Ron Radosh

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March 10th, 2009 1:44 pm

Why Democrats Too Should Oppose the Freeman Appointment

BREAKING NEWS: Just as I posted this–literally- the news has come through that Charles Freeman has asked not to be appointed to the post! In other words, our blogs, attacks and opposition has done its job! If not for people like the folks at The Weekly Standard, who uncovered Freeman’s e mail, and journalists like Eli Lake, Martin Peretz, James Kirchick, Reason magazine’s Michael Moynihan and others, this victory could not have taken place. Kudos to all of them, and let us rejoice!

Update: 7:48 pm East Coast Time. Freeman has just posted his own explanation for why he asked to not be appointed. It is a self-serving, dishonest and poor excuse. To make it simple: his explanation is: “It’s all the fault of the Israeli Lobby.” You know how powerful they are. After all, Walt and Mearsheimer proved it. see for yourself: http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/03/10/freeman_speaks_out_on_his_exit

The opposition to the appointment of Charles (”Chas”) Freeman to the post of Director of the National Intelligence Council has been growing. The problem is that it quickly is becoming a partisan issue- with more Republicans going on the offensive- and Democrats remaining quiet. This is one of the issues that deserve bi-partisan unity, with national security Democrats joining Republicans with the demand that President Obama rescind his appointment.

Do the Democrats really want someone like Freeman choosing what national security information to give to the President each morning, given Freeman’s track record of being a shill for the Saudis and a man in the pocket of the Chinese government? Last week, TNR’s Jonathan Chait rightfully called Freeman an “ideological fanatic” who is “blind to the moral dimension of international politics.” And The Weekly Standard posted Freeman’s now famous e-mail in which he made known his views. Freeman wrote the following:

From: CWFHome@cs.com [mailto:CWFHome@cs.com]
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 9:29 PM

I will leave it to others to address the main thrust of your reflection on Eric’s remarks. But I want to take issue with what I assume, perhaps incorrectly, to be your citation of the conventional wisdom about the 6/4 [or Tiananmen] incident. I find the dominant view in China about this very plausible, i.e. that the truly unforgivable mistake of the Chinese authorities was the failure to intervene on a timely basis to nip the demonstrations in the bud, rather than — as would have been both wise and efficacious — to intervene with force when all other measures had failed to restore domestic tranquility to Beijing and other major urban centers in China. In this optic, the Politburo’s response to the mob scene at “Tian’anmen” stands as a monument to overly cautious behavior on the part of the leadership, not as an example of rash action.

For myself, I side on this — if not on numerous other issues — with Gen. Douglas MacArthur. I do not believe it is acceptable for any country to allow the heart of its national capital to be occupied by dissidents intent on disrupting the normal functions of government, however appealing to foreigners their propaganda may be. Such folk, whether they represent a veterans’ “Bonus Army” or a “student uprising” on behalf of “the goddess of democracy” should expect to be displaced with despatch from the ground they occupy. I cannot conceive of any American government behaving with the ill-conceived restraint that the Zhao Ziyang administration did in China, allowing students to occupy zones that are the equivalent of the Washington National Mall and Times Square, combined. while shutting down much of the Chinese government’s normal operations. I thus share the hope of the majority in China that no Chinese government will repeat the mistakes of Zhao Ziyang’s dilatory tactics of appeasement in dealing with domestic protesters in China.

I await the brickbats of those who insist on a politically correct — i.e. non Burkean conservative — view.

Chas

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38 Comments

1. Pajamas Media » Chas Freeman Withdraws:

[...] the entire story here [...]

Mar 10, 2009 - 2:16 pm 2. J.J. Sefton:

Would have liked to read Freeman’s writings in the original German text. Much more depth-of-flavor, nein?

Seriously, he may mercifully be gone, but what other “realist” is waiting in the wings to take his place?

Mar 10, 2009 - 2:32 pm 3. David Thomson:

“Kudos to all of them, and let us rejoice!”

Excuse me, but something very important is being overlooked. This question cannot be ignored: how did the Obama administration make this huge mistake? Charles Freeman was so goofy that he should not have survived a five-minute vetting process! After all, I thought the president’s people were very technically astute. Don’t they know how to Google? Are Obama’s that incompetent—or do a key number of them substantially agree with Freeman? More importantly, what does the president, in his heart of hearts, truly believe regarding the views of this peculiar individual?

“That they have come only from Republicans to date…”

Yup, and that raises another question: What’s wrong with the Democratic Party—and why did so many Jews vote for its candidates in the last election?

Mar 10, 2009 - 3:24 pm 4. Unnamed Airman:

This is the same group of people who had Gen (ret) Merrill McPeak on their advisory board.

For those who don’t know, McPeak is, literally, a raving anti-semite. The man is truly radioactive in political terms.

Yet, he was stumping for the Obama campaign early on. This is until they told him his help wasen’t wanted.

