guess the lobby does in fact have the power to stop an appointment. Hopefully in a couple years they won't.
"I'd like to have been a fly on the wall in that room…"
Less interesting than being a fly on your wall when you whisper into your hat about Jewish conspiracies in your toaster. :-)
It's disappointing, but keep in mind that the Lobby spent a lot of political and moral capital winning this round. That this fight took place as much out in the open as it has shows how profound recent changes have been. A lot of eyes have been opened, and each set will lead to more. We owe thanks to Ambassador Freeman for being willing to put up with neocon vilification for as long as he did, when he and his family probably would have preferred peace and quiet.
Here's to looking forward to how much Lobby hemorrhaging we'll see during the AIPAC trial!
They're determined to insulate the US intelligence estimating machinery from Saudi influence, as they see it. They don't trust the Saudis, and when you consider the way Saudi influence seems to hover behind all sorts of other West Asian regional theatres, it isn't surprising.
A bitter lesson to those who believed the corrupt tentacles of Zionism didn't extend as far into Congress and the US government as they really do.
On the other hand, this is yet more proof of what Mondoweiss has maintained all along: that the Israel lobby is a powerful and pernicious influence that has virtual veto power at the highest levels of government.
Expect Mondoweiss' ratings to continue to climb ever higher as a result. More and more are finally opening their eyes, and this will bring in a whole new legion of the enlightened.
This was a terrible setback for those of us who hoped that Obama would represent something new in American Israeli relations. This little victory establishes that Aipac still rules Washington when it comes to Israel. I thought for some time that Obama could not afford the political cost of defying Aipac and Israel. He is spending his political capital on the budget and dealing with the economic crisis.
To me, the most important thing that Freeman could have contributed to intelligence oversight was perspective.
An objective perspective would indicate that an undeclared nuclear power, frequently involved in shooting wars with its neighbors, is one of the most dangerous flashpoints on the globe. This perspective also would indicate that providing such a power with aircraft, missiles and guidance systems multiplies the nuclear risk by a very large factor.
Depending on one's political views, providing ongoing military aid to an undeclared and dangerous nuclear power could range from merely reckless to treasonous.
Does the 'nuclear football' ultimately have a zionist finger on the trigger? I don't know, just asking. But the exorbitant privilege that Israel has obtained in being an undeclared, subsidized nuclear power, which apparently can nix the appointment of any U.S. official which might question this appalling, outrageous state of affairs, really makes me wonder who is in charge here.
Obama is a gutless coward
Jim hints at something that is rarely mentioned but is probably worth thinking about. Israel is a nuclear power and it is also unpredictably belligerent in foreign affairs (something Moshe Dayan used to claim gave Israel an advantage). In the hands of superb gamers these traits are not terribly bad. But on top of this Israeli society is moving more and more to the right and what most of us would consider crazy religious fundamentalists are close to the center of power. There are those Jews that equate the Palestinians with the Amaleks whose crazed rabbis that say it is god's command to exterminate Amaleks. Yes folks I am not making this up. And people who think like this are very likely going to end up in the upcoming Israeli government.
I did have a heated argument with an IDF veteran once who, after I suggested that the US stop supporting Israel, pointed out that of Israel's 200 nuclear bombs not all of them were pointed at the Arabs. It would probably be worth for someone in the West to seriously consider our options if some crazed nut in Israel ended up with his finger on the button.
man, you nuts sound even crazier when you lose.
Syvanen is obviously slipping into kookdom. Is it contagious?????
I wrote the first post here, which was a single, obscene (but sincere) expletive. I apologize.
While I'm pleased to see that the posters have been by and large finding the bright side in this depressing development, you can bet that anti-American indicted spy Steve Rosen is popping the champagne, proving that he still has the juice to torpedo a patriot like Chas Freeman.
It's pretty clear that Dennis Blair had to get behind closed doors and tell Chas that an unexpected backlash against the appointment made his appointment untenable. Feinstein, Lieberman, Schumer — a cabal of powerful elected officials — basically destroyed the chances of a good man, sacrificing American interests to put Israel first.
I'm alarmed about reports of Rahm Emanuel whispering in Obama's ear to pull down his trousers and roll over on this one. It may very well be that AIPAC has a neo-con goalie in the White House who is to Obama what Cheney was to Bush.
A major loss for the American people.
Mah.Thur.Fah.Curse
A Pyrrhic victory for the Israel lobby?
Posted by: otto
Indeed. They get their way yet again. But at the price of highlighting their complete control over the American political progress. Aside from that, their attempts to slander Freeman only confirmed his integrity. Now his profile has been raised, at the great expense of the Lobby.
