Current Article

Talk About Chutzpah–Daniel Pipes Loves Him a Traitor

By Larry Johnson on March 12, 2009 at 10:59 AM in Current Affairs

Think I’m too harsh on the smear campaign waged against retired Ambassador Charles Freeman? I am old school. I don’t give a fuck what your religious or ethinic background is. If you are an American citizen then your loyalty must be first and foremost to America. So now we have the spectacle of Daniel Pipes praising a guy who stands accused of spying against the United States on behalf of Israel:

Dear Reader:

As many of you may know, Charles Freeman has “has requested that his selection to be Chairman of the National Intelligence Council not proceed.”

What you may not know is that Steven J. Rosen of the Middle East Forum was the person who first brought attention to the problematic nature of Freeman’s appointment, in a February 19 blog titled “Alarming appointment at the CIA.” 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.

Even those who backed the Freeman appointment acknowledge Steve’s leadership in this effort. For example:

Andrew Sullivan, former editor of The New Republic, calls Steve “the leader of the anti-Freeman brigade.”
The director of policy for the Israel Policy Forum calls him the “quarterback” of the effort.
Max Blumenfeld of The Nation Institute calls him “leader of the campaign against Freeman’s appointment.”
I congratulate Steve and am proud of this early achievement by the Forum’s newly created Washington Project.

Yours sincerely,

Daniel Pipes

Because Pipes apparently loves Israel more than the United States he has no qualms about praising a traitor. Soviets who controlled the likes of Aldrich Ames and Robert Hansen could praise those traitors as well.

Let’s be clear that Rozen does not have America’s interest at heart. As Max Blumenthal reported:

Rosen’s machinations eventually precipitated his undoing. In 2005, federal prosecutors indicted him and two other AIPAC staffers for allegedly violating the Espionage Act by furnishing top-secret U.S. documents to reporters and foreign officials. The one-time power broker suddenly became persona non grata on Capitol Hill. In 2007, Rosen announced a new mission to The Forward’s Nathan Guttman: avenging “the strong anti-Israel sentiment among individuals in America’s intelligence community, which he believes is what led to the investigation against him in the first place.” In November 2008, Rosen started blogging for the Middle East Forum, a neoconservative think tank founded by Pipes, who once called for “razing villages” in Palestine.

Rosen’s former employer denies any role in fueling the Freeman controversy. “We’re not really interested in Freeman,” AIPAC director of communications Josh Block told me. “It’s not something we’re working on.” But when I asked Block whether anyone at the group had circulated information about Freeman to reporters, he declined to comment.

Here’s the difference between a wretch like Pipes and a mensch like Freeman. Freeman has never put the welfare of any other country above that of America. Pipes and his ilk? They put Israel first and foremost.

Let me be clear. I despise and detest people who are citizens of this country who put the welfare of any other country above the interests of their own home. If you love Israel or Germany or Mexico or ( list your favorite country here) more than the United States then move there.

Whatever problems or limitation we have here (and there are many) I don’t feel it is our obligation to shell out billions of our taxpayer dollars so other countries, like Israel, can flout our laws and meddle in our politics.

UPDATE: Those of you who insist on repeating the slanders levied against Freeman may go elsewhere. I am not interested nor tolerant of your stupid repetition of Israeli talking points and propaganda. Ambassador Freeman is a good and decent man who has served his country honorably. If you disagree, then go fuck yourself. It is that simple. I will tolerate differences of opinion when there are facts in dispute, but the smears against Freeman are beyond the pale and will not be tolerated here.

elise

I wonder why it is so easy to “swiftboat” people in our country. Where are those in the Senate and White House who would have the guts to stand up to Israel’s lobby and who are those who want to continue a foreign policy which may be detrimental to OUR country? Obama and the senate stood by Geitner and pushed his nomination through, yet allow a China expert to be undermined by a LOBBY. The recent incidents in the China Sea are seeming not important enough to fight for this man. Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and North Korea may be problems, but if our government can’t work with the Chinese, solutions are so much more difficult. When Obama talks about special interests groups I guess he doesn’t include AIPAC.

Liz

It’s easy to swiftboat people because our media is no longer the 4th estate. They no longer see it as their job to fact check and report. Instead they have substituted a culture of stenography and innuendo. Their only goal is just like any other business – make money. With news like with any other product it’s caveat emptor.

NoTrollZone

well put. Especially the “culture of stenography and innuendo.” No, we no longer have a fourth estate. One of the pillars of democracy lies shattered on the ground. It is a good goal to show the crumpled cellophane that the press has become. It might be one of the main ways that we get out of the mess we’re in.

