Xymphora has a theory of Washington power groups:
There are two American establishments, the WASP Old American Establishment, and the Jewish New American Establishment. You might think there would be a battle for control, but the Old American Establishment just gave up. The Jewish New American Establishment, fronted by people like Rosen and the usual crowd of suspects, but operating in this case through Chuck Schumer and Rahm Emanuel […] wanted Freeman out, so Freeman is out.
I disagree with naming the second group Jewish New American Establishment. There are lots of gentiles in that neocon/Zionist group and a lot of Jews seem not to support it.
But the basic characterization of an old 'realist' establishment versus a new 'neocon' establishment seems right to me and the fight between these groups for control was very visible in the Freeman case.
Consider today's Washington Post where it is happening within the editorial staff.
On today page A01 veteran reporter Walter Pincus, certainly old establishment, is giving Freeman's statement a lot of airing and he makes it clear that indeed the Israel Lobby was the culprit here:
Only a few Jewish organizations came out publicly against Freeman's appointment, but a handful of pro-Israeli bloggers and employees of other organizations worked behind the scenes to raise concerns with members of Congress, their staffs and the media.
For example, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), often described as the most influential pro-Israel lobbying group in Washington, "took no position on this matter and did not lobby the Hill on it," spokesman Josh Block said.
But Block responded to reporters' questions and provided critical material about Freeman, albeit always on background, meaning his comments could not be attributed to him, according to three journalists who spoke to him. Asked about this yesterday, Block replied: "As is the case with many, many issues every day, when there is general media interest in a subject, I often provide publicly available information to journalists on background."
Yesterday, the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, which tried to derail Freeman's appointment, applauded his withdrawal. …
On the opinion page, 'the dean' of Washington's press corps David Border does not hold back either. Headlined The County's Loss Broder opines:
The Obama administration has just suffered an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the lobbyists the president vowed to keep in their place, and their friends on Capitol Hill.
…
I know [Freeman's] was a sudden decision because I had breakfast with him that morning.
…
"I think their goal is not to stop me but to keep others from speaking out, and to assure that AIPAC [the American Israel Public Affairs Committee] is part of the vetting process for future nominees," he told me.But after another visit to members of Congress, Freeman was gone.
It was an ignominious end to one of the most distinguished international careers in American government.
Ignoring the news reported in its own paper the main editorial, likely written by Fred Hiatt himself, refutes the idea of any lobby influence:
Mr. Freeman issued a two-page screed on Tuesday in which he described himself as the victim of a shadowy and sinister "Lobby" whose "tactics plumb the depths of dishonor and indecency" and which is "intent on enforcing adherence to the policies of a foreign government." Yes, Mr. Freeman was referring to Americans who support Israel — and his statement was a grotesque libel.
For the record, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee says that it took no formal position on Mr. Freeman's appointment and undertook no lobbying against him. If there was a campaign, its leaders didn't bother to contact the Post editorial board.
As if that would have been necessary …
Who will, over time, win this fight – the WASP establishment or the neocon/Zionist crowd?
The new far-right guys and gals will win. The old guard, Pincus, Broder and many others of those who have spoken out for Freeman will retire soon. What will be left are the small-minded, picayunish trolls like Hiatt and the wanking buffoons like Tom Friedman.
That decline in public intellect will accompany the decline of the empire.
