Here's a fabulous column on the Freeman affair by Ron Smith in my hometown newspaper, the Baltimore Sun, demonstrating 1, Chas Freeman did us all a huge favor, 2, that you can no longer call critics of Israel antisemites because they're everywhere and getting mouthier, and 3, the cat is now out of the bag on the Israel lobby in the media debate.
Catch up, AIPAC! Get ahead of the damn story! Don't be a punching bag in the mainstream media! Smith:
The importance of this fight is that in the end, pro-Israel lawmakers and lobbyists got their way, which means there is little likelihood of any significant shift in our one-sided approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
For those who think unstinting support of all Israeli government decisions is the proper course for us to follow, this is all to the good. For those who believe not all actions taken by Israel are necessarily in the best interests of the United States, the Freeman withdrawal – essentially a veto by the Israel lobby – represents a continuation of the status quo and the end of any "hope" for "change" in it.
For those who think unstinting support of all Israeli government decisions is the proper course for us to follow, this is all to the good. For those who believe not all actions taken by Israel are necessarily in the best interests of the United States, the Freeman withdrawal – essentially a veto by the Israel lobby – represents a continuation of the status quo and the end of any "hope" for "change" in it.
