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Top Intelligence pick hits 'Israel lobby' on way out

by mtippett | March 10, 2009 at 07:52 pm

165 views | 28 Recommendations | 9 comments

A story that is getting a lot of attention in the blogosphere has pitted one of Obama's top Intel picks against pro Israeli government officials. In announcing his departure Charles Freeman blames this group for his inability to accept the role.

President Barack Obama's controversial pick for a top intelligence post blasted the "Israel lobby" on his way out the door Tuesday, intensifying a debate on the role Israel's allies played in the latest failed Obama appointment.

Freeman goes on to say:

"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," he wrote.

"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."

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gerrypopplestone

at 20:15 on March 10th, 2009

The Israeli lobby in the US reminds me the sort of childhood I had in the evangelical fundamentalists: we were always convinced that we were on God's side and everyone else was on the devil's. So we had to appose them every way we could! No listening; no debate. They were always wrong, wrong, wrong. The Palestine-Israeli conflict will get nowhere with this kind of opposition.

tikun

at 13:06 on March 12th, 2009

Gerry,

I think that these comments are unbecoming of you. This is just gratuitous. What does this have to do with him withdrawing his name for consideration. In fact, he got in trouble more for his close financial relationship with the Saudis and the Chinesse then his anti-Israel rhetoric. If Samantha Powers , no lover of Israel, is able to be appointed then it really appears that there were other factors in the mix. But then again knee-jerk anti-Israel, anti-Zionist, anti-Israel lobby comments feed the fire of hatred. Well done.

Roy C

at 20:28 on March 10th, 2009

We need all the evidence to make up our minds about this.

In a situation such as this we all read "the truth" into the story or "a big lie".

So, what was said about this guy? What is the evidence that it is false? What are his major differences with the people who oppose him in terms of policy?

Ahmar Mustikhan

at 03:39 on March 11th, 2009

Having lived in Pakistan, I know for sure there are man eaters out there who want to eat the Jews.....

tikun

at 13:11 on March 12th, 2009

It appears that there are some on this forum. This is a bit sad and disturbing that some newbies are continuing with this dribble.

Art_By_Alida

at 10:49 on March 11th, 2009

It was the Israel Insider news which started and perpetrated the rumour that Obama was not an American citizen. The far right in Israel do not like Obama...and who is behind the ADL in Washington? I don't believe it's the moderate and liberal factions in Israel.

This is great news.

tikun

at 13:16 on March 12th, 2009

Is NP becoming a hot bed of crazies. Where in Indiana do you get the inside track about what the "right wing" in Israel thinks about Obama. Just for a bit of information the "far-right" as you describe whoever you are referring to, doesn't give a rats ass who is president. The agenda of the soon to be decided new government will work with whomever is in power in the US. You folks are creating fantasy land and state it as fact. This is worse then the white power web sites.

where the hell are the editors? (not verified)

at 14:21 on March 12th, 2009

Can one of the supposed editors step in on this guy - he is posting personally abusive messages on multiple posts.

He cries racist fast enough - he needs to be censured for his comments

K. Gandhi (not verified)

at 12:40 on April 17th, 2009

AIPAC should be required to register as "Agent of a Foreign Government" under the FERA ACT of 1938 that the Justice Department fails miserably to enforce!