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TechnoratiTimidity Derails Obama Intel Choice
On Tuesday morning, Director of National Intelligence, Admiral Dennis Blair, employed the indicative mood in describing the high value that Chas Freeman, his appointee to head the National Intelligence Council (NIC), will bring to the job - "his long experience and inventive mind," for example.
By five o'clock that afternoon, Freeman announced that he had asked that his selection "not proceed."
Not one to mince words, Freeman, spelled out the strange set of affairs surrounding the flip-flop and the implications of what had just happened.
Borrowing from George Washington's Farewell Address the pointed warning against developing a "passionate attachment" to the strategic goals of another nation, Freeman made it clear that he was withdrawing his "previous acceptance" of Blair's invitation to chair the NIC because of the character assassination of him orchestrated by the Israel Lobby.
The implications? Freeman was clear:
"The outrageous agitation ... will be seen by many to raise serious questions about whether the Obama administration will be able to make its own decisions about the Middle East and related issues. [It casts] doubt on its ability to consider, let alone decide what policies might best serve the United States rather than those of a Lobby intent on enforcing the will and interests of a foreign government...
"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 ... and the exclusion of any and all options for decision by Americans and our government other than those it [the Lobby] favors."
Foreign policy analyst Chris Nelson described the imbroglio as a reflection of the "deadly power game on what level of support for controversial Israeli government policies is a ‘requirement' for U.S. public office."
Before the flip-flop on Freeman was announced, Nelson warned, "If Obama surrenders to the critics and orders Blair to rescind the Freeman appointment, it is difficult to see how he can properly exercise leverage, when needed, in his conduct of policy in the Middle East. That, literally, is how the experts see the stakes in the fight now under way" - the fight that is now over.
Congressional Boasting
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, led Lobby boasting just minutes after the Freeman debacle was announced. Schumer was clear: "His [Freeman's] statements against Israel were way over the top. ... I repeatedly urged the White House to reject him, and I am glad they did the right thing."
And, as Glen Greenwald has noted, "Lynch mob leader Jonathan Chait [of The New Republic and author of an influential op-ed for the Washington Post] who spent the last week denying that Israel was the driving force behind the attacks on Freeman," now concedes the obvious.
Greenwald quotes Chait: "Of course I recognize that the Israel Lobby is powerful, and was a key element in the pushback against Freeman."
Neoconservative Daniel Pipes offered an anatomy of the crime, blog-bragging about how it was conducted:
"What you may not know is that Steven J. Rosen of the Middle East forum was the person who first brought attention [on Feb. 19] to the problematic nature of Freeman's appointment. ... Within hours, the word was out and three weeks later Freeman has conceded defeat. Only someone with Steve's stature and credibility could have made this happen."
The same Steve Rosen who is currently on trial for violations of the Espionage Act involving the transmission of classified information intended for Israel? One and the same! This has to be the purest brand of gall that ever came down the Pipes.
This "morning after," I find myself wondering when White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel - another staunch supporter of the Lobby who reportedly was Schumer's go-to guy on the get-Freeman campaign - saw fit to let Admiral Blair in on the little secret that no way could he have Freeman. And why Blair tucked tail.
In a March 8 letter to Admiral Blair, we Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) endorsed his appointment of Freeman and decried the campaign to derail it.
We seven signatories (with cumulative experience of 130 years) noted that the Freeman case was the first time we witnessed such a well-coordinated campaign to reverse the appointment of an official to an intelligence job not requiring Senate confirmation.
In other words the influence of the Israel Lobby is seeping ever deeper into the ranks of the intelligence community.
Military Mind-Set
It seems altogether possible that Admiral Blair, accustomed to military command authority, assumed he had the right to appoint his senior staff and did not think to check the naming of Freeman out with politicians sensitive to such pressures.
And this points up a host of other problems. One is that of having military officers, active or retired, running national intelligence. It appears to be beyond their ken to consider resigning on principle.
I imagine it never occurred to Blair that he should have quit on the spot as soon as he learned that Freeman was being jettisoned. Or at least Blair might have threatened to quit if the Obama administration let itself be bullied in this way.
Blair is no neophyte, but he clearly underestimated the power of the Lobby vis-à-vis his own. The White House seems to have told Blair to treat the Freeman appointment as though in the subjunctive mood - long enough to "run it up the flagpole and see who salutes," as the saying goes.