Gary, I think President Obama's primary short-term objective with respect to the Lobby is to make sure that he doesn't get blindsided with phony 'intelligence' ala Bush and his neocon traitors. He has enough competent people on his team to ensure that he won't be played too. Ambassador Freeman was a great candidate for NIC Chair, but I'm sure he's not the only one. Let's withhold judgment until we find out whether Ambassador Freeman withdrew his name voluntarily, and whether President Obama selects a replacement candidate of similar stature. Let's keep things in perspective, that the Lobby had to fight at all is a tremendous victory for America. Remember how it was only four months ago? The Lobby wasn't created in a day, and it won't be defeated in a day.
It may very well be that AIPAC has a neo-con goalie in the White House who is to Obama what Cheney was to Bush.
It's a neo-lib goalie, and there are many, not just one.
As someone else pointed out, the fact that ultra-Zionist Rahm Emmanuel was selected as chief of staff should have sent up red flags immediately. He's always at Obama's side – god forbid Barack should forget who's calling the shots.
Let's withhold judgment until we find out whether Ambassador Freeman withdrew his name voluntarily
I don't know that it's possible to ever definitively find something like that out. Even if he says he withdrew it voluntarily, that might be in order to keep his own options open going forward. Who knows.
I agree with your other points, Colin. This isn't the end – it's just the beginning.
"We owe thanks to Ambassador Freeman for being willing to put up with neocon vilification for as long as he did…"
I doubt it was the neocons, who are largely discredited, who struck the decisive blow. It looks like it was the true AIPAC allies, the Democrats.
man, you nuts sound even crazier when you lose. Syvanen is obviously slipping into kookdom. Is it contagious????? Posted by: Suzanne | March 10, 2009 at 06:59 PM
Suzanne, the fact that Israel has target sets in Europe is well known, and specifically made known publicly by no less of an Israel policy maven than Martin van Creveld. Although I don't have a date for this or an original source handy, it is generally accepted that Creveld really did say all this:
An Israeli professor and military historian hinted that Israel could avenge the holocaust by annihilating millions of Germans and other Europeans. Speaking during an interview which was published in Jerusalem, Professor Martin Van Creveld said Israel had the capability of hitting most European capitals with nuclear weapons. “We possess several hundred atomic warheads and rockets and can launch them at targets in all directions, perhaps even at Rome. Most European capitals are targets of our air force.” Creveld, a professor of military history at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, pointed out that “collective deportation” was Israel’s only meaningful strategy towards the Palestinian people. “The Palestinians should all be deported. The people who strive for this (the Israeli government) are waiting only for the right man and the right time. Two years ago, only 7 or 8 per cent of Israelis were of the opinion that this would be the best solution, two months ago it was 33 per cent, and now, according to a Gallup poll, the figure is 44 percent.” Creveld said he was sure that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon wanted to deport the Palestinians. “I think it’s quite possible that he wants to do that. He wants to escalate the conflict. He knows that nothing else we do will succeed.” Asked if he was worried about Israel becoming a rogue state if it carried out a genocidal deportation against Palestinians, Creveld quoted former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan who said “Israel must be like a mad dog, too dangerous to bother.” Creveld argued that Israel wouldn’t care much about becoming a rogue state. “Our armed forces are not the thirtieth strongest in the world, but rather the second or third. We have the capability to take the world down with us. And I can assure you that that this will happen before Israel goes under.”
Rowan,
The report of the 2003 Martin van Creveld interview you quote is actually a misleading one.
The full text, in English translation, is at
Zionist extremist lolololol! Walid Al Shoebat is probably a Zionist extremist in your eyes too, deluded idjit.
David: I'm sorry i didn't spend the time necessary to find the source article for the Creveld interview, and your interpretation is certainly a plausible one. Things have come to a pretty pass when one has to resort to Rense.com, though. I mean to say — they actually believe in flying saucers. Like Barry Chamish (last heard of by me 'in retreat' with some Christians somewhere in the US).
Things have come to a pretty pass when one has to resort to Rense.com, though. I mean to say — they actually believe in flying saucers.
Of course Rowan, as I'm sure you will agree, the fact that a given subject believes one thing that is utterly absurd does not in fact say anything about the veracity of other subjects they have opinions on.
Yes, it may indicate a tendency toward the implausible, but each opinion or source should be evaluated on its own merits, independent of preconceived notions.
For the record, this is not intended as support for "Rense.com", of which I am only vaguely familiar.
I'm waiting for Suzanne to point out that I have stated my belief in extra-terrestrial visitations too, and even in their relationship with what Alexander Dugin once called "the so much gossip-raising mission des Juifs."
Rense.com is handy because they do archive copies of controversial news articles that tend to "disappear" elsewhere.
Excellent analysis, David H.
I do love the extremely forthright (and often outrageously brazen) way that many Israeli intellectuals will throw all the cards on the table. It's one of those things that causes me to like and respect Israel.
My anger is directed towards the US Zionist lobby, whose "unwavering support" has simply allowed the most self-destructive elements in Israel to dig themselves deeper and deeper into a pit.
