The Crusade to Defeat Obama Intelligence Pick Hurts All Jews

The effort to force President Obama to withdraw the nomination of Chas Freeman as chairman of the National Intelligence Council is getting creepy.

Initially, it was just typically ugly. The forces that support the Likud line on Israel always try to block any appointment of anyone who opposes Israeli policies in the occupied territories. During the past eight years they got accustomed to having their people in virtually every foreign policy post. They were called neocons and one of that group's many successes was manipulating the intelligence that got us into Iraq (see Feith, Douglas).

So it was natural that when President Obama apointed someone who was on the record as strongly opposing the occupation they would go ballistic -- and they did.

Steve Rosen, the indicted former AIPAC official, organized a full-court attack on Freeman, enlisting all the usual suspects (the New Republic crowd, the Weekly Standard crowd, and their various and sundry camp followers). Journalists all over Washington were contacted not only by Rosen but by his former employers to take down Freeman.

It was all about Israel, of course. Everyone involved in the anti-Freeman effort are staunch allies of the lobby.

But focusing only on Israel did not look good. So the "get Freeman" bunch decided to feign interest in his alleged ties to Saudi Arabia (of course, that is all about Israel, too) and, get this, his supposed lack of sympathy to Chinese dissidents. The latest is that they are accusing him of taking Saudi money for his foundation and are demanding that this be investigated in the name of good government.

But it's all about Israel.

It's silly to pretend that it isn't when the people applying these strict standards to Freeman never applied them to anyone before. Would they oppose a nominee who had a few million dollars invested in Israel or was unnaturally close to the Israel lobby? Of course not. They would applaud the appointment. Employees of the lobby have gone directly from it to the highest levels of the State Department. Who protested? Certainly not these people.

Here is the scary part.

I'm a pro-Israel Jew, who has visited Israel 50 times in 40 years. But I am, like 99.9% of American Jews, first an American.

The idea that the anti-Freeman crowd is running all over town demanding that anyone not close to Israel be banned from working in an American intelligence agency leaves me nauseated.

How dare they? It has taken 20 years to get over the Pollard spy scandal. Good Jewish American kids cannot get jobs in various US government agencies because some people who provide (or withhold) clearances think that American Jews have divided loyalties.

We don't. But crusades like this, not surprisingly, leave the impression that we do.

This isn't about Freeman.

It is about a group that has decided to go after him to warn the administration that only friends of the lobby are acceptable appointees. It is about a group that is so oblivious to Jewish history that it believes it can recklessly put their interests in Israel above everything else and not expect to build strong resentment in Washington (it was strong enough, even before this).

How dare they? My children are first generation (their mom, my wife, was born in a Displaced Persons camp in Germany after her parents survived the Holocaust). We love this country and will be damned if we allow anyone to convey the impression that we take it for granted.

For us, this is the "goldeneh medina" (the golden land), the best homeland Jews ever had. How dare they imply that for us it's only second best.

This whole thing is creepy. And it hurts all Jews.

It also hurts Israel, a country I love, which is being destroyed by policies these people have consistently supported. Why can't they just shut up? Haven't they done enough damage?

Comments

[murphy80]

this is the beginnings of an inevitable collision course of interests.

time for cooler heads to prevail.

[Michelle1979]

As a Jewish American who follows China, I’m just not sure I’d dismiss the concerns about Freeman's ties to the Chinese government and state-run companies as merely a sideshow.

Besides the alarm bells set off by his statements defending the brutality against peaceful protesters in 1989 (talk about creepy), the money trail is at least as disconcerting. Given how good the Chinese Communist Party is at using threats of revoking business to encourage self-censorship, it makes me question how objective Freeman will be in his analysis.

Will someone who sat on the board of a state-run Chinese oil firm really be able to alert the president properly if things in China start looking not-too-sunny for the Party? Will he be honest on issues deemed 'sensitive', but which have real consequences for U.S. interests and tens of millions in Asia-be it Taiwan, Tibet, the Falun Gong or prospects of a democratic movement emerging in China? These aren't hypothetical questions, they're the kinds of decisions that someone in his position will have to make on a daily basis. And as the Chinese economy turns sour, they will become ever more real.

