This post will have no links because I've only got a few moments.
The other day I went on record for not caring about this Chas Freeman character, one way or the other. In the meantime he has been forced not to take the job in the intelligence community he was hoping to have. Predictably, this is sending his fans ballistic (go look at Glenn Greenwald and Andrew Sullivan for starters). Their thesis is that the case proves (once again, I might add) that public discussion of Israel is censored in the United States, with large swathes of discourse being forbidden by the awesomely powerful Israelis and their stooges.
There is of course nothing new to this claim; it's been around for centuries (well, the power of the Jews. The United States as a target, that's newer). I admit to being puzzled by their line of reasoning, because for the life of me I can't imagine what might be verboten (Greenwald's word) to say? That Israel's policies are all wrong? That Israel commits war crimes and worse? That Israel is forcing the Palestinians into slavery? That Israel's behaviour is the source of the Islamic ire at America? That Israel muzzles free discussion and thought? That Israel shouldn't exist?
All of these ideas are broadcast widely and continuously not only in Arab World, nor in the Guardian, but also in the American public arena. If Israel were so good at blocking discussion, how come it's so bad at it? Andrew, Glenn, Juan and many others say these things with regularity, and no-one blocks them? True, the Freeman fellow, after being onthe Saudi payroll, was deemed unsuitable for that job, but that hardly proves the point. The entire case proves the opposite, it seems to me.
Logic is not their best suit.
ReplyDelete"I am being repressed"
and then there is the pious comment that the "Israel Lobby" is "unfortunately" undermined by Jews - I wonder is that supposed to be more an argument FOR the myth or AGAINST it.
ReplyDeleteAnd -- as it is unfortunately relevant to point out in these circumstances -- most of them are Jewish.
http://jamesfallows.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/03/the_end_for_freeman.php
rgds, Silke
The strongholds of this kind of journalism and politics (or should I say general agreement?) are not only the US and the Guradianistas.Germany definitely is not better (why should it be?), as you can see e.g. here http://www.basisbanalitaet.net/2009/02/die-suddeutsche-israel-wars/, and there are many other issues.There even is a person that used to be a chancellor, and now he officially works for the weird and dangerous Putin and his friend Ahmadinedshad...The question behind this is interesting to me: why do all the world have so much fun in constantly blaming the Jews?
ReplyDeleteMany answers possible, I know them.Still... I do not get it, for it's ridiculous, and unclever,and so obvious.
Another take is that every anti-Israel punter has lots of Jewish friends. Well that's what they always seem to claim anyway. The maths on this one is interesting, quote taken from James Fallow;
ReplyDelete"But it turns out that nearly twenty people I know well enough to respect and trust have themselves known and worked with Freeman. Every one of them supported his nomination. And -- as it is unfortunately relevant to point out in these circumstances -- most of them are Jewish."
Translated, he's claiming to know well at least eleven people who are Jewish. Leaving aside the fact he would also know other Jews who haven't worked for Freeman, statistically he must then know well more than 400 people, since Jews comprise only 2.5% of the US population. Or is it that he respects & trusts Jews more than others? Or is he just talking bollocks.... like the rest of the mob with their imaginary Jewish friends.
Gavin.
here is a complete "Israel Lobby"Rant by Freeman himself. - Newsweek claims Nancy Pelosi and the Chinese had a say too. Are they also members of the "Israel Lobby"? However, most interesting to me is that the Freeman was met on a bus reading a truly lousy novel i.e. Colleen McCullough's The Thorn Birds which deals as far as I remember in detail with the chastity problems of a catholic priest - link below *)
ReplyDeletergds, Silke
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/03/10/freeman_speaks_out_on_his_exit
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.
*)
http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/03/karma_and_charles_freeman_on_the_bus.php
yes, I have read it, but I was much younger and am totally self-educated