Then, when the Lobby made sure there were no salutes, but rather the strongest and most scurrilous spitting, Freeman was hauled on down.
The Freeman flip-flop is merely the latest sign that Obama is afraid to take on the Lobby - and the world is watching. Most will interpret the new President's acquiescence in this outcome as a sign of weakness - of his not being his own man.
This is a distinct liability as Obama prepares to meet next month with the likes of Vladimir Putin who will be taking his measure.
The encounter with Putin brings to mind another young President's encounter with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev in Vienna in June 1961. Khrushchev had studied the fiasco of the Bay of Pigs in April 1961; he would have understood if Kennedy had left Castro alone or destroyed him.
When Kennedy was rash enough to approve a strike on Cuba but not bold enough to finish the job, in Khrushchev's view, the latter decided he was dealing with an inexperienced young leader who could be intimidated and blackmailed - one who would shrink from hard decisions.
Kennedy later said of his encounter with Khrushchev in Vienna, "He beat the hell out of me." The meeting led Khrushchev to believe that Kennedy might well back down if the USSR put missiles in Cuba.
As for Israel, the Russians were better able to understand Washington's "passionate attachment" to Israel in strategic terms, as the Cold War played out in the Middle East and Washington had a perceived need to have Israel as a permanent "battleship" there.
Now the Russians see the power of the Israel Lobby for what it is - who can miss it? The Obama administration is seen as caving under political pressure.
Although the Russians continue to be amazed at the Lobby's strong influence over U.S. policy, the Russians are happy as clams to sit back and watch as the identification of the U.S. with Israeli policy inflicts incalculable damage to U.S. interests throughout the region and beyond.
Though a sportsman, Putin is best at chess. He is likely to shy away from playing basketball with our new President. Obama will have to beat Putin at his own game - and Obama now has shown himself easy to push around.
Israeli Adventurism
With Freeman's withdrawal, there is surely much gloating among the politically aware in Israel. However, gloating is one thing; dangerous miscalculation is another.
That danger is particularly high as Benjamin Netanyahu takes over as Israeli prime minister. Netanyahu and his close "neoconservative" friends in the U.S. have made no bones about their preference for a Bush/Cheney-style preventive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.
As Gareth Porter and I write in the Miami Herald, the specter of such a strike takes on more reality with Netanyahu as prime minister. He, too, is taking the measure of our young President and may draw very dangerous conclusions from Obama's subservience to the Lobby.
The effect of the Freeman affair on the intelligence community is easy to predict.
Those who were looking forward to fearless integrity will be deeply disappointed. They may seek honest work elsewhere, if they perceive that Blair is only the titular head of intelligence and that pro-Lobby political operatives are calling the shots.
On the other hand, those intelligence managers and analysts who were pleased as punch to be sent over to brief the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP), created by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), will be delighted with the news on Freeman.
This briefing practice, which was encouraged by the Bush/Cheney administration, was highly irregular for a non-partisan intelligence community to be engaged in. It can be expected to flourish now, with the abject object lesson of Freeman's demise.
On Oct. 5, 2007, I published an article about Israel's deliberate attempt on June 8, 1967, to sink the USS Liberty in international waters off the Sinai, killing 34 of the Liberty crew and wounding over 170 in the process.
The lead was:
"So Who's Afraid of the Israel Lobby? Virtually everyone: Republican, Democrat - Conservative, Liberal. The fear factor is non-partisan, you might say, and palpable. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee brags that it is the most influential foreign policy lobbying organization on Capitol Hill, and has demonstrated that time and again, and not only on Capitol Hill."
The point? In June 1967, the Israelis learned that they could get away, literally, with murder and still not endanger their influence in Washington.
Events of the past weeks demonstrate that they and their Lobby are equally good at character assassination. It is embarrassingly shameful to watch President Obama acquiesce in all this.
69 Comments so far
Show AllThis isn't an example of timidity or apprehensiveness. There isn't a lack of courage. This isn't an example of Obama being afraid, or pushed around, or pressured by the big bad military or the Zionists of the Likud Party.
This is an example of politics and Obama’s style of leadership.
When Bill Clinton came to power he had the chance to restructure the CIA and to make a bold, new US foreign policy by getting rid of the politicized atmosphere and the players that came in under Reagan and HW Bush. Obama's craftwork today should be compared to Clinton's of last decade when Clinton placed political players in charge of the CIA and NSA. Obama is doing the exact same thing, but with more support from the leftwing -- even if it comes in the form of presenting Obama as the victim.
