Freeman Out At NIC

President Obama’s pick to head the National Intelligence Council (NIC), Charles Freeman, abruptly withdrew his nomination yesterday after increasing criticism from members of Congress and officials within the intelligence community.

In his withdrawal notice, Freeman blames the Israeli Lobby for what he feels is a concerted effort of “dishonor and indecency, and include character assassination, selective misquotation, and the willful distortion of the record.” However, some on the other side of the argument would say that Freeman’s chumminess with the Saudis and the Chinese may have compromised his objectivity in such a sensitive post as the NIC. These relationships, and the recent report that he may also have accepted financing from these states, which is almost certainly frowned upon, or at least should be by the administration, appears to be what finally scuttled his nomination.