Freeman's rants prove he was wrong pick for Obama adviser

From the Daily News Editorial, Friday, March 13th 2009:

President Obama's choice to head the National Intelligence Council has withdrawn with charges that he was squashed by the great and powerful conspiracy known as the "Israel lobby." Good riddance to him.

Charles Freeman's ranting over a powerful force that brooks no dissent about U.S. policy toward Israel left no doubt of his unsuitability to head a body that assesses data and presents considered judgments to the President.

To put it mildly, his views were ill-considered - and not just on Israel. Among the more startling were criticisms of China for failing to crackdown sooner on pro-democracy Tiananmen Square demonstrators. He wrote that the 1989 assault on protesters "stands as a monument to overly cautious behavior on the part of the leadership, not as an example of rash action."

Regarding Israel, Freeman's beliefs run counter to documented fact. Proof: his statements that "Israeli violence against Palestinians" is a key barrier to peace, and that "Israel no longer even pretends to seek peace with the Palestinians; it strives instead to pacify them."

Those who are concerned about the U.S. posture in the Mideast had good reason to be worried that someone so off the dial would be briefing the President. And Freeman proved the point with his ravings on being cut loose by the White House.

Also see "Blaming the Jews' doesn't always work" from The Washington Post.