It sucks, but is reality.
It's not just Schumer, Lieberman, Feinstein, etc.
Every year or two another movie comes out about the Jewish Holocaust replete with big name stars and a ton of advertizing, reminding us, in a way, to sympathize, if not idolatrize, Jews. Obviously, no one in their right mind can help but sympathize, but is there not a purpose behind the propaganda?
And it's ironic to me that since the beginning of the state of Israel, the Israelis themselves have become fascists over their own un-wanted minority.
Also, during the Reign of Bush, where our own country quite nearly to became a dictatorship, where was the help from our "good friend" the state of Israel?
Yes S C O T T _ T Y N E R
You are very correct -- it's much more than just a few visible pudidiots, as it's a global industry of the neoCONers and part of its policy to expand the Zionist cause.
Since '67, there has been a very purposeful, concentrated and focused creation and expansion of the various holocaust "markets & industry" -- specifically ( many believe ) to support illegal land grab justification claims of the State of Israel, and to buttress the backstop of anti-Semitism justification to squash any rational discourse about aberrant and egregious suffering caused by continued colonization of Palestinian lands. In addition to destabilize the entire region, in support of increased warmongering, power plays, and profiteering.
There are many scholars who I've read ( Finklestein ) that go in much greater detail, and have the knowledge to substantiate these ideas. For example, before '67 there was essentially no proactive discussion about "THe Holocaust", as it was covered and investigated extensively soon after WWII ( there were no parties in denial of it, just an extremely poor example of the depth of depravity from human intolerance of others ). Before '67, it was the property of just a few historians -- but that's no longer true.
Namaste
Namaste, Hello,
I read a poignant, an insightful and sublime analysis of the dynamic of the holocaust in Jewish/Israeli consciousness, even tying it to sitting Shiva, as in mourning for death, which traditionally ends in the rebirth of joy in life as the author described it, though she postulated, this process, this healing process that should have occurred, sitting Shiva for the Holocaust, had gone very awry in Israel,
Might you know of this article, it was in the Electronic Intifada I believe.
ThankYou, Joe.
Thank you my friend, Joe...
Namaste doesn't understand that 'Shiva' as in the Hindu sense, is not related to 'sitting shiva'. Shiva means "seven". Because that is the number of days that mourning lasts.
It was just reprinted a couple days ago, in a new website called "Palestinian Times". A freind who is involved brought it to my attention.
I have been absent from CD for awhile. I hope your puppies are doing well....
J O E
No, never heard of it and from what you mention, it's not something of any interest for me.
But the "sitting Shiva" is for the meditative phase ( in breath ) -- while the next phase is dancing and is for the total destruction of all existence ( out breath ).
For me, the 'Dance of Shiva' is exactly appropriate for Israel -- based on their inability to hold still ( and BE CONSCIOUS ) for even a short moment.
Namaste
Thank You always for your posts and this reply,
Joe.
Grieving and transformation of our loss and disconnection, is a profound and meandering process -- that the latest research is learning that is quite personal and unpredictable in 'Kubla-Ross stage' progression and duration. Depending upon manifold associations and life experiences, the end result of again living in joy is literally transformative ( and perhaps w/o endpoint ).
Blame is far short of forgiveness, and it's no longer very difficult for me to understand the tremendous level of hate and violence that most Zionists and many Jews find seething within. Society has essentially failed in the overall healing process, but I believe that is not an accidental outcome, as the harvesting of hate and anguish is great to manipulate and control the masses.
I will now seek out this article, as I can see that there is much for me to learn -- as for whatever reason I misread your posting before … ( shiva=seven vs. Shiva).
I understand that a major part of the context of each society ( and each personality ) is how to deal with death and suffering -- and when that goes poorly, the rest of us join in that suffering regardless.
Namaste
With the CONSTANT apologies and excuses for why Obama continues to capitulate and disappoint, wonder if anyone even cares to recall even Obama's own insistance to hold him accountable?
The problem is the rationalizing fools who give him a pass for his weakness and lack of leadership---where is the incentive for him to act for so-called change? Thankfully there are some courageous actors out there confronting the reality--because the status quo isn't sustainable. And if Obama continues to dally and continue to triangulate on the Bush worldview propped up by bubbles and fairydust propaganda and pressures to serve only certain class interests he will go down in history ultimately as a sucker and you who prop him up with excuses enable him to fail.
says it all:
"The Freeman flip-flop is merely the latest sign that Obama is afraid to take on the Lobby - and the world is watching. Most will interpret the new President's acquiescence in this outcome as a sign of weakness - of his not being his own man"
He ain't nothin but a boy.
