Chas Freeman Investigation Sought By Republican Leader

Nine members of the House of Representatives, including Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), are asking for an investigation into the financial ties of Barack Obama's National Intelligence Council chairman Chas Freeman.

In a letter to the Inspector General at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Reps. Eric Cantor, Shelley Berekley, Mark Krik, Sue Myrick, Patrick McHenry, Leonard Lance, Doug Lamborn, Bob Inglis, Mike Rogers and Boehner, expressed concern that Freeman's organization has "close ties to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," and made the case for an investigation.

"We are writing with concern over the appointment of Charles "Chas" Freeman as the next Chairman of the National Intelligence Council. Given his close ties to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we request a comprehensive review of Amb. Freeman's past and current commercial, financial and contractual ties to the Kingdom to ensure no conflict of interest exists in his new position."

The letter stems from the donations that Freeman's think tank, the Middle East Policy Council, received from Saudi interests. Freeman himself previously served as an Ambassador to that country.

While the Saudi ties have proved problematic, Freeman's remarks on the Israel-Palestinian crisis -- and in particular, the United States role in resolving the conflict -- have landed him in equally hot water. Opposition to the appointment has come from Democratic and Republican Jewish groups alike, with critics pointing to remarks Freeman has made questioning the utility of America's special relationship with Israel:

"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. This has convinced most Palestinians that Israel cannot be appeased and is persuading increasing numbers of them that a two-state solution is infeasible."

All told, the Freeman appointment has provided the first real indication of the strength of the relationships Obama has built within the Jewish community. It has also tested the extent to which the president can and will be able to accommodate disparate viewpoints within his administration. Stephen Walt, author of The Israel Lobby, has praised Freeman's approach to the Middle East and called the opposition to his appointment an "all-too-predictable smear campaign." But criticism extends beyond reflexive reaction from the Jewish community. In addition to his ties to Saudi Arabia, Freeman has been whacked for being short-sighted in his "analytical" ability -- something that would seem to be a pre-requisite for a chair of the National Intelligence Council.

Comments

[SPQR1775]

Netnayahu is a yahoo but he is right. Bush and his GOP lackeys used the 9-11 attack that they planned. Watch the way Bush sit in that class room in Florida, it was picture perfect, he knew what was going to go down, but he wasn't sure on what scale. They then use the fear tactics to get Americans and the West to start a war with the East, Bush went as far to call it the Crusades. Israel will most certainly have to make peace, Netanyahu will not last long, he and his government will fall, then the most likely course for Israel will be peace. Americans are tired of Israel, the Jewish lobby, the GOP and the constant cycle of war and hate that is created with American tax dollars to continue a cycle from Iraq to Pakistan and the people who seem to benefit is the Defense Industry and their investors who are the Global Elites. The CHANGE we seek will be achieve if we continue to show the energy and conscious awakening of 2006, 2008, 2009-2012 and beyond. Down with neo-facism, down with organized religion, down with world corporate and globalist power. The more Europe take and show leadership with China, Russia and an emergent South America and Canada financial and diplomatic, then America will be able to heal from choas and economic disaster created by the GOP and the Bushites neo-facist agenda for global imperialism!

[SPQR1775]

Close ties to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where was the GOP when the Saudi's with the help of the Bushites planned 9-11. Where was the GOP when Bush put all the Saudis on a plane and let them out the country on 9-12. Where was the GOP when the Bush Administration withdraw American troops from Saudi Arabia and launch a war on Iraq, knowing Iraq had no WMD because the CIA, the Military and the UN knew he distroy them after the gulf war. Where was the GOP when Bush and Cheney continually made secret deals for oil with the Saudis. The GOP seem to live in a dimentional evil hypocritical universe, however their time is about UP! It is time to not only deplete these walking bigots, facist, racist and hypocrites, but to burn them at the stake rethorically. Boerher will be voted out next year too. He and the other GOP reps are playing for their base, but on election night 2010, they will wonder "WHAT HAPPENED", they will all be voted out of office. CHANGE IS LOOKING GOOD!

[MelDel7365]

Wow - they are really doing their best to drum up a scandal...Know the Republicans are concerned ... EIGHT years of looking the other way while Bush eviscerated the Constitution EIGHT years of HELPING Bush eviscerate the Constitution and NOW they are concerned...

[Discomustachio]

It seems like what is happening to this guy is a fine example of what happens when an American diplomat puts America before Israel.

[Loki11467]

these are the same yahoo's who let the saudi royal family escape from the US on 9/11. these are the same scumbags who said nothing about Bush being a Saudi lackey allowing gas prices to go up so the House of Saud who are scumbags steal us blind of billions and billions.

[Ali Al-Sinjari]

Has anyone read what Israels future leader Benjamin Netanyahu has to say about America? He doesn't give a damn about peace and states that the September 11, 2001 terror attacks had been beneficial for Israel.

"We are benefiting from one thing, and that is the attack on the Twin Towers and Pentagon, and the American struggle in Iraq," Ma'ariv quoted the former prime minister as saying. He reportedly added that these events "swung American public opinion in our favor."

Here's the link to the statement: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/975574.html

[dems08]

If Boehner wants it, it must not be good.

[dadw5boys]

There should always be someone in these groups that disagrees with the policys just to keep people thinking.

[grf67]

That would be right after the investigations into the financial ties and taxes of all republican senators. congressmen, and commentators.

[grata2ude]

Remember there are elections coming around again in 2010. Just say no to Republicans.

[LannyNorth]

Classic technique from the Diaries of Goebel, tell an outright lie (as if Bush and Co. were not in the back pockets of Saudis) and then tell it repeatedly, loudly and with a fury unmatched by any of the 4 horsemen. Nazi tactics should not surprise. The same energy was spent in the ignoring of basic rights of citizens. Enough with homegrown fascists. My father lost a life fighting them in Europe and there is no reason why we should lay back and let the same empty shouting destroy our America.
Anyone who has read Obama knows a man of integrity and common sense. May he prevail over this Evil.

[AurigaRa]

you mean like the Bush famliy's ties to Saudi Arabia? Like holding hands kinds of ties?

Have I mentioned lately how much I hate these people?

[ILibertine]

I do not think the Dems ought to listen to any Republican request or policy issue unless Rush has signed off on it. Hey, maybe Rush is getting ready to run in 2012! That's enough to give one the runs.

[Hangar18]

No this isn't glass houses, they don't want this guy because he's not an imperialist, at least, he's a neo-liberalistic kind of imperialist.

He's not pro resource wars and he's NOT pro israel, at least in the pro zionist interventionist sense...

[research]

Glass Houses.