Charles W. "Chas" Freeman Jr.'s statement:
To all who supported me or gave me words of encouragement during the controversy of the past two weeks, you have my gratitude and respect.
You will by now have seen the statement by Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair reporting that I have withdrawn my previous acceptance of his invitation to chair the National Intelligence Council.
I have concluded that the barrage of libelous distortions of my record would not cease upon my entry into office. The effort to smear me and to destroy my credibility would instead continue. 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. I agreed to chair the NIC to strengthen it and protect it against politicization, not to introduce it to efforts by a special interest group to assert control over it through a protracted political campaign.
As those who know me are well aware, I have greatly enjoyed life since retiring from government. Nothing was further from my mind than a return to public service. When Admiral Blair asked me to chair the NIC I responded that I understood he was “asking me to give my freedom of speech, my leisure, the greater part of my income, subject myself to the mental colonoscopy of a polygraph, and resume a daily commute to a job with long working hours and a daily ration of political abuse.” I added that I wondered “whether there wasn’t some sort of downside to this offer.” I was mindful that no one is indispensable; I am not an exception. It took weeks of reflection for me to conclude that, given the unprecedentedly challenging circumstances in which our country now finds itself abroad and at home, I had no choice but accept the call to return to public service. I thereupon resigned from all positions that I had held and all activities in which I was engaged. I now look forward to returning to private life, freed of all previous obligations.
I am not so immodest as to believe that this controversy was about me rather than issues of public policy. These issues had little to do with the NIC and were not at the heart of what I hoped to contribute to the quality of analysis available to President Obama and his administration. Still, I am saddened by what the controversy and the manner in which the public vitriol of those who devoted themselves to sustaining it have revealed about the state of our civil society. It is apparent that we Americans cannot any longer conduct a serious public discussion or exercise independent judgment about matters of great importance to our country as well as to our allies and friends.
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. 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. 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 favors.
There is a special irony in having been accused of improper regard for the opinions of foreign governments and societies by a group so clearly intent on enforcing adherence to the policies of a foreign government – in this case, the government of Israel. I believe that the inability of the American public to discuss, or the government to consider, any option for US 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. 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.
The outrageous agitation that followed the leak of my pending appointment will be seen by many to raise serious questions about whether the Obama administration will be able to make its own decisions about the Middle East and related issues. I regret that my willingness to serve the new administration has ended by casting doubt on its ability to consider, let alone decide what policies might best serve the interests of the United States rather than those of a Lobby intent on enforcing the will and interests of a foreign government.
In the court of public opinion, unlike a court of law, one is guilty until proven innocent. The speeches from which quotations have been lifted from their context are available for anyone interested in the truth to read. The injustice of the accusations made against me has been obvious to those with open minds. Those who have sought to impugn my character are uninterested in any rebuttal that I or anyone else might make.
Still, for the record: I have never sought to be paid or accepted payment from any foreign government, including Saudi Arabia or China, for any service, nor have I ever spoken on behalf of a foreign government, its interests, or its policies. I have never lobbied any branch of our government for any cause, foreign or domestic. I am my own man, no one else’s, and with my return to private life, I will once again – to my pleasure – serve no master other than myself. I will continue to speak out as I choose on issues of concern to me and other Americans.
I retain my respect and confidence in President Obama and DNI Blair. Our country now faces terrible challenges abroad as well as at home. Like all patriotic Americans, I continue to pray that our president can successfully lead us in surmounting them.
Related posts:
- Uh oh–hints that Chas Freeman about to be tossed under the bus
- Chas Freeman: Jews tell me they hope there will be a discussion of Israel at last
- Chas Freeman and the end of anti-semitism
- Chas Freeman: How come there’s no NIE on the costs of the ’special relationship’?
- The Nation: ‘a thunderous, coordinated assault is underway’ against Chas Freeman
{ 50 comments }
Does anyone else find it quite sickening that a man who is being tried for Espionage for leaking US secrets to a foreign country had the temerity to challenge another appointee for an alleged tie to another foreign country?
A pity. I would have liked to see what Freeman could have done, even in the limited capacity this role had.
