Obama Intel Chief Wants National ID System

Charles "Chas" Freeman, President George H.W. Bush's ambassador to Saudi Arabia and now President Obama's pick for the crucial intelligence post of National Intelligence Council chairman, has come under fire in the past weeks for his financial ties to China and Saudi Arabia. Opposition to his appointment to the lead intel position initially came from the right wing, but as Chinese human rights advocates and PRC dissidents lodge their protests against Freeman for sitting on the advisory board of China's third largest oil company and for remarking that the Chinese government showed too much "restraint" in its handling of Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, Congressmen from both sides of the aisle are starting to call for investigation and opposition to Freeman is becoming more rounded and less ideological.

One new development, revealed here for the first time, which is likely to further damage Freeman's already battered standing is that the former ambassador advocated creating a national identity system in the US as a part of the war on terror. During a 9/11 Commission interview, Freeman remarked that of three major changes the US government should make to effectively combat terror, one was that "the United States should implement a national identity system, so we better know who is who."

This development could raise fresh objections to Freeman from both Republicans advocating leaner and less involved approaches to government and Democrats pushing for more robust civil liberty protections. Additionally, revelation that Freeman advocated putting a national identity system in place might also raise questions from the few remaining left-of-center commentators and outlets which support Freeman's appointment.

Comments

[skialethia]

You know what this is called???

It's called: DAMAGE CONTROL!

Now that Progressive are up in arms about the power of Aipac, "NEO" Libs like Feinstein, Schumer, Lieberman and others must ensure that they reign in those unruly members of the Democratic Party who might "interfere" with getting the neocon/ziocon foreign policy agenda through Congress...so damage control is necessary.

So why not scare everyone with the ID story? It doesn't matter that their phonecalls are already being listened to and the Patriot Act is limiting their freedom, thanks to good ole NeoLibs who helped to push Fisa and the Patriot Act through!!!

People, people...wake up!!! This is a snow-job...do the research with credible sources!

One more thing, why are neos so concerned about Chinese human rights failings, when the Neo's here have approved t0rture, renditions and want to ensure that Gaza's borders continue to be blocked to humanitarian aid...you see, there is a clear agenda for Gaza: starve and t0rture them into submission, or constructively cleanse them from the area!

Oh and regarding the Saudi issue. It didn't seem to bother any of these that Georgie was arm in arm, laughing, holding hands and bobbing up and down with the Saudi Royal Family? And what about all the millions the Clintons received from them; that didn't seem to bother anyone when Hillary was made SoS?

Again, snow-job underway.

[conniedogs]

"The technetronic era involves the gradual appearance of a more controlled society. Such a society would be dominated by an elite, unrestrained by traditional values. Soon it will be possible to assert almost continuous surveillance over every citizen and maintain up-to-date complete files containing even the most personal information about the citizen. These files will be subject to instantaneous retrieval by the authorities."

Z Brzezinski, Between Two Ages: America's Role in the Technetronic Era

[mowomo]

I'll be damned!

[larry278]

A national id card? That is rich. I think that I'll follow the Amish example when somebody asks for my id, I'll ask for a mirror, look at my face & say, "Yes it's me.". I don't travel & a few banks in town know me. I might loan a few thousand on the vigorish to a few fake id providers to go with funding meth labs. The meth lab people are good payers. They pay me in full 2 or 3 days after the go on stream & produce meth 24/7. The local bail bond people tell me when my meth people borrowers get busted. They tell the guys who have the lab equipment & chemicals too. Oh, god, how the money rolls in.

[arvay]

Congratulations for your support of AIPAC, You will be rewarded with the crumbs you have earned. . . .

[ESerafina42]

Sounds like he's been talking too much to China if he thinks a national ID system is a good idea.

[brandnewstuff]

Get rid of that appointment- Jesus Christ to many conflicts of interest and the abilty for more damages to manipualte a Person conect to Bush - and Oil--

Hell No!