Charles W. "Chas" Freeman On The Israel Lobby
Here is a part of Retired Ambassador Chas Freeman’s just released statement, after his announcement that he is withdrawing from the offer to chair the National Intelligence Council:
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.
Read in full.
You know what, Ann? I keep coming back here, keep refreshing the page, in this weird hope that I’ll see the headline:
JUST KIDDING
or
OBAMA DEMANDS FREEMAN CHAIR NIC
or
RAHMBO, SCHUMER, FEINSTEIN, LIEBERMAN DEPORTED
Isn’t that ridiculous? The tromp did no good. Soaking head in sink full of ice cubes is next… because booze is not on my diet.
Yes, pretty dismaying, 99. I don’t think the significance of this has been grasped by many outside the blogosphere, as its certainly not being adequately covered in the msm. I much prefer your headlines to this travesty of course.
It is quite ironic that in the Centre and Right the debate and comments of the lobby are considered bona-fide , albeit showered with accusations of anti-semetism like confetti.
The Left , on the other hand , have an almost religious faith of being agnostic , if not downright disbelievers on the matter to the point of dogmatic rejection of the evidence being brought to light.
It seems the outmoded critique of class warfare has got the left into an itellectual ghetto whilst the Centre and Right have , to their credit , expanded out to take in factors beyond the restrictive template of a debatable ( even at the time) eurocentric 2-dimensional mid 19th century view of 3-dimensional society.
Pat Lang correctly refers to the AIPAC, JINSA crowd as ‘fifth columnists’. He has this sample of a letter which people could use as inspiration for their letters to their respective representatives:
So basically every new appointmentee has to pass the litmus test of loyalty to Israel first….?
Whatever happen to pledge of alliance to the USA….?
I guest that is not important anymore..!!!!!!!
Otherwise Chas Freeman would not withdraw his nomination. I stand to be corrected.