Looks like all native born Americans are required to take a loyalty oath–to Likud Israel
This rather moving statement makes it sound like Freeman was the one who decided to withdraw. That could be cuz Obama told him to withdraw and then claim responsibility for the decision, or it could be the truth. In either case it's a very sad thing to read. Freeman's got quite an intellect and a sharp grasp of world affairs; he's about the best person we could reasonably have hoped to have whispering in the president's ear. Sigh. My fear is that after this brouhaha Obama's gonna react like Bush did after the Harriet Miers nomination: produce a second choice who's completely immune from the kind of criticism that sank his first.
By the way, I have no connection to Andrew Sullivan apart from sharing his first name. A couple people speculated about that in another thread.
@Joshua:
How many people inside the US now that Rosen is (almost surely) a spy? I bet not too many. That's the problem right there. When Mondoweiss' readership has surpassed that of the NYT (fingers crossed), the next spy will be lynched by an angry mob of Americans if he dares to defame someone like Freeman.
How can Obama be silent on this enormous elephant in the room, the Israel Lobby? Get word out to all peaceloving supporters of his. Can the withdraw their campaign contributions? I'd argue the salesman lied about the product.
Obama knows where his voter-lines were and he also knows who pulls the strings on certain foreign policy initiatives.
In actuality he has pretty much lived up to his inane campaign promises. Stuff did change, but not the change most thought it would happen. Also his voting record shows more of a conservative tone rather than a left-leaning one.
This should be no surprise. He just fell like all the rest except for Eisenhower.
No one in America knows that Rosen is a spy. Even Rosen is unaware of that fact.
Could it just be a lie?
It appears that Freeman is too much of a coward to help Obama. Too bad.
Unless he can name names and do full exposure on those who he's accusing, he's full of hot air. It makes him sound unstable.
Name names, Freeman, and show us the libelous emails etc.
Either go all the way and kick ass–or shut up.
I agree with Me – this brave and touching statement by freeman should be circulated as widely as possible. let's see who on dailyKos and openleft will come out with a diary on this. I bet it won't be the front pagers (but am ready to be corrected)
Here's a plan:
American-First-PACs and other organizations have to pool some money and produce a 1-minute TV spot. Air it on all the major networks, play it on the radio.
The spot:
"Dear fellow Americans. You care for this country and the well-being of your fellow citizens, right?
Well in Washington there are some who don't. They only care about themselves and a militaristic and unrelieble foreign country named Israel. Those people and organizations in Washington, collectively known as the Israel lobby – buy the book of the same name if you want to know more about it – have right now robbed you of a potentially great man, Chas Freeman. He was considered for an important role, but the Israel lobby doesn't like that he likes his country more than theirs. So they pushed him, and he couldn't stand the pressure.
Why couldn't he stand the pressure? Because you weren't there to help him against this vicious attacks and against this group of ideological demagogues.
You can do more to protect your country from entangling alliances with questionable partners. Support Chas Freeman. Support Steve Walt and John Mearsheimer. Support America-First PACs. Learn about the Israel Lobby and tell your friends and family about this important issue.
Make sure that the next realist candidate feels comfortable when doing his job."
Something like this.
Wow. The guy is more of a loss than I thought.
He has the guts to tell the truth. Nothing to lose, I guess.
Me, the kind of sentiment you're expressing in your hypothetical commercial might resonate pretty well with Middle America, though I don't entirely hold with because I'm not patriotic. But if you were to organize something like that, calling it "America First" would be a terrible idea. That was the name of Charles Lindbergh's organization in the '30s. As a renowned pilot of Scandinavian gentile descent, Lindbergh embodied the Nazi ideal of the Aryan man, so Goering gave him an Iron Cross. Then after the war broke out in Europe, but before Pearl Harbor, Lindbergh and his America Firsters rallied around the position that we should leave European problems to European nations so as to be ready to fight the Yellow Peril or some such thing. So my point is if you called a group that the Zionists would be able to accuse you of Nazi sympathies, assuming they didn't mind slandering you, which I'd say is a pretty safe assumption.
Powerful statement. He puts it right out there — it's the Israel lobby stupid. It is our loss that he can't serve, but he has definitely helped advance the public discourse on our Israel problem. More will recognize that Israel is our problem and not a solution to anything.
