Obama Pick Quits ... is he pro-China? or anti-Israel?
http://jta.org/news/article/2009/03/11/1003607/freeman-blames-israel-lob...
WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Supporters of the Obama administration's aborted appointment for a top intelligence post said the former ambassador was unfairly tarred by pro-Israel pundits and advocates.
But lawmakers who led the successful campaign against the selection of Charles “Chas†Freeman said their concerns always had less to do with his criticisms of Israel than his financial ties to Saudi Arabia and a Chinese oil company with business dealings in Iran.
"This was not about Israel, it was about a revolving door through which Freeman rotated and was paid handsomely," said U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), after Freeman withdrew his name from consideration Tuesday.
[I know, I know, it's an actual name... but it's black-humorous nonetheless.]
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Package deal
Interesting subtext here (from same link):
Meanwhile, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), a longtime booster of human rights, wrote his own letter to President Obama last week outlining his objections to the appointment, specifically focusing on Freeman's ties to CNOOC and China's purchase of oil from Sudan throughout the Darfur genocide, as well as his use of the term “race riot†to describe a protest in Tibet.
“This cannot go through,†Wolf said in an interview Monday. “Do you realize the message this will send?â€
At that time -- not long after a conversation with Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair, who had tapped Freeman for the post -- he urged the Jewish community to get publicly involved.
“I need some help,†he said.â€Everyone who cares about Israel, Tibet, China, Darfur, Burma.â€
Clearly, with the exception of China, these countries are being framed as a package deal.
of course...
Burma, Darfur, and Tibet seem to be the only things students can protest about around here...
right, except
i was proud to hear that students were protesting for, for, for the Palestinians of Gaza at U of R!!!!! here that E Vero?
Bands too...
Seems like Bands are only aloud to protest Darfur...
I talked to the lead singer of this band State Radio about 9/11 and I'm not sure but I think he was busting my balls when I asked him if he'd researched the events of 911...
He said "oh yea...like "Short Change" or something like that?" I'm pretty good at reading people and I got this sort of condescending tone from him.
Anyway, read about my experience here if you're interested. Maybe they write a song about 9/11/2001 some day.
http://www.jpasswaters.com/page.cfm?pg=61
Oh, btw...we got to watch "Darfur Genocide In 20 Mins" before The Band came on.