So one way of resolving the question of whether having an AIPAC lobby be perceived as the reason Freeman's appointment is withdrawn would be if a broader spectrum of voices (including non-AIPAC Jewish ones) acknowledges the very real concerns about his close ties with a non-Saudi repressive regime-the Chinese one.

[SergeantRoss45]

Americans are allowed to have anti-lsraeI sentiments, just like we can be anti any other government or country, this is freedom of speech and expressions.

[BubbaC33]

You are right, but when Jews are picked out as disloyal simply for being Jewish that is not right or acceptable. If you apply to Israel a set of standards higher than to any other nation that is anti-Semitism as well and that is wrong. But to dislike what Israel does or does not do does not make a person wrong, just misinformed.

[chaos4700]

Irony alert!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mj-rosenberg/the-crusade-to-defeat-oba_b_172417.html?show_comment_id=21723524#comment_21723524

[BubbaC33]

It scares me that so many have posted here with accusations against Jews of disloyalty to the US. Accusations based on nothing but bias and hatred. This site is great for the discussion of a number of issues and most folks are able to disagree without being disagreeable. But to call the loyalty of a person into question because they are Jewish borders on the pogroms in Russia and the horror of the propaganda used in 30's Germany.
I respect that folks are going to disagree with me on a lot of issues, they are wrong to do so, but it is their right. But to make such blanket accusations is not a right and it is a dangerous path for anyone to follow. And anyone making such an accusation ought to be ashamed.

[piul05]

"I respect that folks are going to disagree with me on a lot of issues, they are wrong to do so, but it is their right. "

Presumptuous much?

[BubbaC33]

Not at all.

[Donatella]

But I am, like 99.9% of American Jews, first an American.

Although I generally agree with Mr. Rosenberg's sentiments I don't think the 99.9% figure is anywhere close to accurate.

I too was born in a DP camp in postwar Germany, spent my first 6 years there and believe in Israel's right to exist. The camps weren't luxurious but we were treated decently unlike the inhuman conditions the Palestinians are subjected to on a daily basis. However, my experience is that most American Jews turn a blind eye to what Israel is doing to the Palestinians and like sheep believe every lie of the fascist right wing of Israeli politics. If only 0.1% of American Jews were Americans first they would not have allowed the past 40 years of brutalization of the Palestinians to occur. Frankly, I think the majority of American Jews are Jews (i.e. Israelis) first. Look at the actions not the rhetoric.

[marignymitch]

Thank-you, sir. I am looking forward to the day when our self-destructive Middle Eastern politicies will not be dictated by AIPAC, the inadvertent enemy of American Jews and Israel itself.

[Fireslayer]

How long will the marriage of the right-wing and the Israel lobby remain friends if they are perceived as a fourth branch of government with veto over the others?

When will the right return to it's old home, its ferrae naturae which is anti-semitism?

A balanced policy that brings peace to Israel and justice to the Palestinians is in this country and every countries interest.

Continuing the ethnic cleansing policies that unwrite AIPAC will lead to a world of hurt.

Support the Israeli peace movement- Peace Now!

[skialethia]

Rosenberg mentions Douglas Feith, and I strongly suggest everyone look up Feith, David Wurmser, Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz (4 of the neoconarchitects of Iraq war) and check out how close their tiestoIsrael, Israelilobbyists and Israelimilitary companies in the case of Perle are!

As a matter of fact an employee of Feith was accused of espionageand passing information to an Israelidiplomat.

"In Bob Woodward's book Plan of Attack, then-United States Secretary of State Colin Powell called Feith's operation at the Pentagon the "Ges tapo" office, alleging that it amounted to a separate, unchecked governing authority within the Pentagon."

It was alleged that none of the Israeliswho visited the Pentagon when Feith worked at the Pentagon went through normal clearance channels.