This should serve as a reminder that the "resistance" needs to be working together more, and presenting a unified media front. It's marketing 101, the cabal has their shit together. If we had our shit together, Freeman would be in, and anyone who challenged him would be called out and ridiculed for their deceptive attacks.
Andrew makes an all-too-familiar argument here.
Those who we excoriate and criticise are far more organised politically, ideologically and socially and have had a much better understanding of politicking this country than the left (who has been on the fringe or even ignored for the better part of decades). Let's face it, academia has no central command nor even a unified voice to counter such a challenge to any appointments. All of their opposition is in commentary. Alot of good that did Freeman.
Those who we excoriate and criticise are far more organised politically, ideologically and socially and have had a much better understanding of politicking this country than the left (who has been on the fringe or even ignored for the better part of decades).
But this isn't a "left-right" issue. There are more Israel-firsters on the left than there are on the right. That's how I became involved with the Palestine issue: when I noticed that so many people in the antiwar "left" camp would willingly ignore the behavior of Israel. They would speak out against every other travesty under the sun, but Israel was always an exception, not to be touched.
Meanwhile, Dennis Ross – the AIPAC guy, the PNAC signatory, the guy called Israel's Lawyer, gets a free pas to go after Iran.
Two Standards.
Meanwhile, Dennis Ross – the AIPAC guy, the PNAC signatory, the guy called Israel's Lawyer, gets a free pas to go after Iran.
Two Standards.
Fortunately, there are still some sane voices on Iran:
US intel chief: Iran lacks A-bomb material
US Intelligence Chief Dennis Blair believes Iran is not in possession of highly enriched uranium that could be used for making nuclear arms.
"We assess now that Iran does not have any highly enriched uranium," Reuters quoted Blair on Tuesday as saying in his testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"We assess that Iran has not yet made that decision" to convert the low-enriched uranium it is making to the weapons-grade material, he added.
US intel chief: Iran lacks A-bomb material
Dan Kelly
Theres also
Q+A: Is Iran nearing nuclear "breakout" ability?
(No)
No, at least from what can be surmised. Iran would face a series of technical hurdles, though none as difficult as producing quality nuclear fuel in industrial quantities.
These include:
* reconfiguring its existing centrifuge enrichment plant at Natanz to reprocess LEU into weapons-grade HEU, or building clandestine facilities without the knowledge of U.N. inspectors
* converting HEU into metal and compressing it small enough to fit into the cone of a missile or other delivery vehicle
* designing a nuclear trigger mechanism
* mastering how to create a sustained nuclear chain reaction with an extra source of neutrons
* assembling the actual warhead
All this could take 2-5 years, depending on Iran's technical prowess, but probably much less time than the 20 years it took Iran to acquire enrichment equipment and knowledge from the nuclear black market and make it work.
ARE THERE OTHER RESTRAINING FACTORS?
Yes. It would be very hard for Iran to "weaponize" the enrichment process at Natanz without the IAEA noticing and sounding the alarm, since the plant is under regular surveillance by inspectors.
…….
It could be a negative object lesson in the power and reach of the Israel Lobby — if it ever gets seriously reported in the MSM.
Of course its already all over the press. . . in Israel.
The Jerusalem Post doesn't even try to cover up its gloating:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1236676912910&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Hasn't anyone thought about organising a march against this intimidation?
This is unbelievable, how can the lobby get away with this, and how can Obama allow it?
Does anyone know if you can protest or march against this sort of thing?
LETS DO IT.
I hate it when I'm right.
Great statement.
Interesting article from the Independent:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/must-jews-always-see-themselves-as-victims-1639277.html
freeman was just another bump on the war road to Iran. now we gotta put a replacement in there who will partner up with dennis ross & Obama's scheduler.
Make your own t-shirt,TAKE BACK AMERICA.DUMP ISRAEL.Or bumpersticker,LIBERATE AMERICA.BOMB ISRAEL.Things like that.
Although I may have philosophical differences with Freeman, it seems he would have served the president well.