Mar 10, 2009 - 3:46 pm 5. Tom H:

Charles Freeman, son of Chas Freeman: “(He) is being challenged these days by a small cabal of folks… putting aside my natural instinct as a son to want to punch some of these guys in the face for some of the things they are saying about my father, for heaven’s sake, I’m more deeply angry about the lack of guile some of these people have. They are low-lives. And if you’re among them and by chance read this: I still want to punch you in the face. You deserve it, you schmucks.” That’s the trouble with reality, sometimes your actions and words come back to haunt you…sorry, Charles

Mar 10, 2009 - 3:48 pm 6. Miss Orange:

David T, you ask “how” after all you’ve seen of this administration? The answers have been explored in these pages: malignant narcissism? fool or knave, or both? Whatever the answer, the time for incredulity is past.

And on that note, I’d like to say of the Odministration: PWNED by their own incompetence

Mar 10, 2009 - 3:50 pm 7. Hernandoc:

“…but what other “realist” is waiting in the wings to take his place?”

Will Ayers anyone?

Mar 10, 2009 - 3:55 pm 8. Kevin:

So, is his son still going to punch out people who revealed his father as the idiot he is?

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/2009/03/chas_fre/

Mar 10, 2009 - 4:07 pm 9. AThinkingPerson:

The people have spoken! What does this say about President Teleprompter’s vetting skills?

Are there any democrats out there that aren’t tax cheats or worse? Anyone? Anyone?

Mar 10, 2009 - 5:14 pm 10. Instapundit » Blog Archive » ANOTHER BUSTED APPOINTMENT: CHAS FREEMAN withdraws his name….:

[...] UPDATE: More here. [...]

Mar 10, 2009 - 5:28 pm 11. AThinkingPerson:

Wonder what Freeman was referring to with his last jab…”Like all patriotic Americans….”? I’m seeing a not-so-thinly veiled reference there. Freeman is apparently not known for his subtlety?

Mar 10, 2009 - 5:42 pm 12. Войска ПВО:

#4 Unnamed Airman writes:

This is the same group of people who had Gen (ret) Merrill McPeak on their advisory board. For those who don’t know, McPeak is, literally, a raving anti-semite. The man is truly radioactive in political terms..”

..and the designer of the beloved “We all look like stewards on the Love Boat” USAF Blues in 1993.

Mar 10, 2009 - 6:22 pm 13. JM Hanes:

Thank heaven! What a stunning letter of withdrawal — a cabal of disloyal Jews conspired bring him down? Since when did Chinese dissidents join hands across the water with AIPAC? The idea that this man might have been charged with delivering both unvarnished facts and straightforward assessments to the President is all the more stunning having read his own twisted polemic over at FP.

Mar 10, 2009 - 6:24 pm 14. Update: Freeman supported MacArthur’s torching of bonus army protests…Chas Freeman out…and Horror Film Review April Fool’s Day (1986) (For the kewl Chaz) « Moderate in the Middle:

[...] positions without any moral fibre whatsoever, here is a bit of an excellent piece by Ron Radosh: But most commentators have missed his other analogy. Freeman wrote that “I side with Gen. Douglas [...]

Mar 10, 2009 - 6:37 pm 15. Marduk:

The whole Nazibama administration agrees with Chas Freeman on Israel and the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. So if he wants an iconoclast at NIC, he’s going to have to find a Dem that is actually pro-Israel. Good luck with that.

Mar 10, 2009 - 6:50 pm 16. jerryofva:

Tom H:

I know you would like to blame this on the Jews but it wasn’t his anti-Semitism that did him in. He would have gotten away with that. It was groveling to the Chinese on Tiananmen Square and Tibet that forced him to withdraw. Your father is sycophant to dictators and thugs.

Please come visit me at the Pentagon. I would only be to happy to oblige you with an attempt to punch me in the face.

Mar 10, 2009 - 7:09 pm 17. Blackwater:

Thank God. The man was a disgrace. Why on Earth did Obama pick this zero to head the CIA? He must have been a fan of his crazy world views.

Mar 10, 2009 - 7:16 pm 18. David Thomson:

Who is Dennis Blair? Why is he a member of the Obama administration?:

“Freeman Exit [Andy McCarthy]

Great. But there remains the fact that the top intelligence official in the U.S., Dennis Blair, brought Freeman in, figuring he’d be a perfect fit to head the National Intelligence Council. Freeman is gone, but Blair will be with us for years to come. The problems with Freeman were far from hidden. What is it about Blair’s worldview that inspired him to think Freeman was a good choice to be shaping intelligence estimates and framing the information consumed by the president?”

http://tinyurl.com/co7v53

Mar 10, 2009 - 7:37 pm 19. Miriam:

I sooooo agree with the previous poster who said that the real issue with Freeman was not Freeman himself (he is who he is -FBOFW) but rather the fact that he was appointed… I think it was careless oversight, certainly of the Tianenman remarks – I agree that his anti-Israel sentiments were probably known and did not raise concern amongst Obama’s dems.

