The very problematic issues at hand seem to be coming “without end.”
News has broken of the impending appointment of Chas W. Freeman Jr. to the chairmanship of the National Intelligence Council. Freeman, who was U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1989-1992, has an alarmingly, I will say viciously, negative and distorted attitude towards Israel.
In a speech for the Washington Institute of Foreign Affairs in 2007, he said:
“American identification with Israeli policy has also become total. Those in the region and beyond it who detest Israeli behavior, which is to say almost everyone, now naturally extend their loathing to Americans. This has had the effect of universalizing anti-Americanism, legitimizing radical Islamism, and gaining Iran a foothold among Sunni as well as Shiite Arabs. For its part, Israel no longer even pretends to seek peace with the Palestinians; it strives instead to pacify them. Palestinian retaliation against this policy is as likely to be directed against Israel’s American backers as against Israel itself…This makes the long-term escalation of terrorism against the United States a certainty, not a matter of conjecture.” (emphasis added)
Elsewhere he said:
“…We abandoned the role of Middle East peacemaker to back Israel’s efforts to pacify its captive and increasingly ghettoized Arab populations. We wring our hands while sitting on them as the Jewish state continues to seize ever more Arab land for its colonists.” (emphasis added)
On yet another occasion, he said:
“There will be no acceptance of Israel, by the Arabs or by the Muslims – including the Iranians, and the Indonesians, and others, if Israel does not find a way of coexisting peacefully with the other inhabitants of the land in which it has established itself… Demonstrably, Israel excels at war; sadly, it has shown no talent for peace… (emphasis added)
“..Tragically, despite all the advantages and opportunities Israel has had over the fifty-nine years of its existence, it has failed to achieve concord and reconciliation with anyone in its region, still less to gain their admiration or affection.”
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Commentator Melanie Phillips points out that Freeman even blamed Israel for 9/11. In 2006, he said:
“We have paid heavily and often in treasure in the past for our unflinching support and unstinting subsidies of Israel’s approach to managing its relations with the Arabs. Five years ago we began to pay with the blood of our citizens here at home.” (emphasis added)
She further cites Ed Lasky, an editor at The American Thinker, who terms Freeman “a de facto Saudi Ambassador to America” because of his promotion of the interests of Saudi Arabia. “He shares Board membership with executives from major multinationals with major markets in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world…”
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As chairman of the National Intelligence Council, Freeman would have the major influence on the intelligence briefings presented to the president (remember the damage caused by the National Intelligence Estimate, the NIE, in 2007, which erroneously downplayed the dangers of Iran), and would be called upon often to give direct briefings to the President.
This is a matter of enormous gravity. And I see two reasons for concern. One is with regard to the damage Freeman can do. But the other is what is implied by the appointment of Freeman.
A president who seeks to maintain an Israel policy that is even passively benign (not out to hurt Israel) simply does not select someone like Freeman to the top intelligence post — someone like Freeman to depend upon for securing intelligence information.
Obama has exposed his true intentions to Israel here, and they are seriously malicious.
As Phillips concludes:
“….can anyone…doubt that the appointment by America’s 44th President of Chas W Freeman as chairman of the NIC would be a stunning coup as a weapon in the armoury of the enemies of the Jewish people and the free world?”
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It may not be too late to stop this. There is still question as to whether the appointment has been finalized.
Freeman’s appointment apparently does not require Senate confirmation, but is still appropriate to contact key members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Members of that committee must hear about the outrage and fear American citizens are feeling at the prospect of Freedman as Chair of the National Intelligence Council.
Below you find names and contact information.
Please, address them with courtesty, as they are not responsible for Obama’s choice, and indeed, may have some ultimate influence on what happens. Some of them are warmly predisposed to Israel.
Explain that this appointment would be detrimental to the true interests of the US and the Western world. Some of the reasons you can give:
Freeman would seriously undermine support for the only democracy, and the bastion of Western values, in the Middle East.
Israel is at the forefront of the fight against radical jihadism, which is of concern to all democracies, and should not be weakened, as Freeman would seek to do.
Freeman’s perceptions of Israel are badly skewed and dangerous.
As appropriate, you might use small portions of the quotes I provide above in making your case.
Please, take the time to reach out to all of them. And remember that, when possible, fax or phone is more effective.
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Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chair of the Committee
Phone: (202) 224-3841 Fax: (202) 228-3954
For e-mail form: http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.EmailMe
Christopher (Kit) Bond (R-MO) Vice Chair (important to reach)
Phone: (202) 224-5721
For e-mail form: http://bond.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.ContactForm
Others who are friends, and should hear from us:
Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Phone: (202) 224-5251 Fax: (202) 224-6331
For e-mail form: http://hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Offices.Contact
Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
Phone: 202-224-3521 Fax: 202-224-0103
For e-mail form: http://chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.ContactForm&CFID=6992675&CFTOKEN=44678780
Tom Coburn (R-OK)
Phone: 202-224-5754 Fax: 202-224-6008
For e-mail form: http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactSenatorCoburn.Home
Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Phone: (202) 224-5623 Fax: (202) 228-1377
For e-mail form: http://bayh.senate.gov/contact/email/
Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Phone: (202) 224-4654 Fax: (202) 224-8858
For e-mail form: http://mikulski.senate.gov/Contact/contact.cfm
Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Phone: (202) 224-5344 Fax: (202) 224-1946
For e-mail form: http://snowe.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactSenatorSnowe.Email
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