"Also note: the National Jewish Democratic Council has declined to bash Freeman. J Street has said nothing against Freeman either. AIPAC has also been careful not to say anything mean officially about Freeman. Which means that the New Republic (Chait) and Jeffrey Goldberg are now isolated as the sole Democratic types in the neocon camp on this one."
Perhaps "America First" is the emotional, rather than thoughtful, response.
Here are Schumer's office numbers….
Wash. DC…
202-224-6542
fax 202-228-3027
New York…
212-486-4430
fax 212-486-7693
Representative Israel
Washington Office
2457 Rayburn House Office Bldg, Washington DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3335
Fax: (202) 225-4669
Hours: 8:30am – 6:00pm M-F
Long Island Office
150 Motor Pkwy Ste 108, Hauppauge Ny 11788
Phone: (631) 951-2210 or (516) 505-1448
Fax: (631) 951-3308
Hours: 8:30am – 6:00pm M-F
ALSO POST THIS THREAD ALL OVER THE BLOGOSPHERE
Well, frekin…
Don't post this – it was inevitable.
I am so sick inside.
The worst thing is, 99.9999999% of Americans have no clue about this matter at all…
Thanks …, for the Aaron David Miller link
Here I had to stop reading:
Now I understand, why Norman Finkelstein can't control himself when hearing the name. Yes, those treacherous Arabs. Maybe the whole range of nouns, adjectives, verbs in describing people should one day be studied carefully. I am sure there is a pattern.
Is this really your hero Phil?
Make your own t-shirt,TAKE BACK AMERICA.DUMP ISRAEL.Or bumpersticker,LIBERATE AMERICA.BOMB ISRAEL.Things like that.
The first one is great. The second one is reprehensible.
How is America going to win its political independence? Clearly, that is not Obama's priority or concern. How are the people going to lead?
I failed to mark generosity in bold. Isn't it funny that in the larger context he completely contradict this? But well politicians have their own view of truth, I guess. Uri Avnery surely wouldn't agree with Aaron David either.
What a sick game.
hahahaha! No one here is interested in finding out WHO did WHAT to Chas Freeman.
Don't you want to know so you can destroy the GRAND JEWISH CONSPIRACY?
Face it…he's lying and you're all pretending the sky isn't blue. He got his arse whipped today. BAD!
The humiliation is resounding!
I personally never cared too much whether he was in or out because it was suggested early on that he had no impact on policy making…
But now that I see what a duplicitous lying windbag he is, the GRAND JEWISH CONSPIRACY did America a huge favor today.
Thank you Zionist Lobby, I send you kisses. Mwa!
Some great comments from The Economist blog:
As an Israeli-born, American Jew, the actions of AIPAC never cease to disgust me. In their fight for the Jewish state, they attempt to stifle all dissent. And through this, we will see the end of Israel. Sooner or later, the American public will wake up to what is happening and the outrage will be palpable. The primary target will be the small nation and we will see the end of positive American-Israel relations.
What is most perplexing is that this obstructionism, this censorship, does not exist in Israel-proper. Articles that would never see daylight in America are posted in the newspapers of the country regularly. It's a truly absurd world.
As another American Jew, I have to agree with the sentiment previous posters.
President Obama and Mrs. Clinton deserve much of the blame, for not making it clear they intended to develop a new diplomatic strategy in the Middle East that isn't simply: support and defend Israel at all costs. Moreover, they had an obligation to do more to support Mr. Freeman instead of passively allowing the character assassination he (bluntly) describes to take place.
America must, and will, fundamentally change its relationship with Israel. When this will take place and how significant this shift will be is still negotiable. However if AIPAC continues its practices and abuses of power, it will be soon and painful.
It almost seems that I am obligated to add that I am Jewish at this point.. I don't feel I should, or others should. We are Americans first, not Israelis-if we wanted to be the latter why are we in this country? It is acceptable to criticize my state's (the United States) diplomatic policy towards another. Such dissent has been all too often stymied under attacks of anti-semitism. AIPAC and its supporters do this country a disservice by perpetrating this view, as Mr. Freeman's untimely withdrawal of candidacy indicates.
So long, Chas Freeman
The latest ploy is for Israel haters to say they are Jewish or Israeli. It's been overdone. Find a new trick.
The assumption that it's AIPAC without demanding proof tells you all you ever need to know.