This kind of thing is certainly not new.
A very similar kind of lobby prevents the United States from doing anything sensible with regard to Cuba.
There is a wealthy and ignorant class of people who have a passion which transcends reason. They push their congressmen and they get them elected...over and over again.
Those congressmen obtain "seniority" and obtain influence beyond their districts.
This lobby is little different from many others, although it's power seems to have peaked.
I see this as acts more of desperation than anything else. They are approaching the nadir of their power because the blowback is starting. Too bad the fall-out will be bloody and arduous, but Israel is not likely to last in this form for another 50 years. She will either have to change and adapt substantially, or she will lose. I'm hoping for the former, there is reason to hope, they do have a representative government and such governments CAN change (just not quickly).
It is shame that our "representatives" Schumer, Israel, Feinstein... would engage in a such dirty sabotage of a true American patriot. Why do these senators care more about a foreign country than about America, the country where they live and whose taxpayers feed them...?
Why don't Schumer, Israel, Feinstein... put America first, especially in these challenging times?
Why such tribal instinct and behavior, which is more appropriate to a chimp than to well educated elected officials?
Why don't Schumer, Israel, Feinstein do what is best to protect American people? Who do they really represent?
Ray McGovern seems to have the chutzpah to say it like it is... Freeman definitely has the courage to stand up to the lobby...
There are very few in Congress who have this strength... maybe Kucinich,
maybe some of the black ladies in Congress (who understand oppression).
Kerry did not have the strength (they must have had some real goods on him or maybe on his wife).
Obama has what it takes, but he is facing a huge fight... he cannot win it alone, he will need our help...
FGS, he's only been in office a short while... he ran an incredible campaign, agst both Hillary and McCain. What a supernatural feat! You'd think he'd be exhausted... but he's plugging right along. The guy doesn't take guff...
The Pres hands and feet are tied by AIPAS and their paid lackeys in congress and the House. All the Politicians are afraid of loosing their Jobs, which AIPAS has demonstrated its efficiency in doing.
What to do about it ?, American citizens will have to take the lead to push AIPAS to expose itself and the politicians can break free
It cannot happen the other way ,the politicians will be picked off methodically and you will never have critical mass, in order for the politicians to break free
This is a great article , and explains the detailed history of the taking over of our news media, and how Gates ( and therefore Obama ) is deep into it ( shrubish bu$h!t )
The Neocons Strike Back
By Robert Parry
March 11, 2009
"The neoconservatives have demonstrated that their power in Washington remains strong as they have succeeded in keeping veteran diplomat Chas Freeman out of a top intelligence job."
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2009/031109.html
Namaste
Timidity did not derail Obama's intel choice.
The Israeli lobby is more powerful than the US President who is constrained by the law, and the public, open nature of all he does.
The Israeli Lobby on the other hand, 'works' in comfy secrecy and has bottomless pockets of US tax-payer dollars for 'political contributions' (bribes) of our politicians, for full page ads advocating Tel-Aviv's interests as parlyed into American foreign policy, and, more endless taxpayer money to pay-off, bribe etc any media talking heads they do not own outright.
The president cannot match an endless tirade by Fox News, a dozen bought senators like schumer, the ads, the editorials for shaping public opinion in the papers, not week in and month out. A smear campaign? Yes, Obama needs that.
Timidity did not derail Obama's intel choice, Israel & AIPAC did, and their is nothing timid about these thieves of land and life, these thieves of our taxes and my President's independence too.
Joe.
"Timidity Derails Obama Intel Choice"
Actually, he was Blair's choice, not Obama's, and he was derailed by Obama's chief of Staff. If anything, it seems that Obama did not support Freeman.
Very interesting point, joe. And if you're right, what does this mean?
… both w/o evidence and a w/o clue
JOE is stirring up HOPE stew …
What is the point of personal attacks here? What does "… both w/o evidence and a w/o clue" mean?
Joe Hope wrote, "Actually, he was Blair's choice, not Obama's, and he was derailed by Obama's chief of Staff. If anything, it seems that Obama did not support Freeman."
