“The libels on me and their easily traceable email trails show conclusively that there is a powerful  lobby determined to prevent any view other than its own from being aired, still less to factor in American understanding of trends and events in the Middle East.  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.  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, the substitution of political correctness for analysis, and the exclusion of any and all options for decision by Americans and our government other than those that it favors.”

Retired Ambassador Charles Freeman

With all the attention centered on the financial crisis these days, there is another issue brewing that taints our national security. Last week Retired Ambassador Charles Freeman withdrew from the National Intelligence Council after being torpedoed (sorry about the Naval pun) by the right wing of the Israel lobby. (Click here to read the entire e-mail. It is an interesting read.) The fact that this flew so low under the radar is saddening. With soldiers on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan our condemnation of Israeli policy should be front and center. The actions Israel takes are seen in the region as a shadow of America since we breath life into Israel with US aid and weaponry. The fact Israel is moving to the far right should concern us all. Benjamin Netanyahu’s victory last month and his imminent naming of Avigdor Lieberman as foreign minister has sent shock waves through the international community. Lieberman is seen by many to be racist. This far right coalition is sure to prevent any attempt to create a Palestinian state. Their stand on Iran could also draw the US into a no win situation. The world community sees Israel as the bully in the region with an unyielding government in Jerusalem. The Jewish lobby in the US is now marrying America to these guys? The decisions Netanyahu and Lieberman make will be carried out with US weapons and US money. If we are to ever gain any credibility in the region it is America that should be dictating the actions made by Israel not Israel dictating the policy of the US. The sad thing in the withdrawal of Freeman is he was right on the issues. This is not a conservative versus liberal issue. One of the key politicians that forced Freeman’s resignation was Charles Schumer, Democrat from New York. The White House was very silent on this issue, a fact that is very disheartening. This weekend on his enlightening show GPS, Fareed Zakaria interviewed Ambassador Freeman. It should provide a wake-up call for those unaware of the strength of the right wing Israeli lobby in the US.

After listening to the clear and concise argument made by Ambassador Freeman, one feels the US has lost a talented policy mind.