If a crisis (such as war with Iran) hits during hard economic times I think an anti-semitic backlash will be inevitable. I do not think that US Zionists have any idea how precarious their position is. It reminds me very unpleasantly of Jewish political involvement in the USSR and Communist bloc states, which ended very badly for everyone involved.
"I do not think that US Zionists have any idea how precarious their position is. It reminds me very unpleasantly of Jewish political involvement in the USSR and Communist bloc states, which ended very badly for everyone involved."
Veiled threat and terrible analogy. The soviet states you mention have a much older anti-semitic tradition (100s of years before they became states, in fact) that simply doesn't exist here.
The US would have to fall into total anarchy before your scenario could ever take place, and more likely environmental catastrophe would lead to that than economic downturn, imo.
Could that be because Jews were there for a few thousand years before arriving in the US, Suzanne?
Just askin :-)
Suzanne:
What dreamworld are you living in?
From the Wikipedia entry on antisemitism:
'In the first half of the twentieth century, in the USA, Jews were discriminated against in employment, access to residential and resort areas, membership in clubs and organizations, and in tightened quotas on Jewish enrollment and teaching positions in colleges and universities. The Leo Frank lynching by a mob of prominent citizens in Marietta, Georgia in 1915 turned the spotlight on antisemitism in the United States. The case was also used to build support for the renewal of the Ku Klux Klan which had been inactive since 1870.
'Antisemitism in America reached its peak during the interwar period. The pioneer automobile manufacturer Henry Ford propagated antisemitic ideas in his newspaper The Dearborn Independent. The radio speeches of Father Coughlin in the late 1930s attacked Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal and promoted the notion of a Jewish financial conspiracy. Such views were also shared by some prominent politicians; Louis T. McFadden, Chairman of the United States House Committee on Banking and Currency, blamed Jews for president Roosevelt's decision to abandon the gold standard, and claimed that "in the United States today, the Gentiles have the slips of paper while the Jews have the lawful money."[44]
'Two common Anti-semitic depictions of Jews during Nazi Germany: on the left is the Capitalist/Communist global parasite depiction; on the right is the Wandering Jew.In the 1940s the aviator Charles Lindbergh and many prominent Americans led The America First Committee in opposing any involvement in the war against Fascism. During his July 1936 visit he wrote letters saying that there was “more intelligent leadership in Germany than is generally recognized.”
'The German American Bund held parades in New York City during the late 1930s where Nazi uniforms were worn and flags featuring swastikas were raised alongside American flags. The US House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) was very active in denying the Bund's ability to operate. With the start of US involvement in World War II most of the Bund's members were placed in internment camps, and some were deported at the end of the war.
(See
When I quoted Alexander Dugin as using the delightful phrase, "the so much gossip-raising mission des Juifs," I should have explained that Dugin speaks virtually no english. This was the translation of Martin Conserva, who is Dugin's official translator.
Are either of you American, or just talking out of your arses?
BTW–the first Jews arrived here with the Dutch and settled in New York. There's still a cemetery.
There has never been any pograms against Jews in the US and I doubt there ever will be. Fantasize all you want.
If you are suggesting that Stormfront and other white supremacist groups (who endorse this site, btw) are going to successfully take over and start a race war against Jews and blacks etc–I'd say you need to get new medication.
They are being watched and will continue to be. Mainstream America despises them.
The point being, your fringe mentality does not express American sentiment even though you think otherwise. :-)
Are either of you American, or just talking out of your arses?
I'm certainly not 'American', darling.
Suzanne,
British. Father of Welsh Calvininist stock — hence my surname, that of a Hebrew prophet, and Christian name, that of a Hebrew king. He went as a scholarship boy to Cambridge in 1933.
In the later Thirties, he was an extremely active anti-appeasement campaigner. In 1940, before going off to work at Bletchley Park — the codebreaking operation whose work was central to defeating Hitler, in case you did not know — he was election agent in a byelection (unsuccessfully) fought against a pro-appeasement candidate.
One close friend of my youth was the son of a German Jew who spent six week in Buchenwald after Kristallnacht, and then managed to get out of Germany, thanks to the father of another friend of mine, who was not Jewish. He married a shiksa, as John Podhoretz would say, and became a distinguished Germanist and cultural historian.
The mother of my wife's oldest friend made it out of Vienna shortly before the war started. A couple of days ago an invitation to the 70th birthday of another old friend arrived. He was born in Hamburg on May 31, 1939, and brought over here a few weeks later, on one of the last boats out.
Among many other examples, my wife's business partner, now dead, was half-Jewish. A lifelong friend of hers — and thus an acquaintance of mine — was a Scottish Jewish journalist called Donald Macintyre, now the Jerusalem correspondent of The Independent.
What he thinks about Gaza is apparent in a recent story he filed, entitled 'Israel's death squads: A soldier's story.'
(See