What's wrong with that, considering that Rahm Emanuel, the chief of staff, is an Israeli/U.S. dual-citizen, and even served in the Israeli army, whose main function is to oppress Palestinians. Naturally Emanuel would be the go-to guy for AIPAC.
Bottom line: if Obama had supported Freeman, Freeman wouldn't have had to withdraw his nomination, because Obama would have stood up for him. Obama did zilch to support him.
As an aside, does anyone else wonder why it is that ex-AIPAC chief Steve Rosen, who is now on trial for passing classified information to Israel, is not in jail? I thought if you were accused of murder, or, as in this case, treason, you didn't qualify for bail.
We have been taken over by Israel. How did this happen? Is it companies like AMDOCS that run the billing for the mobile phone companies or their technological lead in software systems that can tap any phone or email, enabling them to blackmail any politician or journalist in this country. Our intel services have been outsourced to them and we dont question anything because we want the benefits of this illegal treasure trove of illegally obtained information.
Is it too early to say I TOLD YOU SO?
As outraged as I am, I agree with those who recognize that it is impossible for Obama to tackle all of the entrenched powerful interests at once, especially when no one or not enough have his back. As Alice Walker has noted, "Obama is not a magician."
It is important for us to contact the President and Congress and hold their feet to the fire; to build a fire as scorching as the flames that spit from the dragon that is AIPAC. One good that could come out of this is that the power of this foreign influence is further exposed. Someone needs to write an equivalent of Thomas Paine's Common Sense; that it is irrational for a government on the American continent to be controlled by a government across the ocean and its Tory agents.
And, I certainly hope the tenure of Rahm Emanuel does not last anywhere near the 8yr tenure of Obama (as I wish the same for Geithner & Summers).
Finally, somebody needs to contest Schumer in a Democratic primary. Maybe Caroline Kennedy!
There are sometimes when you have to take your own back until others find the courage. It's called leadership.
During a discussion about single-payer health care on "Democracy Now" today, activist/journalist Russell Mokhiber stated emphatically that he was sick and tired of hearing about how the citizenry had to create a big wind to blow Obama in the direction of single-payer.
He pointed out that the merits of single-payer are such that showing LEADERSHIP is what's needed to pull the cart out of the "can't be done" ditch.
I'm becoming increasingly aware of something that seems almost passive-aggressive in the Obama administration's SOP. They seem to assert very clear and strong likes and dislikes, but take evasive action if directly challenged.
At the moment, Obama still has enough popularity, support, and unconditional positive regard to inspire rationalizations of his behavior as evidence of rare political astuteness and savvy. But that kind of general optimism and predilection to impart positive spin to his administration's questionable and problematic actions can evaporate in a flash.
· Yr Obd't Servant
By the way, where are all the usual Israeli apologists? They must be late or didn't get the memo that this article is up. They are supposed to show up, call us anti-Semites and idiots for believing there is such a thing as "The Lobby."
I heard that the news about IRAN's new space program got them all in a tizzy.
The Iranians are rumored to be staging up for an attack on Jupiter ( Jew-piter )
Thanks Steven Colbert.
Namaste
Wheeeeee heeeee heeeee!!!!
.
With many major problems attacking our country; the citizens should engage in a national debate on "disengagement from Israel".
Our national security, foreign policies, and domestic economy have been controlled by the "Jewish Lobby" for over 30 years. Israel's veto of Charles Freeman's inclusion in the Obama Administration; has exposed a very shameful and dangerous situation/conspiracy.
AIPAC, on direct orders from Tel Aviv, has mobilized lethal opposition to Mr. Freeman. Practically every member of Congress, as well as, President Obama; showed their domination by a foreign nation.
Israel runs this country and that must STOP !!!!
Sever all connections with Israel.
Investigate the unlawful and unAmerican activities of AIPAC.
,
There's a long history of TIMIDITY ( kindly stated ).
Please go and read of the sinister real lessons of the creation of AIPAC ( some believe JFK resisted this to the end ):
http://tinyurl.com/Zionist-Treason
Flashback: Declassified Papers: DOJ Accepted AIPAC Parent's Demand for Secrecy
Namaste
Like Ray McGovern and others, I am disappointed by the Freeman withdrawal and spooked by the power of AIPAC. However the way I see President Obama's decision here is not so much backing down out of lack of character but rather choosing not to fight when no one has his back. Since his own party is (mostly) in the pocket of AIPAC, he would have to fight his own congressional allies for this one, expending political capital, delighting Republicans, and ultimately ending up weaker. I wish it wasn't that way. Maybe eventually enough of The People will make it clear to enough congressmen that we have their back if they resist AIPAC and then sane balanced thinking about the Middle East can begin. McGovern's extrapolation to Putin etc is uncalled for and needless fearmongering since Putin would test Obama anyway and when it comes to Russia Obama's allies will back him.