The lynch mob hung itself by mistake. haha!
Largest recipients of AIPAC Political Contributions:
Kyl, Jon (R-AZ): $77,000 – Senate
Feinstein, Dianne (D-CA): $112,842 – Senate
Lantos, Tom (D-CA): $68,660 – Senate
Berman, Howard (D-CA): $55,450 – House
Harman, Jane (D-CA): $57,071 – House
Filner, Bob (D-CA): $70,514 – House
Dodd, Christopher (D-CT): $182,928 – Senate
Lieberman, Joseph (D-CT): $226,508 – Senate
Gejdenson, Sam (D-CT): $335,601 – House
Graham, Bob (D-FL): $94,250 – Senate
Lewis, John (D-GA): $64,150 – House
Akaka, Daniel (D-HI): $93,500 – Senate
Durbin, Richard (D-IL): $245,671 – Senate
Porter, John (R-IL): $70,680 – House
Evans, Lane (D-IL):$74,793 – House
Burton, Dan (R-IN): $60,900 – House
Lugar, Richard (R-IN): $43,200 – Senate
Harkin, Thomas (D-IA): $423,995 – Senate
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY): $285, 425 – Senate
Snowe, Olympia (R-ME): $71,000 – Senate
Sarbane, Paul (D-MD): $159,963 – Senate
Kennedy, Edward (D-MA): $66,120 – Senate
Levine, Carl (D-MI): $564,858 – Senate
Levine, Sander (D-MI): $86,527 – House
Lott, Trent (R-MS): $67,200 – Senate
Gephardt, Richard (D-MO): $134,880 – House
Baucus, Max (D-MT): $232,248 – Senate
Burns, Conrad (R-MT): $165,010 – Senate
Kerry, Robert (D-NE): $198,500 – Senate
Reid, Harry (D-NV): $253,802 – Senate
Torricelli, Robert (D-NJ): $125, 652 – Senate
Saxton, James (R-NJ): $53,650 – House
Bingaman, Jeff (D-NM): $261,425 – Senate
Engel, Eliot (D-NY): $98,668 – House
Lowe, Nita (D-NY): $84,088 – House
Gilman, Benjamin (R-NY): $80,543 – House
Price, David (D-NC): $51,827 – House
Conrad, Kent (D-ND): $195,689 – Senate
Dogan, Byron (D-ND): $95,850 – Senate
Specter, Arlen (R-PN): $366,123 – Senate
Licht, Richard (D-RI): $245, 605 – Senate
Reed, Jack (D-RI): $75,050 – House
Pell, Claiborne (D-RI): $180,950 – Senate
Hollings, Ernest (D-SC): $73,275 – Senate
Johnson, Tim (D-SD): $51,000 – Senate
Gordon, Barton (D-TN): $55,400 – House
Frost, Martin (D-TX): $126,864 – House
Hatch, Orrin (R-UT): $50,700 – Senate
Jeffords, James (I-VT): $34,050 – Senate
Robb, Charles (D-VA): $255,093 – Senate
Wolf, Frank (R-VA): $47,500 – House
Gorton, Sladee (R-WA): $180,000 – Senate
Feingold, Russell (D-WS): $56,810 – Senate
Obey, David (D-WS): $147,100 – House
I haven't seen this reported in the NY Times yet. I was interested in reading their pundits reactions.
There is another way of looking at this, which is to say that the Bush admin was in the pocket of the Saudis to an extent to which the Obama admin is not going to be. Remember the way the Bushies flew the bin Laden family straight home after 9/11. Consider the way that Pakistan is now irrecoverable to the US because it cannot be invaded and a puppet regime cannot be made to get a grip — and this because of Saudi supported salafi groups based in the FATA,but repeatedly showing their reach right across the country. It all adds up.
I'm mad at Chas Freeman, for woosing out. The Lobby will celebrate. Rosen will boast about how he force him out. Dershowitz will boast about being part of the most effective lobbying effort ever. Fear is their tool. Fear that those who act or speak not to their liking will get demonized by them. This will go on and on until we say enough. Enough. ENOUGH!!!
