Freeman Wrong on Hamas and Hezbollah, and Mostly Everything Else
Martin Kramer notes that Chas Freeman opposed adding Hamas and Hezbollah to the State Department’s list of terrorist organizations, despite Hezbollah’s vicious attacks on Americans in the 1980s, and Hamas’ horrendous suicide bombings of innocent Israelis. And yes, they are innocent. Someone doesn’t deserve to be bombed simply for where they were born.
Freeman made this point about blacklisting them: “By openly stating and taking action to make them—to declare that we are their enemy, we invite them to extend their operations in the United States or against Americans abroad. ” In others words, pre-emptive capitulation and appeasement in the hopes that the groups only target innocents living in the Middle East. Besides being morally bankrupt, this idea is dangerous because it fails to recognize the long-term, worldwide ambition of these groups. The reason they haven’t attacked us on our soil isn’t because they want to see us prosper, it’s because they (unlike Al-Qaeda) have made the smart decision to focus on the “near enemy.”
He also makes this inaccurate statement: “I’m a very practical man, and my concern is simply this: that there are movements, like Hamas, like Hezbollah, that in recent decades have not done anything against the United States or Americans, even though the United States supports their enemy, Israel.”
Thomas Joscelyn r
The 2001 indictment of the Khobar Towers conspirators makes Hezbollah’s and Iran’s role clear. And, as former Clinton administration officials have repeatedly said, this was clear long before 2001 as well. Thomas Joscelyn responds:
“19 U.S. servicemen were killed at Khobar Towers. More than 370 others, including some Americans as well as civilians and workers of various other nationalities, were wounded. Yet, Chas Freeman was apparently unaware that the attack was executed by Hezbollah. He was evidently ignorant of this fact even though it took place inside the Saudi Kingdom, home to his controversial patron, the Saudi royal family. ”
The 9/11 Commission, and pretty much anyone that has the topic, has known this. This shows a stunning ignorance that should not only embarass Freeman, but embarass DNI Blair for choosing him as head of the NIC.