Obama will not say no to Israel's settlements ,occupation and expansions.
"Israeli and american officials preach a two-state solution but practice the creeping erasure of the Palestinian people.
And every day Israel gathers in more and more Palestinian land.
(when the Ottomans fell, the land that was Palestine was supposed to "shared" by the Jews and Palestinians. Now it's almost 80% Israeli and 20% Palestinian.
Patience people, patience. Obama cannot come out of the gate firing at everything that moves. There are so many strongly entrenched, wealthy, powerful, influencial organizations that have our government over the barrel, things have to happen in the right order. Look at what he has done and against strong opposition. Also we have to recognize that the blue-dog dems will not help so he has to pick his battles. As others have already suggested, how do we know if this was a genuine attempt or was intended to flush out the real obstructionist. I will hold any criticism until I am sure, after all, who would you rather have in the whitehouse?
Obama is a puppet of AIPAC. Shame for this country to fall on her knees.
We have to speak up and agitate. Passive patience will stretch out into long periods of nothing getting better. If we don't say something and organize for what we want, who will.
Joe
I agree, we are speaking out, there is agitation. My comment was directed toward the ones who are insistent that this one issue should be a defining moment. Charles Freeman would be a great addition but there are others. I believe that Obama is doing a lot and he is negotiating a mine field. He has taken on the issue of health care, should be single payer, but his proposal is much better than what we have ever had. The Employee Free Choice Act is, for me, a must win fight. If the administration backs off this I will join the very loud agitators, this battle will affect millions and must be won.
Of course, you're so right about patience, although I believe that reverence for LIFE is more critical, useful, and indispensable.
Just look what 60 plus years of profoundly restrained patience has done for the Palestinians.
I can hardly wait …
I sure hope they build pretty walls for us
Namaste
Please, the Palestinians have fought back and paid a huge price. That is why I believe we have to be careful and pick our battles so as to not suffer debilitating defeat. Most important, he has to keep the public confidence with him, that takes real planning. I repeat, look at what he has done and the issues he is taking on. We have been outmaneuvered too easily before, we can win big if we do it the right way.
Thank you for the measured response, but my expertise is sensing system level details that just don't jibe for an Obama as you hope.
Perhaps we'll all be fortuitously surprised and see various crescendos and climaxes as he wrestles the big neoCONer elephant in the room, but then again it might just be the theater of hopefulness.
His keeping in Gates, and the long track record of that building trajectory -- make as near matching bookends:
___ the creation of both _ 9 _ ! _ ! _ and
___ this chorus of fiscal demolition
This is a great article , and explains the detailed history of the taking over of our news media, and how Gates ( and therefore Obama ) is deep into it ( shrubish bu$h!t )
The Neocons Strike Back
By Robert Parry
March 11, 2009
"The neoconservatives have demonstrated that their power in Washington remains strong as they have succeeded in keeping veteran diplomat Chas Freeman out of a top intelligence job."
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2009/031109.html
Namaste
P. S. It's all too staged for me, going from ( devils to angels, bad cop to good, or bait and switch ):
PSYOPS-minus ( white but really blackened heart )
_____ t o _____
PSYOPS+plus ( black but really neoCONer white at heart )
At this rate, Obama will be going down faster and harder than Carter unless the GOP puts up a supposed hardcore so that Obama gets billed as a "moderate".
"Admiral Dennis Blair", another self-promoting apple polisher in the mold of General Colon Bowel? What kind of "intelligence" will he produce on demand?
Possibly excrement like the sinister real history of the creation of AIPAC :
http://tinyurl.com/Zionist-Treason
Flashback: Declassified Papers: DOJ Accepted AIPAC Parent's Demand for Secrecy
Namaste
[ ______ Now, we're _ a l l ______ ]
[ _____ P a l e s t i n i a n s _____ ]
… just when all being __ ƒ ⊃ © k i n g __ N####rs __ was starting to look better.
Namaste
Somebody needs to inform Obama he wasn't elected to kiss Israel's ass. He was elected to right some wrongs. And backing down AIPAC would have been a damn good start.
