Wed, 11 Mar 2009
The chairman-designate of the US National Intelligence Council declines to take the post citing the Israeli grip on Washington as a reason.
On Tuesday, Charles W. Freeman wrote a fiery letter announcing his withdrawal and attacking the Israeli Lobby for a smear campaign aimed at preventing his appointment. The move followed accusations of unwelcome allegiance to Saudi Arabia and China of Freeman who is known for his anti-Israeli stance.
Freeman, an outspoken critic of Israel and the US support for the Jewish entity, blamed the “unscrupulous people” of the lobby for “outrageous agitation” and “character assassination” after it was known that Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair had tipped him to head the council. The body produces the National Intelligence Estimate listing the reported threats to US security.
“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,” Freeman wrote.
“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,” the letter added.
The outspoken politician said he had clear evidence against the lobbyists who are “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.”
During his headship of the Middle East Policy Council (MEPC), allegations were leveled against Freeman that he functioned as “a mouthpiece for Saudi Arabia” in exchange for money from the Saudi royalties. He has also been accused of bias towards Beijing for constantly advising the White House to forge stronger China ties.
“I have never sought to be paid or accepted payment from any foreign government, including Saudi Arabia or China, for any service, nor have I ever spoken on behalf of a foreign government, its interests, or its policies,” Freeman continued.
He wondered if President Barack Obama’s administration could formulate its own Middle East policy despite the lobby.
He also warned that the body’s coercive methods ultimately “threaten the existence of the state of Israel.”
HN/MMN http://www.presstv.com/Detail.aspx?id=88235§ionid=3510203
