The Israel Lobby

Read Stephen Walt on Chas Freeman's withdrawal from consideration for the National Intelligence Committee (NIC - the group that helps with NIE's and advises the DNI, etc.).

For those who haven't followed this story (and the MSM sure hasn't), Freeman is known as a tough critic of Israel, and the NIC was a pretty high up intel post. His pick was seen as a good chance for a real dialog on our "special relationship" with Israel and many watched to see when the fireworks with AIPAC and the rest of the Israel lobby would start... and, well, now we've got the answer - game, set, match.

Also, Conor Clarke ran into him on the 42 bus in DC this morning. Freeman said he thought Fallows was fair to him.

UPDATE: Freeman tells NPR he "Did it for the country"