Uh no i dont think Obama is that smart.
Its like his appointment of Geithner was really to show how bad Wall Street is so people get mad and he can make the right decision.
And Salazar's announcement on friday that wolves would continue to be shot to protect the meat industry--it was REALLY to make people see how corrupt the livestock industry really is.
No, I think Obama just didnt want to take on the lobby.
But its the cowardice of Congress too.
If half of them stood up and attacked Israel the lobby would be in cardiac arrest.
They couldnt handle a revolt by half of Congress.
especially in this economy.
Madoff did a lot to kill jewish money.
How many are going to be quick to give out campaign donations to defeat half of congress?
Too bad Washington is full of cowards.
C'mon Obama! Step up the plate and do the right thing. Show some fairness by standing up to the Isreali lobbyists. Here's a golden opportunity to score politically for the reasons McGovern eloquently points out above. Seems like a no-brainer to me.
Freeman for the NIC!
Is it possible that Freeman was proposed KNOWING the inevitable reaction it would have from the right wing and Israeli lobby in order to demonstrate clearly to Americans the power OF that lobby?
Could there be dissension within the Government wherein one group is trying to break the chains that Israel and her supporters have on US Government policy?
Could it be that the reaction of the Israel firsters was so obvious, so blatant and so predictable they might have finally crossed the line to the point Americans will be outraged at their influence.?
Could it be this was be design?
One could only hope.
If that's what you think, then we have to get out and explain this to people. I bet you that most are not even aware this took place, no less the significance.
Personally, I think you are dreaming in this case. But I could be wrong.
Joe
What a great move if it's true!
That thought had occurred to me as well. It would be impossible, especially with Rahm Emanuel in there, for Obama not to have known that Freeman's selection would have evoked this venomous reaction from the all-powerful Lobby. Certainly Emanuel, an Israel-firster of the highest magnitude, must have said something. And Shumer and the other couple dozen Zionists who pollute our Congress must have offered their opinions to Obama from the outset.
Obama may be many things. Stupid is not one of them.
Very interesting. This would be a brilliant move by Obama.
Ouch. I posted this comment to the Glenn Greenwald article at Salon.com yesterday (published here today), so I hope you're not being serious:
_____________________________________________
Or Is It... Reverse Psychology?
Upon five minutes' further reflection, I'm not at all sure that Obama didn't intentionally scuttle the Freeman appointment in order to ratchet up a long-delayed purifying eruption of outrage and resentment against the pathological US-Israel syndicate.
See, once We the People reach critical mass and demand fundamental reform in this crucial area, Obama will be able to step up and definitively obliterate this obscene and ill-considered alliance once and for all-- whereas, if he supported Freeman in the face of adversity, even if Freeman got the appointment it would still be a case of winning the battle but losing the war.
Dontcha see? Nothing personal, but are yiz all stoopit?
· Yr Obd't Servant
That only works if most people hear and understand what went down -- and I doubt most people will. It's still about who controls the mass media.
PS -- and by that I don't mean 'the Jews' but the oligarchy which is in symbiotic relationship with the zionists, who maintain a US outpost in the Mideast.
oh … you're so not being obedient …
npwr, luv... am I so transparent?
;)
· Yr Obd't Servant
Never forget that key positions of power in the U.S. government are held by people like Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, who are dual Israeli/U.S. citizens.
At haaretz.com today, from Israel, one of the big stories is that the U.S. will deliver $30 billion in aid to Israel over the next ten years no matter what our economy does!
And here is an article about Israel's new "soft war": a propaganda campaign they are beginning on the internet to improve Israel's image:
"This latest move came after Google refused to back down to Israeli demands not to show distressing images of war-torn Gaza."We've protested Google allowing photos of bombarded Gaza to be included in search results about Israel, but it has made it clear that users can upload any photo they please and that it has no control over it," said David Saranga, Consul for Media and Public Affairs at the Israeli Consulate in New York."
http://www.metimes.com/International/2009/03/11/israel_launches_new_soft_war/4604/
Don't be sorry you voted for Obama. With him there is more hope than with anyone else...
Why does the Lobby have so much power?
Reposted from Yglesias:
A fundamental question from a non-American - what is it about the US system of gov’t that permits such a tiny minority of its total population - 2.18% - to dictate policy to the extent that it does?
