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Chas Freeman
Last update - 13:58 12/03/2009
U.S. official slams Israel 'lobby' after withdrawing from top intel post
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters
Tags: Israel News, Chas Freeman 

Charles Freeman, the U.S. official tapped as President Barack Obama's choice to head the National Intelligence Council, slammed the Israel "lobby" Wednesday after withdrawing his candidacy for the post.

Freeman, a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia and top diplomat in China, has come under fire in recent days for his alleged ties to Saudi money, criticism of Israeli policies and comments on China's Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989.

"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," Freeman said in a statement to the American magazine Foreign Policy.
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Freeman's withdrawal was announced in Washington by Dennis Blair, the director of National Intelligence. Since news of Freeman's nomination, Jewish organizations have leveled criticism at the pick due to his history of opposition to Israel policy regarding the Palestinians.

He is quoted as saying in 2007 that "The brutal oppression of the Palestinians by Israeli occupation shows no sign of ending," and "American identification with Israel has become total."

Freeman's professional ties had also come under scrutiny from critics. He had served on the board of the China National Offshore Oil Co. and as president of the Middle East Policy Council, a Washington think tank funded at least in part by Saudi Arabia.

Freeman told Foreign Policy that, "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."

Freeman's withdrawal came just hours after Blair defended him in Congress as a man of "strong views, of an inventive mind and the analytical point of view."

"I think I can do a better job if I'm getting strong analytical viewpoints to sort out and pass on to you and to the president than if I am getting pre-cooked pablum judgments that don't really challenge," Blair told the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier on Tuesday.

The intelligence council that Freeman had been picked to head prepares the formal assessments by U.S. intelligence agencies of major issues such as Iran's nuclear capability.

The council also produced a controversial, and inaccurate, prewar assessment in 2002 that Iraq was continuing its weapons of mass destruction programs. Former President George W. Bush's main justification for the U.S.-led war he launched in 2003 was the threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