Mercedes

“Think I’m too harsh on the smear campaign waged against retired Ambassador Charles Freeman?”

No. Absolutely not.

“If you are an American citizen then your loyalty must be first and foremost to America.”

This statement reminds me of Sibel Edmonds, the FBI translator and 9/11 whistleblower. I am still waiting for the US Congress, the FBI, somebody to follow through on her assertions that certain US Congressman were accepting bribes and providing classified information to foreign interests. I don’t know if Ms Edmonds is a citizen, but at least as a former employee of the US, she seems to be the epitome of this statement.

TeakwoodKite

Edmonds CARED enough to not let it go and make her experience as much as possible public. It matters not if she is or is not a US citizen. She took the right actions.

If there are two in-justices to be corrected it is Ms. Edmonds and the Wilson’s experiences being wronged.

I would not expect this administration to do anything about it. As they will not stick by the qualified appointees or will allow the Axelrods and Roves of the world to run amuck.

Good point Mercedes, it appears that BO does not have a spine, and we can look forward to the WIMP factor to be added to the WORM meme.

Funny thing is, even if I dislike BO and think he is a *&^% , I would respect him if he stood up for these choices he makes. But sadly…that is not to be.

I am recalling then Senator Clinton speech before AIPAC and BO’ speech to them and the contrast it drew.

I can’t help but wonder how it may have been. Pehaps others have first hand insights, but stuck with wimpy BO we are.

Sassy

Very well said Mr. Johnson!
Certainly I am not well informed on all these matters, but I knew the letter of recommendation for Mr. Freeman would not have been taken lightly by you and your fellow co-signers!
Sassy

P.S.
I have watched Washington Journal fairly regularly since the 2000 election.
The fastest way for a caller to hear a fast dial tone is to criticize Israel.
http://www.madinthemiddle.blogspot.com churl

First of all, I agree with your post. Secondly,
“Let me be clear. I despise and detest people who are citizens of this country who put the welfare of any other country above the interests of their own home. If you love Israel or Germany or Mexico or ( list your favorite country here) more than the United States then move there.”

Now this may seem trivial but it is telling: I’ve often thought that one test of citizenship might be who you pull for in international competitions. I well remember the sorry spectacle of an international soccer match played in LA and the overwhelming majority of the attendees booing and cursing the home team. Yeah, and I don’t care that it was Mexico visiting; I never root for Scotland or Ireland or England when they play the U.S. So are you an American or not?

America comes first.
cygnet

Cartago est delenda.

LDW

More properly: Carthago delenda est (Carthage must be destroyed)

Well, if dissent is is Carthage, then Larry you can be Cato.

(your choice as to Cato the Elder, or Cato in Pink Panther)

LDW

Larry, you said, “Those of you who insist on repeating the slanders levied against Freeman may go elsewhere.”, but I didn’t see any ‘smears’. Differences of opinion supported by facts are not ‘smears’. Is this a forum or not? If you want your site to be ‘Diatribe Central’, well fine, but you will lose readers.

I happen to think your position on Charles Freeman is wrong. And whether or not Charles Freeman is “good and decent man who has served his country honorably” really isn’t the point here. There are many good and decent men who have served their country honorably who would still not be suitable choices for the post of “Chairman of the National Intelligence Council”.

Charles Freeman has publically expressed opinions and taken positions that leave him open to charges of bias. He has a right to be a champion of the Chinese government or the Saudi princes, but the ‘Chairman of the National Intelligence Council’ should perhaps be seen as not being a lobbyist for any foreign government. You may think his past associations and financial ties are irrelevant: if so, please explain your reasoning.

But to ban people who disagree with you and call us slanderers is neither fair nor fair argument.

And Charles Freeman also did not respond to the various points raised against him. He chose, instead, to strike out against the ‘Israeli Lobby’ and claim they were out to get him.

Where have we seen that sort of thing lately, huh? When Barak Obama cried ‘Racist!’ whenever he was criticized, and but never dealt with the criticisms themselves.

I think you should put back the comments you disagree with, and answer them if you feel that strongly. By all means remove any post that uses racist or obscene language, but don’t shut down debate.

rickya

LDW,

I agree with you 100%
SN in MN

Yeah, that must be why most the people involved in the Mideast on the behalf the US are jewish e.g. Dennis Ross. Bet that was even handed.

the gal from cal

Don’t you have a cross to burn on somebody’s lawn or something you racist thug?