Mar 10, 2009 - 7:44 pm 20. lefroy:

A small victory. The man was morally obtuse and horrifyingly ignorant – witness his sermonizing that the US might have been responsible for the attacks on its soil on 9/11 – a leftie trope of infantile stupidity.

More disturbing: does the President think the same thing?

Mar 10, 2009 - 7:58 pm 21. Kevin R.C. O'Brien:

David Thomson:

Dennis Blair is a retired Admiral (4-star) who was CINCPAC. He was affiliated with the Center for a New American Security before Obama picked him up, a hard-left think tank funded by George Soros (whose rise to fortune began helping Nazis loot the gold teeth and property of exterminated Jews). It’s run for Soros by his cat’s paw, John Podesta.

He’s a member of the Obama administration for the same reason that Freeman nearly was. A lot of shots are being called by characters like Susan Rice (another former CNAS dweller) and Samantha Power.

They say they’re not antisemites, just realists: problem solvers. Looking for a Final Solution.

Mar 10, 2009 - 8:03 pm 22. Oscar the Grump:

Halleluyah!

Mar 10, 2009 - 8:33 pm 23. David P:

Freeman’s “view” not just ‘any view’ rather its the predominant view of the world he’s sold himself to.

Mar 10, 2009 - 9:07 pm 24. Marc Malone:

Does Obama have the record yet? You know, the most number of bust cabinet nominees? Hilarious! LMAO!

Mar 10, 2009 - 11:22 pm 25. stuart Williamson:

Little to cheer about. The members of the inner circle who put Freeman forth as their man are still there. Obama does not apply what is “in his heart”. It never even ocurs to him that he should question his handlers’ decisions. They pick ‘em, he tells us it’s his choice.

Hey, that’s his job. That’s what a good Socialist President does.

Mar 11, 2009 - 12:31 am 26. Gary Rosen:

jerryofva:

If I am reading Tom H’s post correctly, he was quoting Freeman’s son and then dismissing it. So I don’t think he’s the one you want to punch out.

Mar 11, 2009 - 12:44 am 27. L’Affaire Freeman « The Y Files:

[...] his record as an apologist for the Chinese regime.

Mar 11, 2009 - 2:15 am 28. Real Clear Politics - News - Elections 2008 - Opinion - Commentary - TIME:

[...] his record as an apologist for the Chinese regime.

Mar 11, 2009 - 2:16 am 29. Larry:

yeah the disturbing thing is that Freeman even got the nomination, and those who call the shots in this department are still there.

I’m sure America’s Quisling Democrat Jews are unhappy that Freeman didn’t get the appointment, and I’m only half-joking. Either that or they just ignored it, and remain completely clueless about anything pertinent here. After all American Jews are still all stuck in 1968 really, frozen in time.

Mar 11, 2009 - 2:39 am 30. Time » Blog Archive » L’affaire Freeman:

[...] his record as an apologist for the Chinese regime.

Mar 11, 2009 - 4:29 am 31. David Thomson:

“More disturbing: does the President think the same thing?”

This is a valid question. Many people are regrettably still trying to cut Barack Obama some undeserved slack. It’s his administration, after all. The buck stops at his desk.

Mar 11, 2009 - 5:28 am 32. david barnwell jnr:

I think Chas is right, at least about the Tianmen issue. There is no government in the
world that would tolerate dissent at the level
of those student protests. I think that the Chinese situation is different from that of the United States and I think people have to understand that. China has a very different culture from the US and is also a very powerful
sovereign nation. I don’t think loud protests after Tianmen would have done much good, especially since other nations like the US when faced with similar situations employed similar tactics.

Mar 11, 2009 - 6:09 am 33. jerryofva:

David:

Really, can you show me an example besides the Bonus Army, which everbody except Macarthur thought was an abonination, where the Untied States Government called out the Army and murdered hundreds of protesters?

Mar 11, 2009 - 6:31 am 34. JD:

david barnwell jnr:

We would not have used tanks against the protestors. They were only demonstrating in support of something that we in the developed world take completely for granted.

Good riddance to Chas Freeman – his nomination should not have been proposed in the first place.

http://trackacrat.com/

Mar 11, 2009 - 6:45 am 35. Miss Orange:

#32 david

>>I think that the Chinese situation is different from that of the United States and I think people have to understand that.

Yeah, no kidding. Their “situation” is that they’re an intolerant, authoritarian regime that responds to a peaceful protest by rolling tanks over people. We do understand that.

Mar 11, 2009 - 8:19 am 36. donttreadonme:

Waco, Ruby Ridge anyone? A fascist/commie is a fascist/commie. Ah, left-wing ideology – ya gotta love it.

Mar 11, 2009 - 8:32 am 37. Frank:

Chaz responds in the the typical, cliche scumbag fashion, blaming all the opposition to his appointment on the Jews:

“The 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,”

Yeah, ok, buddy

Mar 11, 2009 - 9:13 am 38. Jeremy:

Getting rid of Freeman was easy. But the bigger problem remains Obama and his many Democratic henchmen. So far, independents still seem to like him…or do they….

Mar 12, 2009 - 1:33 am