The National Intelligence Council position does not require Senate confirmation
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  1.   "Haaretz" obfuscates the truth,Freeman regretted Chinese "were 23:32  |  Absolute Sweden 10/03/09
  2.   A dumb choice from the begining. 23:35  |  US CITIZEN 10/03/09
  3.   Israel lobby thought control 02:17  |  outraged 11/03/09
  4.   This should be cause for great celebration!!! 02:18  |  Edward 11/03/09
  5.   Disgusting . . . 02:26  |  GRIF 11/03/09
  6.   Chas Freeman speaks out in WSJ 02:37  |  Ca 11/03/09
  7.   Worth mentioning that.... 03:22  |  Colin Wright 11/03/09
  8.   to Absolute Sweden 03:24  |  Colin Wright 11/03/09
  9.   An odd criteria for advancement.... 03:31  |  Johnboy 11/03/09
  10.   AIPAC wins again 03:31  |  Janice 11/03/09
  11.   Expected. 03:40  |  Dr.Joji Cherian 11/03/09
  12.   He also publicized anti-Semitic attacks on the "Jewish lobby" 03:46  |  Paul Freedman 11/03/09
  13.   This is very disappointing 03:51  |  Ariel 11/03/09
  14.   #1, #2 Actually, if you look at the smear campaign 03:55  |  Johnboy 11/03/09
  15.   Obama caves 04:11  |  Tim 11/03/09
  16.   If the Jewish Lobby is so strong, why are Powers and Rice around? 04:35  |  also US citizen 11/03/09
  17.   Telling it like it is 05:03  |  Sad American 11/03/09
  18.   He has been involved with a group that manages Bin Ladin assets 05:08  |  PETER SM 11/03/09
  19.   ONCE MORE, THE POWER OF "THE LOBBY" 05:11  |  Fritz 11/03/09
  20.   Chas Freeman 05:12  |  Seymour 11/03/09
  21.   Dumb Choice? 05:20  |  Ben 11/03/09
  22.   Not Surprised 05:35  |  Haaretz Fan 11/03/09
  23.   Nothng to do with Israel 05:53  |  binny 11/03/09
  24.   Freeman, a man with an "inventive mind" as Blair suggests... 06:16  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 11/03/09
  25.   Direct Subsidies from Friendly Governments 06:34  |  Pragmatist 11/03/09
  26.   Too bad for Israel 07:15  |  Marilyn 11/03/09
  27.   To Ralph in Philly 07:21  |  Cheese steaksandwich 11/03/09
  28.   Screaming that Night is Day, and Black is White. 07:38  |  Johnboy 11/03/09
  29.   #3 Ok good so now be silent please 07:53  |  Johnny 11/03/09
  30.   Wake Up! 07:57  |  Matthew Houston 11/03/09
  31.   American-Israeli relations. 08:01  |  Jean Van Daem 11/03/09
  32.   US Analysis withdraws 08:18  |  Mike 11/03/09
  33.   telling the truth 08:35  |  sean 11/03/09
  34.   This can`t go on 08:39  |  Sick of this 11/03/09
  35.   This is Perfect Purim News ! Chag Samayach !!! 08:39  |  Wendy 11/03/09
  36.   Freeman`s reaction 08:46  |  Colin Wright 11/03/09
  37.   #8 Bbinny - THIS IS WHAT FREEMAN HAS TO SAY... 08:55  |  Chas 11/03/09
  38.   "Somebody like this" 08:58  |  fritz t. 11/03/09
  39.   AIPAC 09:14  |  Ed 11/03/09
  40.   U.S. Congress = Biggest "anti-Semitism-creator" in this world.... 09:37  |  Swiss (Dino) 11/03/09
  41.   a huge mistake 09:37  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 11/03/09
  42.   JOHNBOY screaming day is night.which accusation was untrue 09:39  |  PETER SM 11/03/09
  43.   #35, Chas 09:43  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 11/03/09
  44.   He said the Chinese were too lenient at Tienamong Sq. 09:48  |  fair`s fair 11/03/09
  45.   Adios 09:53  |  Baruch Gold 11/03/09
  46.   Israels shoots itself in the foot yet again. 09:58  |  Michael 11/03/09
  47.   Long term tendency 10:18  |  PARIS 11/03/09
  48.   Replace him with Abe Foxman or just sub-contract to Tel Aviv 10:38  |  AIPAC 11/03/09
  49.   #46 Oh, this is too good to miss, PETER SM 11:20  |  Johnboy 11/03/09
  50.   Michael, Right wing , Smitght wing, if . . . 13:56  |  Zev Davis 11/03/09
  51.   response to US CITIZEN 14:28  |  Or Can 11/03/09
  52.   He quit because he is guilty 15:13  |  Larry Levine 11/03/09
  53.   Good riddance. 15:16  |  Steven 11/03/09
  54.   the statement freeman gave following his withdrawal 18:55  |  scallywag 11/03/09
  55.   # 53 Johnboy...if you believe in human rights 20:29  |  Lynn 11/03/09
  56.   To Scallywag #58 `The statement...` 20:31  |  Colin Wright 11/03/09
  57.   # 58 scallywag...off topic 20:35  |  Lynn 11/03/09
  58.   Chas Freeman 20:40  |  Max 11/03/09
  59.   Larry Levine #56 21:05  |  TonyL 11/03/09
  60.   #52 Eric: Did the kid do it again? 21:08  |  Baruch Gold 11/03/09
  61.   Freeman confuses US Best interests with what`s right 21:09  |  Slappy 11/03/09
  62.   AIPAC 1-0 The USA 21:24  |  Roo 11/03/09
  63.   #19 fritz Funny Israeli Media gave him his say 21:39  |  Big Sur California 11/03/09
  64.   THE LOBBY! 23:30  |  ron 11/03/09
  65.   His Left Eye 23:30  |  FOX 11/03/09
  66.   2 observations 00:21  |  jon jon 12/03/09
  67.   Peter Sm and truth 00:39  |  Truth 12/03/09
  68.   My statement in #2 above 01:00  |  US CITIZEN 12/03/09
  69.   ROO 3 other candidates had already been disqualified 01:48  |  PETER SM 12/03/09
  70.   Not qualified for the job 02:09  |  Peter Williams 12/03/09
  71.   Charles Freeman 02:38  |  Collins 12/03/09
  72.   Occupation of who? Israel Lobby did this? 03:44  |  David 12/03/09
  73.   Let me get this straight! 04:08  |  David 12/03/09
  74.   US interests 04:12  |  MQK 12/03/09