NoBamaNoWay

word, LDW; i wish Larry would state clearly what the “smears” are and refute them with the facts. then we might have something to talk about. seems like he’s doing a little smearing of his own, i.e., if you don’t support Freeman you’re a jewish traitor.

hmm, i bet with a little effort, one could come up with some america-hating terrorists that DO support Freeman, but trying to smear all his supporters with that brush wouldn’t be helpful. how ’bout it Larry?; name the smears and refute them.
http://www.cheneywatch.org/ truthtelling007

You ignore the key portion of what he said:
“differences of opinion when there are facts in dispute“
Antonia

I find it quite clever that all those who opposed Freeman because he did not toe the Israeli line, are stating he was too close to China or to Saudi Arabia. Could anyone have been closer to the Saud’s than the Bush family?
What about our elected officials who are too close to Israel, isn’t that just as wrong.
You cannot have it both ways, too close is too close. It has to be America First.

bayareavoter

Well, great, I wrote a long post questioning some of your positions and you delete.

That’s a huge disappointment.
bayareavoter

Okay, I’ll try posting again

I come here to NQ everyday and count on a good discussion of many topics.

But, I have to say it is a little intimidating to read your last UPDATE paragraph without wincing. It seems you approach the middle east and Israel without your normal equanimity and it produces comments like the one from so-called Abdul Al-Rachman above.

Freeman might have redeeming qualities and his critics noted above might be idiots but I’m surprised when you start to question someone’s patriotism. All through history we’ve heard bigots tell immigrants or others to go back where they came from and it honestly grates on my ears.

I support Israel as the only real democracy in the middle east (one of their vice consuls is a Bedouin Arab–believe me no Muslim country would appt a Jew to an equivalent post). Arabs are in the government. Is their country perfect? No, but look what happened here after 9/11–one horrific attack but similar to the constant attack Israel has been under for decades.

Does it mean I support many of Israel’s current positions? No. I am totally against the territory grab in the West Bank and other awful policies. But just like the fact that I didn’t support the Iraq war, the destruction of the constitution and many other things done in my name as an American–I never stopped supporting my country. So I can support Israel without supporting many of its positions. I support a Palestinian state (and right away) even though I don’t support their activities and policies.

I guess it just bothers me how you approach this subject every time it comes up. You say you are not anti Semitic and I believe you but IMO your criticisms never seem balanced.

SN in MN

Probably because you bought the msm angle on israel vs the arabs. The anger and frustration is a result of the one-sided view we’re usually fed.

NoBamaNoWay

heh; while i agree that the US MSM is a joke, it looks like the holy grail of unbiased, public interest-serving, investigative journalism compared to arab/muslim media. perhaps you’re getting your info from their US outlets.

http://www.cheneywatch.org/ truthtelling007

well, larry can speak for himself, but if the heavy nature of the conversation is overly weighted towards Isreal, then it might seem logical that it takes a heavy opinion (larry’s) to counter balance. And he has been balanced in his opinions on the subject in my experience.

I solidly support Israel’s right to exist, but like Larry will not respect anyone who cannot tolerate criticism of Israel’s actions any more than those who unconditionally support US actions. There is no balance in this sort of thinking. Further, like LJ, I don’t hold one country as more special than others. As a person of deep Scottish roots I advocate for their independence, but rarely see anyone give a rats ass about how they are treated by England, unless you go to a family reunion or to a place where real SNP types abound. So its clear to me that our international politics are heavily weighted by what Israel thinks, wants, or what internal advocates in the US want for Israel and the loss of other important regions or issues.

And since the topic is Freeman’s nomination, it would take a fool to realize that this is about his criticisms of Israel. If he were to have had the opposite view of this, only the Alex Jones nutcases would be running off at the mouth.

Freeman was smeared. Its that simple.

And Larry is saying, if you want to debate based on the facts, fine, do so. You are going on about a non-thing if you are already interested in facts.

Ferd Berfle

As a person of deep Scottish roots I advocate for their independence, but rarely see anyone give a rats ass about how they are treated by England, unless you go to a family reunion or to a place where real SNP types abound.

As a person with a father of Welsh ancestry and an Australian Mother with roots perhaps in Ireland, I hold no love for the Pommies. I think Scotland should be independent, as any good Celt would think, truthtelling. Anything reeking of Saxon is not my cup of tea. There are some of us who do understand.