These are child-slaughter enablers boasting about controlling our Congress! Congratulating themselves on their ability to intimidate everyone in Washington. Well, Freeman wasn't a toady, but he also didn't have the fortitude to endure. Let us appreciate Walt & Mearsheimer for their courage. Let us pray for more with the gumption to follow always after the truth, come whence it may, cost what it will.
Dan wrote upthread: President Obama and Mrs. Clinton deserve much of the blame, for not making it clear they intended to develop a new diplomatic strategy in the Middle East that isn't simply: support and defend Israel at all costs. Moreover, they had an obligation to do more to support Mr. Freeman instead of passively allowing the character assassination he (bluntly) describes to take place.
This same sentiment is echoed by Michael Dunn who writes: I also have to note that neither the Administration nor, so far as I can tell, the DNI mounted a major defense of the nomination, despite the concerted attacks against it. I think it was a highly defensible appointment, and deserved a stronger defense.
I have the funny feeling that this is going to come back to haunt the Obama administration. An underlying thread in Freeman's statement is that those opposing his nomination are not 'patriots' – which makes them what? One wonders what would happen if and when the Republicans who are looking for a wedge issue like crazy decide to exploit this blatant failure of the administration to protect the country from nefarious foreign influence. They've already thrown Bush overboard without batting an eyelid. Wait for the day when they throw the Neocons to the dogs! I figure that's when Change will really come. It ain't gonna be pretty! The Lobby has been very stupid and short-sighted, I think, over the Charles Freeman nomination.
Uri Avnery surely wouldn't agree with Aaron David either. What a sick game. Posted by: LeaNder | March 10, 2009 at 10:08 PM
– Avnery is just totally wet. I dutifully read his weekly sermons, but they never tell me a single thing I didn't already know, and all he adds to the stale facts he recycles is his depressive and fatalistic mood.
From Just World News:
This is not good.
Rowan
which is to say that the Bush admin was in the pocket of the Saudis to an extent to which the Obama admin is not going to be.
—-
2003 The Vanishing Lobby: Saudi Arabia's fading ambassador
———
A US-friendly Iraq that abandoned OPEC and pumped more oil would, some neo-conservatives argued, weaken Saudi Arabia and Iran and break the grip of OPEC on the global oil market.
@ Suzanne | March 10, 2009 at 08:15 PM
Did you just fall off the turnip truck? The emails and entries have been posted and talked about for a couple of weeks. Check out M.J.Rosenberg @TPM Cafe for the past three weeks for starters. Do they allow trolls on the turnip truck?
@ Oscar | March 10, 2009 at 10:35 PM
Your list is considerably out of date.
@ Andrew
"Then after the war broke out in Europe, but before Pearl Harbor, Lindbergh and his America Firsters rallied around the position that we should leave European problems to European nations so as to be ready to fight the Yellow Peril or some such thing. So my point is if you called a group that the Zionists would be able to accuse you of Nazi sympathies, assuming they didn't mind slandering you, which I'd say is a pretty safe assumption."
Just to be accurate..George Washington was the first "America Firster" of the type you describe. He warned Americans against forays into foreign wars and against favored nations and against groups like the Jewish zionist who have alleigences to foreign countries.
I suggest you go read his Farewell Address. He was right.
As for Freeman, what the zios won in his departure they lost in enemies they added among the American public and among some select circles in DC. The Dem party lost big on this also. We all keep waiting for the last straw from the zios and Israel and the backlash…the longer we wait the bigger it will grow and the worse it will be.
Phil has said he thinks it is going to end without fireworks…I don't think so anymore. With every act the zios and Israel are a allowed to get away with their madness becomes bolder and bolder.
I believe the zionist stranglehold on the US will end, but it will only end when they have destroyed or almost totally destroyed America.
The parallel would be if the US spent its time attacking Saudi plans and Saudi-supported operations, while China sneaked up from behind…
… or maybe it would work the other way round, in that Israel may secretly be closer to China than the Saudis are. It's difficult to identify the alliances that may exist behind the scenes when the global money markets are in such turmoil (this being 'fictitious money" in the sense I mentioned when trying to explain the labour theory of value and the theory of the falling rate of profit – money that has value only in the sense of shared confidence that it will remain 'valuable').
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