I have read Walt and Mearsheimer who make a compelling argument that the support of Israel offers absolutely no strategic value to the US and that Israel’s actions that have had the unqualified support of the US, have dragged down the world’s opinion of the US, and yet the tiny minority still holds sway.
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n06/mear01_.html
I know that AIPAC is able to affect election results down to the nomination level, but that notwithstanding, why can’t public pressure be brought to bear on politicians to simply declare that AIPAC’s influence is detrimental to US interests and that their money and support is not welcome.
Surely some kind of a public campaign could free the US from the clutches of this so clearly obvious nefarious organization.
BennieW:
That is the $64 million dollar question. It does make one wonder why the unrelenting rollover by US politicians on the Israeli Lobby issue(s).
What did our country do or not do to create this scenario that smells highly of blackmail on a very big scale?
I think one needs to go back to pre - USS Liberty days to find anything.
Or could that extremist radical crazy story about Israel hiding nukes in the continental US be true?
I'm sure at a loss - maybe we can get RAY to find out.....
Why is there more "hope" for this puppet than with anyone else?? What is it you are hoping for that this police state/bankster/mafia/enabler might provide??
There is much much more hope with Obama. The guy actually has a brain and can walk and talk at the same time. I actually feel sorry for him--he inherited the biggest mess-- and the poor guy is going to try and fix us.
He also has a heart. Neither of these two attributes are exhibited by Republicans... McCain-Palin ticket comes to mind. Two of the stupidest people at the top of the Repub party. Even the American electorate woke up ...
Obama needs to hear from us... he needs to know that we don't support the carte blanche that has been Israel's ace in the hole for lo so many years....
We are not benefitting from this constant suck on our resources...
Obama, because he is ultimately savvy, knows this... but he has a huge huge battle ahead of him. But I am incredibly puzzled by his choice of Rahm Emanuel. This must have been a pay back.
With our support,maybe Obama can get past the debt he is now repaying... I don't think Obama has any skeletons, but he needed Jewish support... in fact, he needed all the support he could get given what he faced from the nefarious Repubs.
The world is against the actions of Israel vis a vis Palestine. With our support maybe Obama can have the strength to stand up for American interests. This is the crux of the matter... we need to stress that American interests are not well served by our stance ... as Freeman has pointed out...
¿ What part of demolishers vs rethuglicans -- as being ( having in common ) > 75% the same vested interest groups paying and playing their respective tunes -- is there a question about ?
Yes demos do over a 60 yr cycle -- provide minuscule increases in salary for the poorest and middle classes, with respect to r'thugs.
But many appear to miss the salient fact that both "parties" have been sucking class warfare dollars upwards to the elites, since 1913's FED w/o RESERVE Act -- it's just the rate of SUCKING that is in question.
Namaste
"Don't be sorry you voted for Obama."
He needs to turn this around. Quickly.
We made him and we can break him (politically speaking,of course).
q
do not think of breaking Obama. There is no other person who has his mental ability, his compassion, his complete understanding of American life (having sort of suffered from black oppression--but nowhere near what Blacks have suffered). Here is a man who gets it. There is no white man in our country who can do what Obama will do. We have a chance to be a reasonable, respected country again with him... no other person can offer us that.
He has had to be a politician because he understands what will work.
There is no one else in our midst who can do what he may be able to do, with our help and support.
McCarthyism lives! It's merely realigned itself in new form.
The Freeman flip-flop is merely the latest sign that Obama is afraid to take on the Lobby - and the world is watching. Most will interpret the new President's acquiescence in this outcome as a sign of weakness - of his not being his own man.
And that's why I'm sorry I voted for him. Someone in this government has to tell the Israelis and their never-ending succession of far right governments to drink sea water, or we will never be able to disentangle ourselves from the poisonous, suicidal situation in the Middle East.
I don't expect, and never expected, Obama to accomplish all that needs to be done. People in the US always saw themselves as the extension of the original Chosen People -- hence all the "city on the hill" nonsense.
No one from the Democratic Party was about to take on the Lobby; it's an effect, not a cause, of the US's own power in the world; but just as the most vulnerable part of the male anatomy frequently dictates stupid decisions, the most vulnerable part of empire tends to govern the head as well.
"And that's why I'm sorry I voted for him."
So am I, man.
q
No need to be too sad; think who was the opposition...
Suggestion: not to bemoan this latest stupidity but remember Zinn:
Put on the pressure and keep it up until 'they' have to act
Fusion