As for Israel, I have no answers as apparently both sides tend to barbarism, which is not conducive to any sort of peace process.

blogforce one

What’s going on her Larry? You originally posted this story at 4:07 AM. and now instead of “bumping up” the post to 10:59 AM you re posted it and scrubbed all of the comments by your loyal readers including my own . Many of the comments were critical of Mr freeman’s choice. Now all scrubbed. Is this ” democracy in action” or is this more like Red Chinese internet scrubbing ? Just wondering Larry. What happened??.

califlefty

I hear the knock on the door…quiet!

blogforce one

Larry, Do you want us all to just “go away”?? Is this fair to your other great contributors to your site ,Larry Doyle? RR Rev Ami ? A. grl in Italy, Pat Racimora? Seattle Moss. New posters and many other great writers? Show some Cojones and put back up the posts. Many of us will be done with your site if this is the way things work here now, Are you trying to “kill” the site?? WTF?? Just ’cause it didn’t work out with Freeman should not warrant mass deletions like this.c’mon! get real!

the gal from cal

Hey Blogforce one

I think the earlier thread is intact, this here is another post on the same issue that Larry put up.
I thought the same thing you did, but it’s just under a different title.

mountainaires

Standing Ovation from me, Larry. Amen to every word you posted.

NoBamaNoWay

spoken like a true Obot; i bet you especially like the silencing of dissenting opinions, don’t you? this past election was an eye-opener indeed, when it comes to the totalitarian tendencies of the “progressive” leftists.

no longer is free expression and an exchange of ideas the best way to find the truth; no, the “truth” will be issued through the appropriate ministry of the absolute authority, and it will be ruthlessly enforced.

to give larry some credit, he did mention something about facts; so i hope that any and all banishments will be based on some respect for a search for the truth.

blogforce one

Next time have a cup of coffee and eat some breakfast when you wake up before you do shit like this. Food and coffee always makes me more level headed and rational in the morning I am sure it will for you as well!

SN in MN

The fact that your arrogant post wasn’t scrubbed says it all. The all out attack by israeli apologists is not something I would tolerate either. I believe Mr. Johnson probaly knows a bit more than you about these things.
The fact that Coleen Rowley signed also impresses me. She ran for congress her in MN, and is very impressive as a thinker and a patriot as far as I’m concerned.

califlefty

Hey Larry, when they come for you… maybe I’ll speak up in your defense, or maybe I’ll just hold a grudge (nah, I’ve been told to fuck off before.) Just try to remember who your real friends are when the chips are down and get over your hissy fit.
blogforce one

Mr Freeman sat on the board of the state owned China offshore oil corporation. The same company which is being “protected ” by Chinese Harassment of US vessels operating in international waters south of Hainan Island. No conflict of interest regarding US national security? Your hatred of Israel has clouded your objective viewpoint regarding Freeman’s associations with China which are far more important in strategic terms regarding US national security interests. China is our main concern in the near and long term, they have influence over N. Korea and Arab Israel conflict? pales in comparison to the very real and imminent threats from Red China in both economic and military arenas. This is what turned me off regarding Freeman more than anything else.

mountainaires

March 12, 2009
Obama Caves to Israel Lobby
by Ray McGovern

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 is now over.

http://www.antiwar.com/mcgovern/?articleid=14389

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 of this.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/100507a.html

Doc99

IN a related matter, the American Taliban’s lawyer is appointed to DOJ.

Mr.Murder

James Brosnehan actually argued Lindh’s case before Roberts. The tribunal featured the future Supreme Justice as a major player.

Brosnehan is interesting because he testified to the bigotry of Chief Justice Rehnquist at his confirmation hearings.

Rehnquist would sit in polling places and say improper things to ethnic voters to hassle them on election days in Arizona. Brosnehan was a certiifed poll watcher and testified as much as matter of record.

Anyways, he was also the man to argue Lindh’s case. Lindh was more than likely an asset of ours who went awry. JWL didn’t just end up over there….

goldengrahme

Golly, I would expect such testy give and take on less sophisticated blogs. I have been bounced from a few of those myself–but never did I let my ire get the best of my rational self. (That may be a very,
subjective, self-glorifying illusion:)

However (and you had to know that was coming), seems
counterproductive to let it all hang out in a very
public environment. Too bad we can’t take it “off
list” as they say. But since this forum is upfront
and personal, please tamp down the expletives. Has
there ever been an issue in world history that raises as much passion as the Jew?

I’m not Jewish and perhaps that is why my views,
though pro-Israel, are based on common sense.
The Palestine/Israel conflict is a hot war, stupid.
Sh_te happens during war. It takes two sides to make it and two sides to end it. Let go of bias predicated on personalities. Daniel Pipes attracks
hostile sentiments like a magnet. He is sometimes
right, however.

