Freeman's Withdrawal and the 'Lobby'

Ambassador Chas Freeman who announced earlier today that he is no longer considering the offer to chair the National Intelligence Council, in a statement  published by the ForeignPolicy.com has delivered a pointed response to those responsible for derailing his appointment:

 "I do not believe the National Intelligence Council could function effectively while its chair was under constant attack by unscrupulous people with a passionate attachment to the views of a political faction in a foreign country."

"...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."

In a euphoric email to his readers, Daniel Pipes credits and congratulates Steven J. Rosen of the Middle East Forum as the person responsible for first exposing the "problematic nature of Freeman's appointment" as a "strident critic of Israel". Freeman's response is unambiguous:

"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."

Ambassador Freeman's withdrawal may be considered a victory by the 'Lobby' but it is a shameful and deplorable defeat for the American people and their system of government.