Ray McGovern reports

In Obama Caves to Israel Lobby, Ray McGovern says:

"Not one to mince words, Freeman spelled out the strange set of affairs surrounding the flip-flop and the implications of what had just happened. Borrowing the pointed warning from George Washington's Farewell Address against developing a "passionate attachment" to the strategic goals of another nation, Freeman made it clear that he was withdrawing his "previous acceptance" of Blair's invitation to chair the NIC because of the character assassination of him orchestrated by the Israel Lobby."

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"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…and the exclusion of any and all options for decision by Americans and our government other than those it [the Lobby] favors."

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"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." "

Also see Freeman blames Israel lobby for his exit

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In the "put 2 and 2 together" department, consider this article By John W. Whitehead: The Groundwork Has Already Been Laid for Martial Law and ask yourself if you believe, as I do, that with the support of the millions of people who now hate us for what we've done in the Middle East, some number of them will attack us, and that it's only a matter of time - and then seriously consider the pieces of the picture coming together, what this will mean for us. And, if you can, consider how fast all this can happen.

The fog

There is a "twilight zone" fog that stands between everything you see in your daily life and the world of horror that engulfs millions and millions of people in other places. I know of this fog because I've flown through it once (Vietnam). In the time since, I never would have thought that fog would grow and come our way, but it's there on the horizon - and it's unmistakable.

Can well-intentioned people make the fog go away? Yes, but not without considerable effort. What's the first step? In my estimation it would involve putting Bush, Cheney and the leaders of the Neocon gang on trial for war crimes. Doing so will be a statement to the world that we have come to our senses and realized that we've been massively duped and are taking steps to bring justice to the criminals behind the scheme to seize military authority in the Middle East. The first step will beget the second: to do everything we possibly can to make amends for the destruction they've wrought. It will take a monumental effort to undo the damage and put out the fires of hatred they've started and fueled in our good name, but we must do this!


Bill