The old left/right nexus has never been more fully realized than in Middle Eastern affairs. It seems a battle to the death and the target is the state of
Israel. Go figure!
karen

I agree with you. This stuff needs to be exposed.

http://www.realjewnews.com/?p=384
Mr.Murder

The man’s being taken down shows how much any kind of change can’t really be part of the agenda.

To break the ice of this gridlock you may have to resort unseemly tactics.

The Pelfrey case needs to be revivied. She had clients outside of one district, one state, one country.

Arm Hillary with information on her EU client list. We need to build support for our policy.

Time to watch a few of the old guard GOPers take time off from filibusters to put food on their families.

TeakwoodKite

Mr. Murder, The Pelfrey case?

Baba Rum Raisin

>>> If you disagree, then go fuck yourself.

You MUST come out of your shell, Larry! Tell us how you REALLY feel.
CG

Nancy Pelosi told Blair, Freeman’s views are “beyond the pale.” (I’m not a fan of Nancy Pelosi) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/11/AR2009031103213.html?hpid=opinionsbox1 even Broder weighs in
James

Great post Larry. Cheers!
BettsAZ

Aside from the fact that Freeman is an avid anti-Semite and openly pro-Hamas, he SUPPORTED The Chinese government crackdown on the protesters at Tiananmen Square, and as a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia,still maintains relationships with the Saudis,including the bin Laden family.

Not smears…just facts.

mountainaires

BettsAZ:

I am so sorry to have to point this out to you, but I will anyway: You are either an ignorant boob, or you are a liar. There it is. So sorry to have to be the one to say it, but someone really must say it to you.

Every word in your comment is inaccurate, so either you deliberately lied, or you are a moron. You can of course, inform yourself of the accurate facts; but somehow I doubt you will bother, because ignorant boobs and morons and liars have this penchant for clinging to their delusions for dear life, in order to justify their illusions that they have merit. It’s sad, and pathetic; but mostly tiresome and tedious.

The Lobby’s Pyrrhic Victory

“A lobby,” says Steve Rosen, the ringleader of the “get Freeman” lynch mob, “is like a night flower: it thrives in the dark and dies in the sun.”

The real fanatics are the Israel-firsters, who have used every subterfuge, no matter how low, to maintain their parasitic grip on the American policymaking process. The really dangerous ideologues are the Likudniks and their American amen corner who willfully distort and deform American policy into a means to empower and succor a militaristic settler colony that is increasingly anti-democratic and aggressive. The Freeman affair has exposed the Israel lobby for precisely what they are: it has flushed them out of the woodwork, and brought them in from the shadows. That in itself is a great victory, one that means much more in the longterm than anyone presently imagines.

Full Article:

http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=14394

consortiumnews.com

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.

Freeman dropped out of the running for chairman of the National Intelligence Council, which oversees preparation of intelligence estimates about threats to the United States, after an intense campaign spearheaded by neocons angered over Freeman’s criticism of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.

In effect, the neocons showed that their influence over the national news media, especially the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, combined with solid Republican support and some key Democratic backing, still lets them blackball potential government appointees who favor a more evenhanded approach toward the Middle East.

The neocons directed a powerful media campaign against Freeman denouncing his criticism of Israel and his associations with the Saudi and Chinese governments. One influential column, entitled “Obama’s Intelligence Blunder,” was published Feb. 28 on the Washington Post’s op-ed page, written by Jon Chait of The New Republic, another important neocon journal.

As Republicans on the congressional intelligence committees, Connecticut Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman and New York Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer joined the fight against Freeman, the former U.S. Ambassador found himself facing formidable – perhaps unprecedented – opposition to a choice for a staff position in the U.S. intelligence community.

Freeman said the attacks took some of his comments out of context, such as a quotation suggesting that the Chinese government had moved too slowly to suppress the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Freeman claimed he was only explaining how the Chinese government viewed its own actions.

What the successful neocon campaign against Freeman also showed was that there is little media power at the national level to defend a public figure who comes under sustained assault of this type. Several articles defending Freeman appeared on the Internet, and the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity published a supportive letter, but those efforts paled in comparison to the neocon barrage.

Freeman bowed out on Tuesday although his potential boss, Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair, defended him and complained that Freeman’s past comments had been distorted.

Blair told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Freeman had the sort of “inventive mind” that would resist “precooked pablum judgments.” [NYT, March 11, 2009]

In a message at the Foreign Policy magazine’s Web site, Freeman traced the campaign against him to pro-Israel groups that won’t countenance a balanced approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

“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,” Freeman said.

Full article:

http://consortiumnews.com/Print/2009/031109.html