  75.   ROO Attacking the messenger means you cannot fight the message 04:20  |  PETER SM 12/03/09
  76.   Eat your hearts out Walt- Mearsheimer 04:33  |  Shalom Freedman 12/03/09
  77.   This should be a cause for great celebration 07:23  |  Dr. Abe Simhony 12/03/09
  78.   Zionism will eventually destroy Jews 08:10  |  Janet 12/03/09
  79.   IF Freeman had a valid defence of his financial&other connections 08:45  |  PETER SM 12/03/09
  80.   # 72 Janet, you hit the nail on the head...... 09:27  |  Swiss (Dino) 12/03/09
  81.   PETER SM and financial ties 10:14  |  Roo 12/03/09
  82.   # 74 Janet, little "correction"...... 10:34  |  Swiss (Dino) 12/03/09
  83.   The American people will never know 10:49  |  Chris Linthwaite 12/03/09
  84.   #76 Excuse me, PETER SM???? 10:58  |  Johnboy 12/03/09
  85.   #77 dopey dino and more yodelling from the alps 11:19  |  v hardman 12/03/09
  86.   #64 That`s a blatant untruth-and I am being kind! 11:26  |  sj 12/03/09
  87.   Former AIPAC employee here 11:30  |  insider 12/03/09
  88.   U.S. official slams Israel `lobby` after withdrawing from post 11:52  |  Ali 12/03/09
  89.   Out in the open - public discussion in the US 11:58  |  Manny Goldstein 12/03/09
  90.   #72 The medium is the message, PETER SM 12:01  |  Johnboy 12/03/09
  91.   #67 The mindset of a zionist, exhibit A: Peter Williams 12:08  |  Johnboy 12/03/09
  92.   JOHNBOY.You defend yourself by presenting facts IF you have them 12:31  |  PETER SM 12/03/09
  93.   To GRIF 12:37  |  sam2b 12/03/09
  94.   JOHNBOY @90 again.!Are you claiming the USA has no justice 12:38  |  PETER SM 12/03/09
  95.   ROO Not just financial.Freeman was employed by China 12:51  |  PETER SM 12/03/09
  96.   bye bye charlie brown 13:11  |  michel 12/03/09
  97.   Further proof... 13:29  |  Scott G 12/03/09
  98.   #55 I accept that gauntlet, Lynn 13:31  |  Johnboy 12/03/09
  99.   Cipora Kohn # 41 So, Pollard would be a better choice ? 13:39  |  American in NY 12/03/09
  100.   Johnboy - you may be correct - rabid antisemites 13:40  |  17 12/03/09
  101.   Big Sur and his hasbra recordings 13:42  |  American in NY 12/03/09
  102.   Freeman should never have been appointed 14:12  |  Mark Jeffery Koch 12/03/09
  103.   Searching Swiss (Dino) sources, for example... 14:45  |  Israeli citizen 12/03/09
  104.   #98, like hell we need more friends like Israel 15:11  |  newageblues 12/03/09
  105.   AIPAC Power 15:31  |  jim the mechanic 12/03/09
  106.   NATIONAL INTEREST 16:14  |  gly 12/03/09
  107.   #81 Roo...Freeman`s public statements 16:15  |  Lynn 12/03/09
  108.   #11 Dr.Joji Cherian 16:35  |  *BEN JABO 12/03/09
  109.   #10 Janice - That`s the way it should be 16:36  |  *BEN JABO 12/03/09
  110.   US occupied territories!! 16:40  |  Palestinian 12/03/09
  111.   #98 American Fruitcake in NY 17:00  |  *BEN JABO 12/03/09
  112.   Israel lobby 17:00  |  graczek 12/03/09
  113.   It`s a shame 17:59  |  John 12/03/09
  114.   #62 Hey Roo, gee, what a surprise!!!!! 20:19  |  ballistic 12/03/09
  115.   FREEMAN 23:39  |  JACK WASSERMAN 12/03/09
  116.   Johnboy modus ponendo tollens 23:42  |  Peter Williams 12/03/09
  117.   #116 No, I don`t know that at all, Peter Williams. 02:12  |  Johnboy 13/03/09
  118.   #117 A laughable suggestion, Lynn 02:19  |  Johnboy 13/03/09
  119.   Sycophantic Freeman 02:30  |  Moshe 13/03/09
  120.   #112 graczek 02:33  |  Moshe 13/03/09
  121.   Lynn. Get with the programme. 02:34  |  Roo 13/03/09
  122.   #100 Gilding the lilly, aren`t you, 17? 02:40  |  Johnboy 13/03/09
  123.   #28 Johnboy 03:15  |  Moshe 13/03/09
  124.   Johnboy, smoking is a dealbreaker too... 04:46  |  Peter Williams 13/03/09
  125.   #123 Such nonsense, Moshe. 05:24  |  Johnboy 13/03/09
  126.   #94 A 2nd attempt to respond to PETER SM 08:42  |  Johnboy 13/03/09
  127.   2ND TRY #98 American? Fruitcake in NY 12:14  |  *BEN JABO 13/03/09
  128.   #125 Johnboy 12:37  |  Moshe 13/03/09
  129.   truth 67 re peter sm 19:46  |  potobac 13/03/09
  130.   ben jabo 126 19:53  |  potobac 13/03/09
  131.   This article is deceiving. Israel had nothing to do with it. 20:47  |  Jake 13/03/09
  132.   No mention of Nancy Pelosi in this petty little article 20:52  |  Jake 13/03/09
  133.   #130 Potobac 20:58  |  *BEN JABO 13/03/09
  134.   #10, Hey Janice , beware of Kryptonite 21:03  |  Jake 13/03/09
  135.   To Sad American #17, "Telling it like it is". 21:08  |  Jake 13/03/09
  136.   #22, "Haaretz fan", you are only lying to yourself 21:16  |  Jake 13/03/09
  137.   Sick and Tired of AIPAC`s influence 02:07  |  Nathan 14/03/09
  138.   TO Janet: Zionism has already destroyed Judaism 02:11  |  Nathan 14/03/09
  139.   #128 Another attempt to respond to Moshe 06:10  |  Johnboy 14/03/09
  140.   JOHNBOY1. Who claimed Congressional hearing was his only avenue 12:53  |  PETER SM 14/03/09
  141.   TRUTH as you should be aware there are other 12:55  |  PETER SM 14/03/09
  142.   #139 Johnboy 13:34  |  Moshe 14/03/09
  143.   #131 Jake is deceiving... 14:04  |  Roo 14/03/09
  144.   Moshe # 142 Israel is not more important that Saudi or our Muslim 02:58  |  American in NY 15/03/09
  145.   to absolute Sweden 04:58  |  Manfred Bloner 17/03/09
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