What about the influence they exert over Congress? How close are they to the Presidency, when every candidate for President since J FK needs to be anointed by the Israelilobbyists to get the Presidency??? With Iraq they have brought the country to an all-time low. Hopefully, Obama will refuse to give into pressure when it comes to Palestinianstatehood and Iran and this Intelligence pick!

[BubbaC33]

I appreciate your posting. Postings like yours, and a few others here, make the case for Israel's continued existence. As long as folks like you exist there is a need for Israel.

[zaz33]

It's common knowledge for most of us that Israel and the neo-cons want the US to whack Iran.

I understand Freeman has a history of honest intelligence.

Having someone unwilling to cook the books will create a serious obstacle for the mongers.

This, in my opinion, will be one more test for the Obama administration.

Put an end to the propaganda in our foreign policy.

[Ergon]

Dual loyalties, hasbara, every other amabassador or envoy to an Arab capital is a Jew but never a Muslim, and. according to US intelligence studies, a country capable of staging false flag attacks to embroil us in foreign wars on Israel's behalf. This is a debate whose time has come, and I would only want people whose first loyalty is to America in positions of power.

[Taxi]

" But I am, like 99.9% of American Jews, first an American."

I know some 16 American Jewish people fairly well and over the years. When I began asking them a while back, only four of them said that if America was at war with Israel, they would fight for America.

When the others were asked why they would fight for Israel, nine said because Israel is the eternal underdog. Three said that tribal guilt was a big factor - ie, they would feel 'guilty' if they didn't defend Israel, whether she was right or wrong.

[who38]

Bodes well for no one.

[piul05]

0.1% of 6,000,000 makes for some 6,000 people whose loyalties are to a foreign country first.

Considering that many hold key/influencial positions, this is worrying - not to mention, probably unique, in the world.

[BubbaC33]

Just as the writer of the other posting ought to be ashamed so should you. Jews have served with honor in every war this nation has fought. Jews have served the government of this nation with honor and resolve.
I fully understand some are going to mention Jonathan Pollard, a convicted spy for Israel. I understand he has served a longer term for his crimes than anyone who ever was caught spying for the Soviets or for any other foreign power, including Britain. Yes, the US has caught Brit spies. And guess what, Britain has caught Americans spying on England.
But the questioning of the loyalty of all Jews, as you folks are doing, is a step toward a return to the Shoah. And every person making this specious argument ought to be ashamed of themselves.

[moflard]

I've asked you before for names of British spies - seriously here, could you provide them as I can't locate any.

[chaos4700]

And here we go again. Any criticism of Israelis ellicits a response to the Holocaust. Noun, verb, anti-Semite.

[piul05]

How does 0.01% equate with "questioning the loyalty of all Je»s"?

Do you actually read the articles and posts carefully, or just say the first defensive thing that comes to your head?

[piul05]

Ah, and I think you should take up this issue with Donatella (08:35 am), she obviously has a much less generous view on the matter...

[skialethia]

Google D.Feith, D.Wurmser, R.Perle, P.Wolfowitz, Franklin (espionage with Rosen), then you'll know why Israeli Lobbyists are dangerous and Obama should have them thoroughly investigated if he wants to own his power and his conscience.

[BubbaC33]

I am so glad you have figured out the truth behind the lives we Jews live.

[mamoji]

great article Mr rosenberg,bravo for taking on the vested israeli intrest,its time that usa be a hones broker/arbitrator in the middle east if it want gain good will over there.
why should usa be the lacky of israel,enough,they take our aid n dictate us on what to do,can anyone tell me what is the strategic intrest of the usa in supporting blindly israel,what has the israeli contributed to this great nation of ours,come on america wake up.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

So, some of the Israelies have an objection as to who President Obama selects to chair the National Intelligence Council?

Why should we keep borrowing money from China to give any portion of it to them?

Why can't they borrow what they need directly from the Chinese? And why can't the Chinese collect the interest from them, their children, great-grandchildren, g-great-grandchildren, and so on?

[who38]

Good point.